CHAPTER 239
Arianna’s heart raced as she realized what Xander was about to do. She quickly raised her hand in protest.
"Wait… Hold on!" she blurted out.
"I never said I wasn’t going to pick something. Let me at least look around first!"
She turned on her heel, casting a mock disapproving glance in Xander’s direction.
“As if you know what kind of clothes women like! Just because you can afford to splurge doesn’t mean you should. You can't just go buying everything blindly. Why don’t you sit down and wait while I take my time and choose.”
Xander's lips curled into an amused smile, his eyes gleaming with affection. Rather than being offended, he seemed delighted by her playful defiance.
“Of course, my dear wife. I’ll do exactly as you wish.”
Arianna’s cheeks flushed at his words, especially when he emphasized *‘my dear wife’* so sweetly.
The store manager, who had been watching the exchange with a knowing smile, chimed in,
“You certainly know how to treat your wife well, Mr. King.”
“Take all the time you need,” Xander added with a grin before heading toward the plush VIP seating area.
The manager turned to Arianna and asked politely, “Would you like me to introduce some of our collections, Mrs. King?”
“No, thank you. I’ll browse on my own.”
“Of course,” he replied, following her at a respectful distance.
Arianna didn’t have any real intention of buying clothes, but she couldn’t allow Xander to go ahead with his plan to buy everything in the store. She couldn’t stand the thought of him spending money so carelessly, even if it didn’t seem to bother him in the least.
Reluctantly, she started picking out a few items just to stop him from going overboard. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a little giddy knowing that her husband was buying clothes for her, something he hadn’t done before.
This was the first time Xander had personally accompanied her to shop for clothes, and she found herself quietly enjoying his presence.
During their previous relationship, Xander had often showered Arianna with gifts—clothes, jewellery, and bags—but they were typically the latest collections delivered straight to her home. He had never accompanied her in-store, let alone waited patiently while she browsed and tried on different outfits.
Arianna couldn’t help but feel a gentle wave of emotion wash over her. A subtle, yet undeniable, romantic feeling arose in her chest. Was she experiencing the ‘marry first, fall in love later’ trope that she often read about in books?
A small, uncontrollable smile tugged at her lips as the thought crossed her mind.
However, noticing the store manager observing her, Arianna quickly composed herself and turned her attention back to the clothes. Her gaze was drawn to a light green dress hanging nearby.
The dress was beautifully designed, with a flowing skirt adorned with intricate floral motifs. It was the kind of piece that would capture any woman's heart at first sight.
Seeing Arianna’s interest, the store manager smiled warmly and said, “You have excellent taste, Mrs. King. This dress is part of Master David’s newest collection. It was originally designed as a gift for someone special. There are only two of these in existence, and this is the last one available for sale.”
Arianna’s eyes lit up at the thought of the dress being created as a token of love. “I’ll give it a try,” she said, her excitement barely contained.
She continued browsing and picked out a few more items she liked.
The store manager nodded and gestured towards the fitting area. “Feel free to head to the dressing room, Mrs. King. We’ll bring the clothes to you shortly.”
“Thank you,” Arianna replied, making her way to the dressing room.
Inside, the cosy atmosphere was complete with soft lighting and a small tray of tea. Arianna settled down in one of the plush chairs, sipping her tea slowly while she waited.
Moments later, the attendant entered with the clothes in hand.
“Ms. Jackson, I’ve brought these in your size. Please feel free to try them on.”
Arianna was both surprised and a little confused by the attendant’s words. She turned around and asked, "I'm sorry. What did you just say?”
The attendant looked at Arianna’s face, clearly taken aback, but quickly recovered and offered a hasty explanation,
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. King! I mistakenly thought you were someone else.”
She bowed deeply, her face flustered. “I sincerely apologize.”
Arianna wasn’t one to make a big deal out of innocent mistakes, especially since the attendant seemed genuinely rattled by her error. With a gentle smile, Arianna reassured her,
“It’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”
The attendant let out a quiet sigh of relief, her anxious expression easing into one of gratitude.
“Thank you, Mrs. King. You’re too kind. Would you like me to assist you with trying on the clothes?”
Arianna shook her head lightly. “No need. I’ll manage on my own.”
The attendant nodded, quickly hanging the clothes. “I’ll be just outside then. Please call me if you need any help.”
“Thank you,” Arianna replied, watching as the attendant gave a polite nod before stepping out and gently closing the door behind her.
The moment the door shut, the attendant placed her hand over her heart, exhaling deeply, as though she had narrowly escaped a major blunder.
