Such limited edition sports cars were rarely seen in the city. As the two cars passed each other, Hayden glanced inside the other car unintentionally.
“I like it,” Julian said from inside the car, reaching over to ruffle Aurora’s hair. Aurora raised her hand to stop him.
“Look forward!” she said coldly, her hand inadvertently covering her face.
The car sped away too quickly for Hayden to see their faces clearly, and a sense of loss welled up inside him.
“It’s already past eight, don’t you have to go to work?” Aurora asked, sounding a bit guilty.
“You’d love for me to go to work so you could run away, wouldn’t you? I took the day off just to be with you today, and I don’t want anyone disturbing us,” Julian retorted, clearly aware of what she was thinking.
“Mr. Barnet, I really did have a reason for not coming yesterday; I was facing some difficulties,” Aurora began, desperately thinking of a way out.
“Oh? What kind? I might be able to help,” Julian said, his eyes fixed on the road, clearly not taking it seriously.
“It’s a bit inconvenient.”
“What’s so difficult that you’re stumbling over your words?” Julian was growing impatient.
“My period started,” Aurora said, taking a deep breath.
“What period? Are you talking about your homework?” Julian, caught up in his irritation, hadn’t quite heard her clearly, and it was natural for him not to understand right away.
Aurora didn’t know how to respond. Was he really that ignorant? Did he not know the first thing about basic hygiene? His simplicity suddenly made him seem somewhat endearing to her.
“Cough, I mean my menstrual period, the kind where a woman bleeds every month…”
Julian abruptly stopped the car at the side of the road. “Aurora, don’t think I’m very patient. Who was it that said yesterday I could do as I pleased? You ran away, that’s on you, but today you are being evasive again. First it’s homework, then it’s something else. I’m telling you, even if it means you have to drop out of school, you’re not getting away today! I’ve made up my mind about you!”
“I’m saying, it’s my period!!! Julian, are you stupid?!” Aurora shouted back at him.
Julian, stunned, finally understood. What? Her period?
“I don’t care, I said I want you and that’s that! What’s the big deal with a period!” Julian turned his head, his cheeks flushed with a rare hint of red.
After this exchange, the atmosphere in the car grew incredibly awkward, and neither spoke again.
The car eventually stopped. “Get out,” Julian said, having already turned off the engine and opened his door.
Aurora, resolute and equally enraged, pushed open the car door and got out.
However, Julian had parked in the underground garage of a luxury shopping mall. “What are we doing at a mall?” she asked, confused.
“You don’t even look like my woman dressed like that.” Julian said disdainfully, dragging Aurora upstairs.
“Hey, I am not your woman,” Aurora protested.
“You have been since three years ago,” Julian said fiercely.
“Just because we slept together? There have been others…” Aurora was about to continue arguing but stopped under Julian’s icy glare.
She hadn’t forgotten the lesson from the night before. Seeing her silence, Julian chuckled softly, “Remember, there are things you should and shouldn’t say. Saying the wrong thing can lead to punishment.”
He had long since tested Aurora and knew she wasn’t the frivolous type she claimed to be. If she were, she would have slept with him willingly long ago.
As for her running away time and again? That must be her trying to make him disdain her.
But the more she resisted, the more interested Julian became, his desire to conquer her growing stronger.
Aurora remained silent as the two quickly made their way to the women’s clothing section. Her appearance immediately attracted the attention of everyone around. After all, it was rare to see someone dressed so plainly these days. In contrast, the man beside her looked wealthy and handsome. Initially, everyone found it strange that such a handsome man would be interested in a girl dressed so simply, but when their gaze shifted from her clothes to her face, they suddenly understood. With such a face and a sexy figure, everything made sense. Julian promptly led Aurora into a women’s clothing store.
Aurora was not unfamiliar with high society; in fact, she had been a well-known heiress from birth and was now the hidden owner of a public company. Although her financial resources might not match Julian’s, they were vastly superior to those of the average person. “Miss, what style do you prefer? Let me choose for you,” the saleswoman approached with a friendly attitude, clearly influenced by Julian’s presence. Some people had already recognized him, but no one dared to approach directly.
If Aurora had entered the store alone in her current outfit, the saleswoman probably wouldn’t have given her a second look. Those who work in luxury stores seem to have a unique skill-they can tell at a glance what brand you’re wearing. They can instantly tell the difference between genuine and counterfeit items, especially if someone walks in with a fake or knock-off bag, which usually earns disdain from the staff. Society is harshly realistic, and Aurora disliked being judged. The saleswoman likely mistook her for an old-fashioned woman out of touch with current trends.
“No need, I’ll choose myself,” she said coldly, having visited luxury stores more frequently than restaurants since childhood. The saleswoman sized up the woman in front of her, who, despite her old-fashioned clothes, showed no signs of discomfort. They often saw wealthy men bring mistresses or girlfriends to luxury stores, and most first-timers seemed nervous and uneasy.
Originally, the saleswoman thought Aurora, dressed in cheap, discounted clothes, would be just like that. But Aurora’s expression was calm. She didn’t even notice the saleswoman’s look but was seriously looking around for what she needed. She casually pointed at a pair of black stiletto heels, beautifully crafted with a simple yet elegant design, typical of high-end fashion. “This one, bring me a size 5. 5.”
Her tone carried a naturally aloof and superior air, befitting the sole heiress of the Montgomery family. She chose a black skirt that matched her high heels well. The sales staff had been waiting to see a spectacle since Aurora had initially refused their help-as many newcomers to luxury fashion tend to choose garish designs, thinking the more embellished, the more valuable.
The shoes and skirt Aurora selected surprised them, and her demeanor suggested this was routine for her. “Sir, you may rest over here,” a saleswoman approached Julian to chat. However, Julian didn’t heed her suggestion and stayed outside the fitting room. “No need.” The saleswoman persisted, “Sir, your girlfriend might take a long time trying on clothes, and you might get tired standing here.” Julian replied, “My little lady loves playing games with me. If I blink, she might run off, so it’s better I stay here.”