The fashion store was a sanctuary of style and chaos but the tension brewing between Rachael and Rose was far more intense. As Rachael cast a disdainful glance at Rose, she handed over a sleek black card. "Here's Liam's card. Buy whatever you want, but don't go overboard. I'm watching.
Rose blinked, feeling the sting of Rachael's cold indifference. "Um, okay. Thank you."
Rachel didn't seem interested in making small talk or offering any advice. Instead, she settled into a plush armchair in the corner, her gaze fixed on a hologram poped up from her wrist watch, still with the kind of disinterest reserved for particularly dull meetings.
"I don't have all day. Make it quick."
"Yes. I will! "
As Rose wandered through the racks, she remembered her old life—her friends, her studies, and the simple joys of being a regular med student. She felt a pang of nostalgia. How I miss those days... Her choices reflected this longing: delicate blouses, soft skirts, and pretty dresses—clothes she used to wear before everything changed. Her selections were surprisingly feminine, even to Rachel, who raised an eyebrow.
Rachael watched with barely concealed irritation. "Wow, you're really going all out with the 'sweet love bot' look, huh?"
"... Um... well... "
Rose awkwardly scratched her head, trying to brush off Rachel's comment. She reminded herself that this didn't have to do with Liam or pleasing him. It's just simply her style.
But still, as she glanced at her reflection in the mirror in a beautiful floral dress and tried twirling, Rose felt a surge of gratitude.
Liam hadn't hesitated to spend his money on her. She remembered her days as a medical student, working tirelessly to afford even one dress a month, alongside books and tuition fees. It was rare for her to be able to indulge in fashion without the burden of financial strain.
Just as Rose was occupied with her own thoughts, the store's entrance chimed, and in walked an older man in his 50s with a distinguished air about him.
Not soon after he came in, his eyes accidentally fell on Rose. But then, it wasn't accidental anymore. His eyes were sharp and inquisitive, scanning Rose with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue.
He was accompanied by a sleek, robotic love bot, distinctly different from Rose in appearance and behavior. The love bot had a flawless, almost too-perfect beauty with mechanical movements that were precise but lacked the warmth of human gestures.
The old man's bot seemed stiff, its interactions predictable, as it dutifully followed his commands with a lack of spontaneity. In contrast, Rose's movements were more fluid, her expressions more nuanced—an indication of her advanced programming, he guessed. The old man's eyes widened as he noticed the code on Rose's wristband, X-5002, which was not yet on the market.
"Excuse me," the old man said, his voice smooth but filled with a disturbing intensity. "Where did you come from? That code—X-5002—isn't supposed to be released yet."
Rose felt a shiver run down her spine. "I—I'm not sure what you mean. I'm just here shopping."
The old man's smile was unsettling. "A unique model, indeed. I'd like to know more about you. Where is your master? I'd be interested in buying you from him."
The man's eyes wandered over her, and his gaze turned invasive. As he reached out, his hand brushed too close to her.
"Perhaps we could discuss this somewhere more private?"
As she took a step back to avoid, Rose's heart raced with fear. "Rachael.." she called, her voice trembling.
Rachael, who had been lounging with her hologram, looked up with irritation. "What now?"
Rose's voice was strained as she continued to call out. "I need your help. There's a man bothering me!"
Rachael's eyes flared with frustration as she got up and strode over to the scene,
"What did you do to get such attention? Did you somehow... "
Her irritation turned to shock as she saw the back of an old man who was clutching
Rose's arm in a tight grip with the clerks and other customers gathering around there too, trying to ease the situation.
"Go on...call your master. I'd be happy to make an offer for you. You're such a rare model. Just wait. You're gonna be mine in a second. "
Rachael's face went ghastly pale as she finally arrived, her eyes widening in recognition. She was overwhelmed with emotion as she finally recognized it was her dad.
"Dad! What the hell do you think you're doing?" she snapped, eyes blazing as she ripped his hand off Rose.
Her father turned slowly, his smug expression faltering just slightly. "Rachael, I didn't realize you were here. I was just—"
"—harassing her," Rachael finished, her voice rising.
Her gaze turned cold.
"You've been living with those love bots for your whole life, even abandoning your own family for years. And now you're here, causing trouble right in front of your own daughter, harassing a girlfriend of my best friend, accusing she's a love bot? I can't believe this. Where's your shame, dad?"
The old man shrugged, his demeanor nonchalant. "Well, love bots are so much more fulfilling than real people. And I do appreciate a fine piece of technology when I see one, just like this one here. You can lie all you want. But I know she's a love bot and I want her. Where's that friend of yours so that I can make a deal with him?"
"Oh gosh... he's still going at that? "
Murmurs of disapproval from other customers began to build, louder and more insistent. "Leave her alone," one woman said from the back. Another customer chimed in, "This isn't a place for your creepy games, old man. Get out."
The tension in the room shifted as the surrounding clerks and customers began to tune into the confrontation. A couple of clerks exchanged concerned glances, before one of them, a tall young man, stepped forward, his voice firm but professional.
"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave," the clerk said, his tone making it clear there was no room for negotiation.
The old man's expression hardened, but the rising pressure from the crowd and his daughter's unwavering fury were too much to ignore. He sneered at Rachael, clearly displeased with how things had turned out, but took a step back.
"You always were too emotional, Rachael," he spat, bitterness dripping from his words. "That's why I left your mom, you and your stupid brothers."