After several long workdays, the weekend finally arrived. Sophia had been looking forward to spending the day with Lucas, planning to go shopping at the mall together. However, that morning, Lucas informed her that he had an important business meeting to attend and wouldn't be able to join her.
"I'm sorry, Sophia. I really wanted to spend the day with you, but this meeting came up last minute," Lucas explained, his voice tinged with regret.
Sophia tried to hide her disappointment with a smile. "It's okay, Lucas. Business is important. I'll just go shopping on my own today."
Lucas looked at her with a mix of guilt and affection. "I promise I'll make it up to you. We can do something special later, okay?"
Sophia nodded, her smile more genuine this time. "Alright. Don't worry about it, really. I'll be fine."
And so, Sophia set out on her own, determined to enjoy her day despite Lucas's absence. She arrived at the high-end mall, wandering through the various stores and trying on different outfits. Eventually, she found herself in a particularly upscale boutique, browsing through the racks of designer clothes.
As she selected a few items to try on, she noticed the way the sales staff were eyeing her. Their expressions were a mixture of disdain and condescension, as if they didn't believe she belonged there. Sophia tried to ignore it, but their whispers were hard to miss.
"Look at her," one of the employees muttered to another. "She's probably just here to look around. No way she can actually afford anything."
The other employee snickered. "I know, right? She doesn't have the aura of someone who can drop serious cash here."
Sophia felt a flush of embarrassment creep up her neck, but she pushed it down, reminding herself that she had every right to be there. She selected a dress and headed to the register, only to realize with a sinking feeling that she had left her credit card at home.
"Oh, no…" Sophia mumbled to herself, fumbling through her purse in the hope that maybe she had some cash or another card.
The cashier, noticing her hesitation, raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Is there a problem, miss?" she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Sophia looked up, flustered. "I'm sorry, I think I forgot my card at home. I'll just—"
Before she could finish, the cashier cut her off, a smug smile spreading across her face. "Forgot your card, huh? Sure you did. Let me guess, you thought you could come in here, pretend to shop, and waste our time. People like you really shouldn't bother coming to places like this if you can't afford it."
The words hit Sophia like a slap, and she felt her cheeks burn with humiliation. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"That's enough," Lucas's voice was low and dangerous as he stepped forward, his expression cold and unyielding. He had arrived just in time to witness the exchange, and the sight of Sophia being treated this way made his blood boil.
The cashier froze, her face draining of color as she realized who had spoken. "S-Sir, I didn't mean—"
Lucas didn't let her finish. "Not only is Sophia more than capable of affording anything in this store," he said, his tone icy, "but I own this entire shopping mall. So, let's rethink how you're speaking to my fiancée."
The cashier's eyes widened in horror, and she stammered out a desperate apology. "I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't know—"
"That's obvious," Lucas cut in sharply. He turned his gaze to a nearby manager who had hurried over upon hearing the commotion. "Call the general manager. I want this employee terminated immediately."
The manager nodded quickly, pulling out his phone to make the call. The cashier, now fully aware of the gravity of her mistake, began pleading. "Please, I didn't mean it! I—"
"Enough," Lucas snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. "You should have thought about that before you decided to humiliate someone in front of everyone."
Sophia watched the entire scene unfold in stunned silence. She had never seen Lucas so furious, and the way he had defended her left her feeling both grateful and a little overwhelmed.
Once the manager confirmed that the cashier would be dealt with, Lucas turned back to Sophia, his expression softening as he took her hand. "Let's not let this ruin our day," he said gently. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, but I'm here now. Let's go enjoy the rest of our shopping."
Sophia looked up at him, her heart swelling with affection. "Thank you, Lucas. I was so embarrassed, but you… you really didn't have to do all that."
Lucas squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Of course I did. No one gets to treat you like that. Not when I'm around."
He led her out of the boutique, his hand firmly holding hers. As they continued their shopping, the tension slowly melted away, replaced by a warm, comforting feeling. They spent the rest of the day browsing stores together, and Sophia found herself laughing and enjoying the time with Lucas, the earlier incident fading into a distant memory.
Later, as they left the mall, bags in hand, Lucas looked over at her and smiled. "I hope you had a good time, despite everything."
Sophia returned his smile, feeling a deep sense of contentment. "I did, Lucas. Thanks to you."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, his voice soft and tender. "I'm glad. Now, how about we finish the day with a nice dinner?"
Sophia nodded, feeling happier than she had in a long time. "That sounds perfect."
And with that, they walked out of the mall, hand in hand, ready to enjoy the rest of their evening together.