Bella felt like she was floating in the air, light-headed and giddy, her steps almost bouncing with every movent. Her face was practically glowing.
One million. One million!
She wanted to scream it to the world. The number echoed in her mind like a dream that kept replaying, and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling so wide her cheeks hurt. She had earned one million.
And the best part? William Sir had even told her he would reach out to her again if he ever had projects as big as this one. That wasn’t just money—it was a promise of more work, more recognition.
Her heart swelled, her chest warm with pride, and in that mont Bella decided she wanted to share this happiness. She didn’t want to hoard it just for herself. She wanted to buy gifts for everyone she cared about.
With that thought, she hurried into the mall, eyes sparkling with excitent.
First stop, Scarlett. Bella knew her friend loved skincare, so she picked out the most luxurious, expensive set she could find. Sothing that ca in a shining box, the kind that made you feel pampered just by looking at it. Scar would squeal when she saw this, Bella thought, grinning to herself.
Then she moved on. For Lina, she carefully chose a set of elegant clothes—soft fabric, classy but comfortable, sothing Lina would look beautiful in without even trying. For Nonna, her heart softened instantly, and she picked a simple but aningful gift: a finely carved wooden comb, polished and smooth, sothing that felt personal and warm.
For Alessandro, she found a sleek tie that would suit his gentlemanly style. And for Jay, she picked out a bottle of perfu with a fresh but bold scent.
Finally, Leo.
Bella froze in the n’s section, her excitent suddenly twisting into uncertainty. What do I even buy for him? She hovered awkwardly between racks, touching fabrics and pulling her hand back again. She didn’t even know his exact size. The thought made her pout, chewing her lip as she considered.
That’s when a polite salesperson approached, a young woman in uniform who smiled professionally.
"Sir, what would you like to have?" she asked.
Bella hesitated, then admitted, "I want to buy a shirt for soone, but I’m not sure about his size."
The salesperson’s smile widened knowingly. "That’s not a problem, sir. You can show a photo of the person."
Bella blinked, then quickly nodded. "Alright."
Her heart raced as she pulled out her phone. Carefully, she scrolled to a picture and zood in just enough to show only Leo’s body—broad shoulders, muscular fra, nothing too obvious. She tilted the screen toward the salesperson.
The woman’s eyes flickered, though she hid it well, her tone polite. "This way, sir. I got the size."
Bella exhaled in relief. She had faintly guessed Leo’s size herself, but she didn’t want to risk getting sothing too big or too small. This felt safer.
The salesperson led her to a selection of shirts, but most of them were patterned, printed in styles Bella instantly disliked.
"Do you have any in single colors?" Bella asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Yes, of course," the woman replied, and brought out a new rack.
Bella’s eyes imdiately caught on one shirt. Dark violet. Simple, elegant, and yet striking. It was the kind of color that would suit him perfectly, bringing out that sharp, dangerous aura of his while still looking sophisticated.
Her lips curved in satisfaction. "Pack this one, please."
"Certainly, sir," the salesperson said with a nod.
Bella then arranged for delivery service to send it straight to her ho. With everything settled, she walked out of the mall, her arms swinging, her steps light.
Her heart was so full, she thought she might burst. This freedom... I love it. Out here, she could move as she pleased, buy what she wanted, live how she wanted, without eyes always watching her. Maybe later, she wouldn’t get this chance, so she wanted to enjoy every second now.
She pressed the small button at her side, and with a smooth hiss, her roller unfolded. Bella’s hair flew back as she started gliding across the pavent.
The breeze hit her face, cool and refreshing, carrying away all the exhaustion she had felt. She laughed to herself, feeling like she was soaring, like the whole world was wide open in front of her. Her body moved naturally, her balance flawless. She wasn’t clumsy anymore; she felt like she had been born skating. She leaned forward, picking up speed, the thrill of it rushing through her veins.
Her smile widened.
It was already evening when Bella realized she had lingered too long. The sky was painted in shades of orange and deep purple, the breeze cooler now, carrying the faint sll of the city lights coming alive. She knew she should head back ho, but her heart was still too excited, too light.
Just one more round, only one more, she told herself, pushing off the ground with her foot and gliding forward, her hair dancing in the air as she made a wide turn.
The thrill was intoxicating. Her cheeks flushed, her lips curled into a grin, and for a mont, she felt like a bird soaring through the sky. But then she reminded herself of reality. She had to go back to the mall, back to the salon’s location, and change her clothes before heading ho. She couldn’t risk being careless.
With a small sigh, Bella slowed down, preparing to turn toward the mall. That’s when she noticed it—how quiet the area had suddenly beco.
Her brows furrowed. The streets, which had earlier carried the sound of distant chatter, the rumble of traffic, the occasional bark of a dog—all of it was gone. The silence pressed against her ears, sharp and unnatural.
Her stomach tightened. Strange... why is no one around here?
She turned her board sharply, her instincts telling her to leave quickly. Her heart began to pound in her chest, her palms suddenly clammy.
But before she could even move far, the screech of tires ripped through the air.
One black car skidded to a stop in front of her. Then another ca from the opposite side.
Her breath caught as two more slid in from the corners, and within seconds, she was surrounded.
The circle of cars boxed her in tightly, engines rumbling like beasts closing in on prey.
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