The shopping bags continued piling up beside Ethan one after another until even the store employees looked slightly overwhelmed. Yuna stood near the mirror still wearing the silver gown while assistants carefully packed jewelry into velvet boxes nearby. The entire boutique buzzed softly with quiet excitement because everyone inside understood one thing clearly—
Ethan Devereaux almost never shopped like this for anyone.
And yet today he looked perfectly willing to buy the entire store if Yuna so much as glanced at something twice.
Yuna watched him sign another payment confirmation before finally crossing her arms dramatically.
"Okay, stop."
Ethan looked up calmly. "Why?"
"You bought enough luxury items to fund a small country."
"You're exaggerating."
"No, I'm genuinely concerned."
A faint smirk touched his lips again before disappearing. "You liked them."
"That's not the point."
"It's exactly the point."
Yuna stared at him in disbelief while the boutique staff tried very hard not to laugh nearby.
"You know," she muttered while walking closer, "normal boyfriends don't react to shopping like this."
Ethan looked completely unbothered. "Who said I'm normal?"
"That answer is becoming your entire personality."
"And yet you're still here."
Yuna opened her mouth to argue before stopping herself because annoyingly—
He was right.
That realization made her narrow her eyes suspiciously. "You enjoy winning arguments too much."
"I enjoy when you realize I'm right."
"You're impossible."
Ethan stood from the chair slowly then, his gaze moving toward her again.
And for a second, the teasing atmosphere around them faded slightly.
Because she really did look beautiful.
The silver dress wrapped around her perfectly, elegant enough to make everyone else inside the boutique disappear whenever she moved. The crystal details shimmered softly beneath the warm lights, making her look almost unreal.
Yuna noticed the way he was looking at her again.
"You're staring."
"You noticed."
"You're not even denying it anymore."
Ethan stepped closer calmly until only a small distance remained between them. "You look good in that dress."
Yuna blinked softly.
That compliment sounded simple.
But coming from him—
It affected her far more than it should have.
A faint warmth spread across her cheeks immediately.
Ethan noticed that too.
And suddenly his expression softened in a way that made her heartbeat feel strange again.
"You're blushing," he murmured quietly.
"I am not."
"You are."
"It's the lighting."
"The lighting is silver?"
Yuna glared at him while trying not to smile. "You're becoming annoying lately."
"And you're becoming easy to embarrass."
Before she could respond, one of the assistants carefully approached with another jewelry set. "Miss Yuna, would you like to try this necklace too?"
The necklace was breathtaking.
A delicate diamond piece that rested elegantly across the collarbone, sparkling softly beneath the lights without looking excessive.
Yuna stared at it quietly. "It's beautiful…"
The assistant smiled nervously. "It's one of the rarest pieces in the collection."
Ethan glanced at it once before calmly saying, "Pack it too."
Yuna immediately turned toward him. "Ethan!"
"What?"
"I haven't even tried it yet!"
"You like it."
"That doesn't mean you buy it instantly!"
Ethan looked genuinely confused by her complaint. "Then what's the point of money?"
The boutique manager almost choked trying not to laugh.
Yuna stared at Ethan in complete disbelief before shaking her head helplessly. "You really grew up in a completely different world."
"Yes."
"And it shows."
Ethan ignored the comment completely before reaching toward the necklace himself. The assistant carefully handed it to him.
Yuna blinked. "What are you doing?"
"Stand still."
Her heartbeat skipped slightly as Ethan moved behind her slowly.
The boutique suddenly felt quieter.
More intimate.
Yuna instinctively lifted her hair to one side while Ethan carefully fastened the necklace around her neck himself. His fingers brushed lightly against the back of her neck during the process, sending an unexpected shiver down her spine immediately.
Ethan noticed.
A tiny smirk appeared again.
Yuna instantly looked away toward the mirror, pretending not to react.
"There," Ethan murmured quietly once he finished.
Yuna slowly looked up at her reflection.
The necklace looked perfect against the silver gown.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Expensive enough to terrify normal people.
And somehow Ethan looked completely calm standing behind her like this, his dark clothes contrasting sharply against the brightness of her dress.
For one dangerous second—
They looked like a couple already married into wealth and power.
The thought made Yuna's chest feel strangely warm.
Ethan's eyes met hers through the mirror.
And suddenly neither of them looked away immediately.
"You really know how to spoil someone," Yuna whispered softly.
Ethan's gaze stayed steady on her reflection. "Only when they deserve it."
The words settled quietly between them.
Yuna's heart betrayed her again instantly.
She lowered her eyes slightly, trying to hide the effect he still had on her no matter how hard she tried to stay calm around him.
Unfortunately for her—
Ethan noticed everything.
"You're thinking too much again."
Yuna sighed softly. "That's because you keep saying dangerous things."
"What dangerous things?"
"Things that sound romantic."
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly. "And that's dangerous?"
"With you? Yes."
That answer actually made him laugh quietly under his breath this time.
A real laugh.
Low.
Soft.
Rare enough that Yuna immediately turned around in shock.
"You laughed."
"No."
"You literally did."
"You heard wrong."
"You're such a liar."
Ethan looked completely calm again already. "And yet you still like me."
Yuna froze slightly.
Because the confidence in his voice wasn't arrogance anymore.
It sounded certain.
Her cheeks warmed immediately again.
Ethan stepped closer then, lowering his voice slightly. "Cute."
Yuna stared at him. "Did you just call me cute?"
"You're blushing again."
"That's not an answer."
"It's accurate though."
The boutique employees suddenly became extremely interested in pretending not to watch them.
Yuna looked away dramatically while muttering, "You're getting too confident."
Ethan leaned slightly closer near her ear.
"That's because you keep looking at me like that."
Her breath caught softly.
"Like what?"
"Like you forgot you were angry at me recently."
Yuna looked up at him slowly after that.
The truth was—
She had forgotten.
At least for today.
Being here like this, surrounded by lights and laughter and possibilities for the future again… it felt nice.
Normal.
And maybe that was exactly what both of them needed.
After finalizing the purchases, the two of them eventually left the boutique together. Security carried most of the bags while people throughout the crowded luxury floor continued secretly staring and whispering as they passed.
Some recognized Ethan immediately.
Others recognized Yuna.
And many clearly recognized the chemistry between them.
Yuna noticed the attention this time but strangely—
It bothered her less now.
Maybe because Ethan stayed beside her the entire time.
Maybe because his hand remained lightly against her lower back protectively while guiding her through the crowd.
Or maybe because for the first time in weeks—
She finally felt beautiful again instead of broken.
As they walked past one of the massive central floors of the mall, giant digital advertisements glowed above them while crowds moved endlessly below.
Luxury brands.
Music.
Laughter.
People everywhere.
Yuna slowed slightly while looking around.
"So many people," she murmured.
Ethan glanced at her. "Tired?"
"No." She smiled softly. "Just thinking."
"Dangerous activity."
Yuna rolled her eyes. "I was thinking maybe life doesn't stop as dramatically as we think it does."
Ethan stayed quiet.
Yuna looked around the crowded mall again. "Everyone here is just… living."
A child ran past laughing nearby while couples walked together carrying shopping bags beneath the bright lights.
Yuna watched them silently for a moment before continuing quietly—
"A few days ago I thought my life completely ended."
Ethan's expression shifted slightly hearing that.
Yuna looked toward him slowly.
"But right now…" she admitted softly, "I feel like maybe I still have time to become happy again."
The honesty in her voice hit him unexpectedly hard.
Ethan looked at her carefully before lifting one hand and gently brushing his thumb against her cheek without caring who saw.
"You do," he said quietly.
Yuna's eyes softened immediately.
The crowded world around them suddenly felt distant for a second.
Then before Ethan could pull his hand away—
Yuna leaned slightly closer and kissed him softly on the cheek.
Quick.
Warm.
Unexpected.
Ethan froze completely.
Yuna immediately smiled brightly afterward and started walking ahead through the crowd before he could react properly.
"Yuna."
She looked back innocently. "What?"
Ethan stared at her for a long second before shaking his head faintly.
"You're becoming brave lately."
Yuna grinned softly. "Maybe you made me brave."
And standing there in the middle of the crowded luxury mall, surrounded by noise, lights, and endless movement—
Ethan realized something dangerous too.
He was starting to like this version of life far more than he should.