Lyra picked out several sets of plain clothes for him, along with flat, comfortable shoes and sneakers after noticing how uncomfortable he had been in the boots.
She did not like his previous style at all, so everything she chose reflected her own taste, simple, clean, and refined.
Lucien nodded slightly as he looked at the clothes.
He approved.
At least these were wearable.
There were a few men in the shop, regular customers from the same social circle.
They were used to seeing all kinds of people here.
Men who relied on their looks to spend wealthy women's money.
Men who got dragged out and beaten by angry husbands after using someone else's card.
It was all common.
And it always turned into gossip.
Now, their attention was on Lucien.
He did not look like someone from a powerful background, and the way he observed the clothes with quiet curiosity only made it worse in their eyes.
At the same time, they could not ignore the woman beside him.
Beautiful, composed, clearly wealthy.
Jealousy crept in.
One of the men finally let out a mocking laugh, loud enough for Lucien to hear.
"What did he even do to get a woman like that to spend so much on him?" he said with a smirk. "He must be good in bed. Men like him don't have anything else to offer except seducing rich women."
Lyra's expression darkened.
She did not like Lucien.
But he was still her husband.
And that man had crossed a line.
She glanced at Lucien.
His face was calm, unreadable.
If this were the old him, he would have already caused a scene.
He would have shouted, cursed, maybe even thrown a punch.
But now, he just stood there.
Quiet.
Lyra hesitated.
Then she stepped back.
She wanted to see how he would handle this.
The man noticed her silence and smirked.
So she is not even defending him.
He grew bolder.
If Lucien reacted, he would twist the situation, play the victim, and gain her sympathy.
He had already made up his mind.
Lucien looked at him.
Then he started walking toward him.
The man's smile widened.
Just as expected.
So easy to provoke.
He straightened slightly, ready to act.
But then Lucien stopped in front of him.
And smiled.
For a moment, the entire shop fell silent.
It was not a mocking smile.
Not an angry one.
It was calm, effortless, and disarming.
Even the man froze.
Lucien then bent down.
He picked up a hat lying near the man's feet.
Holding it lightly, he straightened and looked at him.
"Is this yours?" he asked.
His voice was calm, his posture composed.
The simple act carried an unexpected elegance.
For a second, no one spoke.
Even Lyra was surprised.
The man blinked, caught off guard.
"Ye… yes," he stuttered, taking the hat from him.
He did not know what to say anymore.
The tension that had been building suddenly collapsed.
There was no argument.
No scene.
Nothing to twist.
Lucien simply turned and walked back.
He stopped beside Lyra and looked at her.
"Can we go now… wife?" he asked.
The word hung in the air.
Lyra froze for a moment.
The way he said it was simple.
Natural.
There was no exaggeration, no forced sweetness.
Just a quiet statement.
She stared at him, slightly stunned, then gave a small nod.
For the first time, she understood something.
He did not need to argue.
He did not need to prove anything.
His presence alone had shut everyone up.
Even her.
A faint smile touched her lips.
She paid for the clothes and asked the staff to deliver them to the house.
Then she walked out of the store.
As they stepped outside, she placed her hand around his arm.
Lucien stiffened slightly at the sudden contact.
A faint shiver ran through him.
But he said nothing.
After all, he had started this act.
So he walked beside her, calm and composed.