Chapter 4 - The Midnight Fitting Room
The heavy iron door of the boutique swung open with a hollow, echoing creak. Marcus, a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and a tailored blazer, stood holding a brass lantern, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the tense family stepping out of the chilly night air.
"Arthur," Marcus said quietly, his eyes lingering on Maya’s tear-stained face and Mina’s defiant glare. "When you said it was an emergency, I didn't realize it was a war zone."
"Thank you for opening up, Marc," Arthur said, his hand resting heavily on Maya’s shoulder, guiding her past the threshold. "Show her the racks. The best we have. And send the bill to my personal account."
The interior of the boutique smelled of polished mahogany, expensive lavender spray, and crisp cotton. Racks of silk, satin, and organza stretched into the dimly lit corners, casting long, twisting shadows across the polished parquet floor. Maya hesitated near the entrance, her white button-down shirt feeling suddenly too tight against her skin. She looked at the racks of pristine gowns, but none of them felt right. None of them were hers.
"I can't take one of these," Maya whispered, pulling away slightly. "They cost a fortune, Dad. You said the laptop fund—"
"I said what I meant," Arthur replied firmly, turning to face Mina, who was lingering by the velvet curtains of the primary fitting room. "And you, young lady, sit on that bench. You are going to watch every single second of this fitting. You will see what it takes to rebuild something someone else tore down."
Mina sneered, dropping onto the velvet bench with an exaggerated huff. "This is torture, and you know it. You're violating my rights as a minor."
"Your rights ended the moment you took scissors to your sister's future," Arthur retorted, walking over to stand directly above her.
Marcus emerged from the back holding a garment bag encased in heavy black canvas. He unzipped it slowly, revealing a breathtaking gown of midnight-blue silk, encrusted with genuine crystals that caught the dim light and threw sparkling reflections across the ceiling. It was objectively more stunning than the dress Mina had destroyed.
Maya gasped, stepping closer, her fingers brushing the hemline with reverent hesitation. "It's… it's incredible."
"Try it on," Marcus urged gently, unhooking the hanger.
May you like
As Maya stepped behind the heavy velvet curtain of the fitting room, a sudden, sharp rapping sound echoed from the front glass door of the boutique, making everyone freeze in their tracks. Marcus frowned, walking toward the entrance, peering through the frosted glass to see a delivery envelope wedged beneath the brass handle.
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