Chapter 5

"That's a fresh take. The earth doesn't revolve around you two, you know. I came to buy shoes. How exactly am I scaring your fragile little princess?"

"And stop with the 'scare her' talk. She looks pretty healthy to me—out shopping and everything. Wasn't she at death's door back in the rubble?"

Chloe's face went pale. Tears came on cue.

"Aria, I know you resent Lucas for saving me first, but the situation was urgent at the time... Can't you stop being so aggressive?"

People around us started whispering and pointing.

"Why is that woman acting like this? The other one already apologized."

"Exactly. Being disabled is pitiful, but that doesn't mean she can guilt-trip people."

Lucas listened to the surrounding discussion, standing even straighter.

He pulled out a card from his wallet and tossed it on the counter.

"I'll buy every shoe in this store. Except for the one on her foot. Aria, take your cheap shoe and get out. Stop being an eyesore."

The card spun twice on the counter with a crisp sound.

Just like that other card.

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. That pain was nothing compared to the cold feeling in my heart.

This was the man I'd loved for five years.

To save him, I'd not only sacrificed a leg but nearly my life.

Now, to please his beauty, he wanted to strip away my dignity in front of everyone and trample it underfoot.

The sales associate looked uncertain, glancing between me and Lucas.

"Sir, there is a first-come, first-served policy. This lady was indeed here first..."

"Shut up. Swipe the card."

Lucas didn't even lift his eyelids.

"I want every shoe in this store. Except the one on her foot."

Chloe put on a fake show of persuasion beside him.

"Lucas, don't be so harsh. Aria is physically disabled now, so she must be emotionally sensitive and fragile."

"These shoes are cheap and poorly made—beneath our status—but they're probably the best she can afford."

As she spoke, she took half a step back, disdainfully covering her nose and mouth with her hand. Her gaze lingered for a second on my prosthetic leg.

"After all, life isn't easy for disabled people. Wearing cheap stuff is normal for them. Let's not fight with her. She's quite pitiful."

More and more onlookers gathered.

Lucas listened to this and snorted.

"Did you hear that? Chloe is kindhearted. She's giving you charity."

I took a deep breath.

Hold back?

With people like this, showing restraint only makes them think you're weak and easy to bully.

I reached out and grabbed that unwanted flat. Since he loved throwing money around so much, I'd give him a taste of his own medicine—right in his precious face.

My hand had just lifted, before I could follow through.

A large hand wrapped in bandages suddenly intercepted, pressing down on that black card on the counter.

Then a lazy voice rang out, carrying three parts amusement and seven parts provocation.

"Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Sterling. Showing off your money again to prove your existence?"