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I did say that. Most of the things in my closet are dinner dresses and casual stuff. I need some professional pieces.

“Okay…?”

“So I thought we could do some shopping before heading home,” he adds, already unbuckling his seatbelt.

He gets out first and comes around to open my door. The moment I step onto the sidewalk, his phone starts ringing. He answers it with a short, clipped greeting while his free hand settles on the small of my back, guiding me toward the entrance.

Inside the boutique, the air smells like expensive perfume and fresh linen. Andrei’s eyes sweep the entire space, the way he always does in public. He leans down slightly, still on the phone, and murmurs, “Go on in. I’ll join you as soon as I’m done with this call.”

I nod and step deeper into the store alone. Almost immediately, a polished saleswoman in a tailored black dress approaches me with a bright smile.

“Welcome! How can I help you today?”

“I just started a new job and I need a new wardrobe,” I tell her. “Something professional but not too stiff.”

Her smile widens. “Of course. Right this way.”

She leads me toward the back of the store, pointing out racks of tailored blouses, pencil skirts, trousers, and blazers. I start browsing, running my fingers over the soft fabrics and checking price tags that make my eyes widen a little.

I’m holding up a crisp silk blouse when I hear a sharp, mocking voice behind me.

“Well, well… look what the cat dragged in.”

I turn around slowly and there they are, my stepsisters, both carrying multiple shopping bags dangling from their too-thin arms.

My eyes drift over their overly made-up faces and skeletal frames before turning back to the rack of blouses like they’re not even worth my time.

Susan’s voice cuts through the air. “You should be ashamed of yourself, trying to ruin my sister’s marriage.”

Sharon jumps in right after her, sneering. “Home wrecker.”

I turn around slowly, a calm smile curving my lips. “That’s karma coming to bite you in the ass, isn’t it? Considering you slept with the said husband while I was still dating him?”

From the corner of my eye, I catch the saleswoman and a couple of her colleagues freezing, their eyes wide with shock. I’m sure I’ve just given them at least a week’s worth of juicy gossip.

Susan scoffs. “Oh, get over yourself. Luke chose Sharon.”

I snap back without missing a beat, “And he can have her! I don’t care.”

Sharon steps closer, her face twisting with rage. “You should crawl back to whatever hole you’ve been hiding in for the last four years. Now that you’re back, Luke wants to end our marriage because of you!”

I tilt my head and say coolly, “Tell Luke he can choke on his regrets. I’m done with him and I’m done with both of you. Stay the hell away from me.”

Sharon’s hand flies up, ready to slap me across the face.

A deep voice cuts through the boutique from behind me. “I’d advise you to put that hand down… unless you want to lose it. Because I will cut it off if it touches my wife.”

Both women freeze and whip around. The color drains from their faces the moment they see Andrei standing there, tall, imposing, and radiating pure menace.

“Your wife?” Susan whispers, voice cracking.

I’ve never felt prouder to be Andrei’s wife than in this moment. The look of pure shock and horror on my stepsisters’ faces is absolutely priceless.

Andrei walks up to me, wraps one strong arm around my shoulders, and pulls me against his side. He leans down and kisses my lips softly, right there in front of everyone, murmuring, “Baby… is this riffraff disturbing you?”

I smile up at him, feeling safe and protected in his hold. “They were just leaving.”

Sharon has the audacity to lift her chin and say, “We’re still shopping.”