Lena and Benjamin trailed behind the police officers and Victoria, their eyes locked on Connor with a mixture of curiosity, amusement, and barely concealed contempt. The boutique, which moments ago had seemed like a haven of luxury, now felt like an arena, a stage for the spectacle that was about to unfold.Connor’s calmness stood in stark contrast to the rising agitation around him. He walked slowly, deliberately, letting his presence fill the space without a single word of complaint or panic. The police officers, faces stern, followed cautiously, while Victoria led the way to the counter, her expression a mix of confusion and professional duty.“Right this way, sir,” Victoria said, motioning to the counter with a polite nod. “This is where we handle all payments.”Connor’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “Thank you,” he said calmly, his voice steady and calm, almost as if nothing extraordinary were happening.Lena whispered to Benjamin, her tone sharp with anticipation, “Can you

The tension in the boutique had shifted completely, though Benjamin and Lena were yet to understand why. They remained near the counter, standing silently for a few moments, their eyes glued to the scene unfolding at the exit. Benjamin broke the silence first, his voice low but edged with curiosity.“What… what’s going on, Lena?” he asked, his tone cautious yet impatient. “Why did the police stop pulling him like that? I mean, they were practically dragging him, and now… now they’re just frozen.”Lena’s eyes narrowed as she squinted toward the commotion. Her lips pressed together in confusion, and she shook her head slowly, almost as if trying to make sense of some impossible magic trick. “I… I don’t understand,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why did they suddenly stop? I thought he was… I thought they were arresting him for sure.” Lena’s lips parted as she started forward instinctively.But before she could reach the exit, Benjamin’s strong grip returned to her

The boutique was thick with tension, every second stretching longer than the last, as Connor stood there, calm and composed, seemingly unaffected by the chaos that had erupted around him.Victoria’s face was red with indignation, her hands trembling slightly as she held her phone in one hand and the torn Kyte Men shirt in the other. Lena, arms folded, leaned against the display case, her sharp eyes tracking Connor’s every subtle movement, fascinated despite herself. Benjamin hovered nearby, pacing slightly, clearly eager to see what would happen next.“You—you expect me to believe that you didn’t tear this?” Victoria snapped, her voice wavering between anger and disbelief. “This is a one-million-dollar shirt! One! And now it’s ruined because you thought you could just handle it however you wanted, without paying? Without care?!” She jabbed a finger toward him, her gaze sharp, accusing, her body trembling with fury.Connor lifted his hands slowly, palms outward, as if to show that he

Lena felt her cheeks flush, a hot, burning mixture of embarrassment, shock, and disbelief washing over her all at once. Her legs felt stiff as the manager, in his authority, started moving toward her and Benjamin, gesturing sharply with his hand.“You two,” the manager said, his voice low and steady, “please leave. Now.”Benjamin, taken aback, stepped forward immediately, his chest rising with indignation. “Excuse me! You can’t just push us out! What do you mean leave?!”The manager didn’t care. His gaze, sharp and piercing, met Benjamin’s, and the words were final. “I mean exactly what I said. I will not allow you to disrupt my business. You have ganged up on my VIP customer, humiliated him, insulted him—this is not acceptable in my store, and I will not tolerate it.”Lena’s jaw dropped slightly. Her usual confidence and biting wit deserted her, leaving her frozen. She opened her mouth to speak, but the manager’s hand on her shoulder gently but firmly pushed her toward the entrance.

Benjamin stood beside the car, holding the door open as Lena adjusted the folds of her gown, her posture rigid and expression carefully composed. He couldn’t help but notice the faint crease in her brow, the tiny twitch in her jaw that betrayed a simmering impatience. “Lena,” he said gently, “I promise, the money we spent tonight… it’s not just five thousand dollars. It’s—”“Five thousand dollars?” Lena interrupted, rolling her eyes as if she couldn’t believe what he just said. Her voice was sharp, though restrained. “Benjamin, you’re a billionaire, aren’t you?”Benjamin froze, shocked by her reaction. “Wait… what?” he asked, his tone a mix of confusion and disbelief. “I… I wasn’t expecting you to say that. I thought you’d be happy about the surprise, not rolling your eyes at me as if it’s a pittance.”Lena crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze cutting into him. “So,” she said, her voice cold but measured, “could you not spare a little more money to get the perfect spot? I mean, i