No Escape from Love novel Chapter 6

But Julian would always just look at me with a serious gaze and say, "Shopping costs money. Let's skip it today. We should save up. I want to buy a new pair of shoes soon."

A wave of bitterness and irony washed over me.

It seemed like Julian had noticed me. After a brief pause, he walked over.

Annoyed by his presence, I ignored him and headed straight to a nearby watch repair shop. I handed my watch to the shopkeeper and said, "Hello, could you repair this for me?"

The shopkeeper's eyes widened with respect as he examined the watch. "This model is quite old. We'll need to order some special parts. Please wait here for a moment."

I hadn't expected the repair to be so complicated. I sat down on the nearby couch, and soon, the shopkeeper returned while carrying a plate of assorted snacks and fruits.

"Please enjoy, Ms. Ashford," he said.

Just as I was about to thank him, Julian stormed in, shouting, "Serena!"

I turned to him, a mix of confusion and annoyance on my face. I glanced at him briefly before looking away.

Clearly taken aback by my indifference, Julian stormed over and grabbed my wrist. "This is a high-end shop. What are you doing here?"

"Why should I explain myself to you?" I shot back coldly.

The shopkeeper gave Julian an odd look, which clearly made him uncomfortable. He lowered his voice and asked, "You're here because of the owner of this watch, aren't you?"

I raised an eyebrow. Julian was surprisingly perceptive.

Seeing that I wasn't going to respond, he pressed on, "Who is that man? Serena, don't think you can fool the rich and powerful so easily. You need to face reality."

I had no interest in arguing with Julian. There was no point in explaining myself to someone like him.

Sensing my irritation, the shopkeeper stepped in. "Ms. Ashford, is this gentleman a friend of yours?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't know him."

Julian stared at me in disbelief. "What did you say?"

Before I could respond, the shopkeeper politely signaled for him to leave. Just then, Elena, who had been trying on clothes, emerged and looked around for Julian.

With a reluctant glance, Julian left.

Through the window, I saw Julian step outside with a displeased expression. Still, he spoke to Elena in a gentle tone, leaning down to say something to her.

The shopkeeper returned with a receipt. "Here's your receipt, Ms. Ashford. You can pick up the watch in three days."

I glanced at the receipt and pulled out my phone to pay. "How much is it?"

The shopkeeper looked surprised. "The repair fee is due when the watch is ready. You don't need to pay now."

I frowned, thinking it was different from what I had expected, but seeing the shopkeeper's confident expression, I decided not to argue.

After thanking him and taking the receipt, I left the shop.