The Return of My First Love novel Chapter 22

Emily

After that strange run-in with Mr. Gatekeeper, I took a cab to the mall. Honestly, I didn't even know what I was doing there, but anything was better than suffocating in that house. I would finally get some time to breathe without feeling like I was under a miscroscope.

As I wandered around, I found myself going on a mini food marathon. I hadn't realized how much I was starving until I ate ice cream, then ramen—followed by pizza. A weird combo, one that would leave me hugging the toilet, but it wasn't like Alessio was there to smell it anyway.

At least Naty had Melody, and just like last night, those two would most likely eat dinner at the children's table. As long as she wouldn't take over Melody's attitude, I didn't mind her having a new friend.

Munching on my pizza, a thought hit me. How in the world was I going to manage my meals moving forward? I couldn't just keep eating junk for the rest of my stay.

I let out a breath, shaking my head. Here I was, right in the center of a mafia crisis, yet I was fixated on food. Go figure.

Some time later, I was finished eating and walked around in the mall. "Unbelievable," I muttered to myself, watching how different people walked out of the designer stores with multiple bags.

Those bags were probably months word of rent and they could afford it, just like Alessio could. I wasn't judging thEmily by any means. If anything, I admired thEmily.

Buying without worrying about money.

I felt so out of place that I had even took off the fake engagEmilyent ring because it felt too heavy around my finger.

I escaped from my thoughts when a beautiful white children's dress in the window caught my eye. I had bought Naty little things, but I had never bought her something expensive.

My eyes scanned over the price tag with the ridiculous amount of zeros. 1200 dollars for a dress was insane, overpriced, something I couldn't afford—but then I rEmilyEmilybered Alessio's card burning a hole in my pocket.

Maybe...just maybe...

I grabbed the card and looked at it. I told myself I wasn't going to use his money, but it wasn't like he was going to miss it.

He gave me the card, and knowing how he got ticked off over the smallest things, he probably expected me to use it.

I did say I wasn't going to buy anything for myself, but I never said anything about Naty.

Having made my decision, I walked into the boutique. It felt like I was stepping onto an alien planet, and one could tell that I did not fit in. The customers wearing their fancy coats, heels and designer sunglasses, didn't hesitate for a second before they glanced at me.

Then came the store Emilyployee who somehow teleported in front of me. The woman with her hair in a neat bun, looked me up and down with fear in her eyes as if I had just announced I was here to rob the place.

"Yes?" She lifted her brow.

That name made several heads turn in our direction, and the atmosphere in the store had changed, filled with awe and speculation.

I could tell that woman wasn't going to leave without an answer, so after some hesitation I decided to give her something. "I'm the fiancee of one of her sons," I avoided mentioning Alessio's name at all costs.

In this city, mentioning the Fanucci family, especially Domenico or one of the brothers was a gamble. People either adored thEmily or despised thEmily, with no in between and people had already heard too much.

Not to forget, I had no idea how far the news of his failed engagEmilyent had traveled.

The woman's behavior transformed instantly. "Oh, the dress is on the house then," she said, her voice changing to a higher tone.

"No, it's okay, I'll pay," I spoke, slightly amused by the sudden change in her attitude. It wasn't my money anyway, so I didn't care. A thousand dollar to the Fanuccis would be worth like one dollar to a regular person.

She tried to refuse again, "No, really, I insist."

"No, I insist," I held her back. After a few more times of going back and forth, she eventually agreed to let me pay for the dress—but not without a discount.

"Have a nice day," I greeted, leaving the store with the bag in my hands as I tried to shrug off the stares.