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.