New Look

The sun has risen and Lia stood in the middle of her living room, surrounded by boxes half-filled with her belongings. The weight of her recent decision pressed heavily on her shoulders—signing the marriage contract with Ryan had felt like a leap into the unknown. It had been a whirlwind of emotions ever since their confrontation in his office, but she had made her choice. 

Lia glanced at a small clock hung on the wall,"It's 9:00 am already,he promised to be here by 8:30" Lia thought sitting on a chair.

Ryan had messaged her the previous day that he would be coming to get her, Lia was nervous wondering what will happen next.

Suddenly there was a knock on the,Lia rushed to door immediately to check who it was,as Lia opened the door Ryan stood there, looking impeccable as always in a tailored suit that accentuated his strong build. Though she had officially agreed to the arrangement, seeing him still felt surreal. His striking grey eyes scanned her face, and the corners of his mouth quirked into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I know I'm late,I had some work to settle"

Lia couldn't help but feel embarrassed realizing Ryan was standing in her old reeking apartment.

" It's fine,I understand" she responded 

"We'll get everything sorted quickly. I have a team waiting downstairs to help with the move."

Lia's breath hitched slightly at the thought of a moving team. "You didn't have to go to all that trouble, Ryan. I could have done this myself."

"Now this is my problem with women like you who claims they know better"Ryan shot back.

"You always think so highly of yourself,I never asked for you to come here in the first place" Lia replied angrily.

"You don't have to pack much, I'll be getting you some new outfits if you like"

Whatever Lia retorted walking past him.

"She's always so stubborn,how will I ever cope with a woman like her" Ryan thought scoffing angrily.

The car was in silence as Lia gazed outside through the window and Ryan facing the other side, his charming features radiating on his face.

Not a word came out from the two, through out the drive.

Finally the car came to a halt,Lia stared around,her eyes litting up as she turned to Ryan.

"What are we doing here in a shopping mall" Lia asked 

"Now don't tell me you'll be meeting my dad dressed as a cleaner"

"Excuse me,is that an insult" Lia shot back glaring hardly as she stepped out of the car.

The tension hung heavy in the air between Ryan and Lia as they pulled up to the high-end boutique nestled on a quiet street lined with designer storefronts.

"Are you sure about this?" Lia asked, her voice layered with disbelief and frustration. "You can't just dictate what I should wear like I'm some kind of doll for you to dress up!"

Ryan sighed heavily, running a hand through his tousled hair. "This isn't about dictating, Lia. It's about making a good impression. My father is old-fashioned; he doesn't easily accept change. He needs to see you in a certain light." 

Lia shot him an incredulous look. "A light that's filtered through your expectations? Shouldn't my intelligence and capabilities matter more than what I'm wearing?"

Ryan opened his mouth to respond but stopped, realizing it was a valid point. Despite that, he pressed his lips together, frustration simmering below the surface. "Look,appearances matters most, So take off this rags and pick up something nice" Ryan ordered walking away.

Lia stared at his retreating figure in annoyance," That little rude bastard"

Lia thought.

Standing in front of the mirror, barely recognizing herself. Her dark, straight hair had been transformed into soft waves of chestnut brown with subtle golden highlights, cascading over her shoulders. She couldn't help but smile at the stylist's work—this was a new look, one she wasn't used to but instantly fell in love with.

Her gown, a shimmering deep emerald green, hugged her waist and flowed down gracefully. The fabric caught the light just right, making it seem as though she was draped in starlight. The off-shoulder design revealed her delicate collarbone, and a slit on one side gave the outfit an edge that made her feel confident and daring.

As Lia adjusted a final curl, there was a soft knock on the door. She turned to see Ryan standing there, His eyes fell on her, and for a moment, he was utterly still. His gaze trailed from her newly styled hair to the gown, his mind racing to process the change. 

But Ryan, ever composed, didn't let the surprise show on his face. He took a breath and walked toward her.

"If you're done shopping let's start going,my dad is expecting us soon"

"You look—" he started, but stopped, almost as if he was searching for the right word.

Meanwhile Lia stared at him intently as if waiting patiently for what he has to say about her new look.

"Horrible" Ryan continued looking away,he felt so confused as to why he's heart skipped a bit seeing her this way, but he would never give her the impression that truly, she looked gorgeous.

"I never asked for your opinion Ryan"she replied, her voice firm.

Ryan offered his arm. "Shall we?"

Lia stared at his arm, "Don't try to act so cool, when you're just a rude punk"Lia said walking away leaving Ryan standing alone.

"Just trying to be nice, but I guess it's not working"Ryan thought walking after her.