How Can I Be Worthy of You?

The next day, Aria took an hour off from work and left early.

She didn't even realize where her feet were carrying her until she found herself standing outside the flagship store of Celine.

She stared at the glowing display through the glass doors, her reflection mixing with the luxurious mannequins.

It was almost like a ghost had taken over her body when she suddenly pushed the door open and walked in.

The store was bright, filled with rows of chic, high-end clothes that seemed too good to even touch.

Aria wandered aimlessly, not daring to glance at the pricier sections.

Instead, she made her way to the cheaper side, well, if you could call a nearly $20,000 black-and-white patchwork dress "cheap."

It was simple but elegant, and it didn't look like last season's leftovers.

She thought it was something she could manage.

Just as Aria reached for the dress, the fitting room door beside her opened with a soft click.

"Aria? What a coincidence!"

She froze. That voice.

Turning her head slowly, she saw Bella Parker standing there, wearing a smug smile that instantly made Aria's stomach churn.

Bella's presence was like a bad omen.

How could they keep running into each other everywhere?

It was as if fate was mocking her.

Bella's eyes immediately darted to the dress in Aria's hands.

A flicker of something cruel flashed across her face. Before Aria could say anything, Bella spoke loudly, making sure everyone nearby could hear.

"Wait, are you shopping here? Here? Didn't your family go bankrupt? Aren't you living in some public housing now? Wow, has Celine lowered their standards that much?"

The room grew uncomfortably quiet, except for Bella's taunting laughter.

Aria felt more than a dozen eyes turn to her, full of pity, judgment, and ridicule.

Before she could respond, the store clerk snatched the dress from her hands as if it were suddenly radioactive.

"Excuse me, miss," the clerk said sharply. "This is a high-end store. If you can't afford the merchandise, don't touch it. What if you ruin it? Are you going to pay for the damage?"

The comment hit like a slap, and Aria instinctively clenched her fists.

One of her nails had cracked during the scuffle, and she could feel blood seeping out, stinging her skin.

Her face burned with embarrassment.

For a fleeting second, she wanted to snap back, to throw the dress right at Bella and remind everyone that she wasn't just some poor girl to be looked down upon.

But reality hit her harder than Bella's words ever could, she wasn't the same Aria Monroe from three years ago.

She took a deep breath, swallowing her pride.

Bella smirked, clearly pleased with the humiliation she was causing. "Oh, Aria, you know I speak my mind," she said with mock innocence. "But seriously, don't you think this place is a bit out of your league? With your situation, you'd be better off at those budget stores around the corner. They might even have a sale!"

The clerk nodded, adding with a sneer, "Yes, take a right on the next street. Everything's $9.99 a piece. That's more your speed, don't you think?"

Aria's grip tightened on her wallet.

She could have pulled out her bank card right then and there to prove them all wrong.

But was it worth it? Was this dress, or proving a point to Bella, worth sacrificing her dignity?

She turned to leave, her head low, when she suddenly bumped into something solid.

A warm chest.

Looking up, she froze.

Carter Montgomery.

Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized him instantly.

His expression darkened as he looked down at her, his sharp features unreadable.

He noticed the tears in her eyes, the trembling in her voice when she tried to say something, anything, and the faint smear of blood on her hand.

Without a word, Carter's gaze shifted to the clerk, who instantly paled.

"Mr. Montgomery!" the clerk stammered, bowing so low it looked painful. "Welcome!"

Carter ignored her completely, his piercing eyes fixed on Aria instead.

"Which one do you like?" he asked casually, his deep voice breaking the silence.

Everyone froze.

Aria, stunned, shook her head instinctively.

Carter's lips twitched, not quite a smile.

"That's right," he said smoothly, glancing around the store. "This kind of junk isn't good enough for you. Bring out the best you've got."

The staff scrambled, bringing out racks of the most expensive pieces the store had.

Carter sat on the VIP sofa, gesturing for Aria to join him. She hesitated, but he gently pulled her to sit beside him.

Finally, he stood and selected a pristine white dress from the collection. "Try this one," he said, handing it to her with a tone that made refusal impossible.

Before Aria could process what was happening, Carter turned to the same clerk who had insulted her earlier.

"You," he said coldly. "Make me a cup of coffee. And make sure it's good."

The clerk rushed off, trembling.

Aria glanced at the dress in her hands, feeling overwhelmed. She didn't want to owe him anything, but she also didn't want to reject his kindness.

Finally, she slipped into the fitting room, her emotions a tangled mess.