Chapter 4

By the time Emily and Iris finally reached the mall, the sun was already high in the sky, marking noon. As they parked the car and stepped out, a warm breeze brushed against their faces.

Emily stretched her arms and turned to Iris with a playful smirk. "So, girl, what are we shopping for today?"

Iris shrugged, adjusting her bag. "I don't really know… anything is fine by me. You know I'm not the type to spend much." She shot Emily a cautious look. "And please don't go overboard on me, okay?"

Emily gasped dramatically. "What are you even talking about? I'm going to spend as much as I want on you today. We have years to make up for, and I won't take no for an answer!"

Iris sighed, already knowing it was pointless to argue. When Emily set her mind on something, there was no stopping her.

As they stepped inside, Iris' eyes widened in amazement. The bright lights, polished floors, and luxurious displays took her breath away. It had been so long since she had entered a mall—so long that she had almost forgotten what it felt like.

Everywhere she looked, there were dazzling items: mannequins dressed in the latest designer clothes, shelves filled with expensive shoes, and displays showcasing elegant jewelry. It was overwhelming.

She swallowed hard, her fingers brushing against the fabric of her worn-out dress. I don't belong in a place like this...

Unlike Emily, who was used to luxury, Iris had spent most of her life buying second-hand clothes from small shops. Her father's struggles had forced her to grow up quickly, learning how to survive on the bare minimum.

Emily noticed the hesitation on her friend's face and smiled, nudging her playfully. "Don't even think about backing out, Iris. Today is about treating you like the queen you are!"

Iris let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "You really haven't changed."

Emily grinned. "And I never will. Now, come on! We have some serious shopping to do."

With that, she grabbed Iris' hand and pulled her deeper into the mall, ready to turn the day into an unforgettable experience.

As they wandered through the mall, they made their way to the gown section first. Emily was unstoppable—grabbing dresses left and right, tossing them into the shopping cart without hesitation. Meanwhile, Iris simply stood there, watching in awe.

Her jaw nearly dropped at the sheer number of clothes Emily was buying. At first, she didn't say anything, but as the pile grew bigger and bigger, she couldn't hold back any longer.

"Girl, get yourself together!" Iris exclaimed, grabbing Emily's wrist.

Emily pouted playfully. "Come on, Iris! It's a one-time thing. Let's enjoy the moment, okay?"

Iris sighed. "Emily, you're acting like I'm leaving you or something. Relax. We have all the time in the world to do whatever we want. There's no need to rush."

She paused for a moment before adding in a softer tone, "Besides, have you forgotten that I'm just a maid? I don't go out, and I'm always on my uniform. You're just wasting money on things I might never even get the chance to wear."

Emily's playful expression faltered as realization dawned on her. She hadn't thought about that. With a small nod, she finally relented. "Alright, I get it."

Her personal guard soon arrived to take the bags back to the car, and with that settled, they decided to take a break. Strolling through the mall, they grabbed something to eat before heading out.

A Trip to the Amusement Park

Once they were done shopping, Emily had another idea. "Let's go to the amusement park!"

Iris blinked in surprise. "Amusement park?"

Emily grinned. "Yeah! It'll be fun."

To her shock, Iris hesitated. "I've… I've never been to an amusement park before."

Emily's eyes widened. Never? A wave of determination filled her. Then today has to be special.

As soon as they arrived, Emily couldn't hide her excitement. "Alright! So, which ride should we try first?"

Iris was too distracted, looking around in amazement. The flashing lights, the excited laughter of children, the scent of cotton candy in the air—it was all so new to her.

Emily snapped her fingers in front of Iris' face. "Hello? Earth to Iris?"

Iris blinked. "Huh? What?"

Emily burst into laughter. "I was asking which ride we should take first."

Iris scanned the towering attractions around them, eyes settling on the massive roller coaster. A nervous thrill shot through her, but she squared her shoulders. "Let's go with the roller coaster."

Emily smirked. "Now that's the spirit! Let's go!"

And with that, they made their way toward the ride, ready for an adventure Iris would never forget.

As they reached the rollercoaster, Emily excitedly paid for their tickets. Iris hesitated for a moment before stepping in, gripping the safety bar as her heart pounded. She had never been on a ride like this before.

The rollercoaster slowly climbed to the top, the anticipation making her even more nervous. And then—without warning—it dropped.

"AHHHH!" Iris screamed at the top of her lungs, squeezing her eyes shut.

Meanwhile, Emily was laughing, hands in the air, fully enjoying the thrill.

By the time the ride came to a stop, Iris was completely frozen in place. She didn't move. She didn't even blink.

Emily stared at her for a second before bursting into laughter. "Iris, come on! It's over!"

Still, no response.

Grinning, Emily pulled out her phone and snapped a few pictures. "Oh, I am so keeping these!" she said, shaking her head.

A Sweet Break & More Fun

Once Iris finally recovered, they headed to a nearby food stand for cotton candy.

Iris took a bite and sighed in satisfaction, while Emily made a face. "This is way too sweet! How do people eat this?"

Iris laughed. "That's the point, Em."

After finishing their snacks, they moved on to the car racing game. This time, Iris loosened up, getting competitive as they played.

"Yes! I won!" Iris cheered as her name flashed on the screen.

Emily crossed her arms, pretending to pout. "Okay, that was pure luck."

Their final stop was the water park, where they splashed around, rode the slides, and had the best time.

Iris couldn't remember the last time she felt this happy. For the first time in a long time, she didn't have to worry about work, money, or survival. She was just... enjoying the moment.

Emily watched her with a soft smile. This was exactly why she wanted to do this—to see that spark in Iris again.

Heading Home

As the sun set, they decided to take a leisurely drive around the city before heading back. The glowing lights and peaceful atmosphere made it the perfect way to end the day.

Eventually, Iris knew it was time to return to the mansion. Emily insisted on buying her dinner and even slipped some money into her hand.

"Emily, I can't take this—"

"Nope. No arguments. Just take it, okay?" Emily smiled, pulling her into a tight hug.

They sat in the car for a while, talking about everything and nothing, until Iris finally stepped out. She waved as Emily drove off, waiting until the car disappeared from sight before heading inside.

Today had been perfect.