chapitre 10: “She’s beautiful!”

As they entered the store, a welcoming lady greeted them with a warm smile.

"Welcome, Sir! How can I help you?" she asked.

Elie, looking determined, replied, "I want to find something for her!"

The lady, still smiling, turned to Elsa: "Very well, Ma'am! What style do you prefer? Do you have any particular preferences?"

Elsa, confidently, responded, "No, everything works for me!"

"In that case, please follow me!" invited the lady.

Elsa nodded and followed her through the store. Meanwhile, Elie, lost in his thoughts and staring at his phone, didn't notice the time passing. A few minutes later, Elsa emerged from the fitting room wearing a pleated peach-pink dress that stopped mid-knee, revealing her outer beauty.

Elie was too absorbed in his screen to pay attention to what was happening around him. He murmured to himself: "Elodie, please respond if you received this message. I'll explain everything to you... Stop ignoring me, please... I really miss you!"

Suddenly, the lady interrupted him: "Sir! Sir!"

Elie snapped back and looked up. At that precise moment, he fixed his gaze on Elsa and thought in awe: "She's beautiful!"

Elsa noticed his gaze and joked: "With you staring at me like that, it looks like it's the first time you see me. I just changed clothes but not my face."

"You always have to ruin everything!" Elie retorted.

"And what did I ruin this time?" she asked with a mischievous smile.

"Nothing. I almost believed you were an angel for once!" he confessed.

"Okay, I'll take that as a compliment saying that I'm beautiful," Elsa replied with a wink.

"Take it as you want!... But you really do look beautiful in that dress!" Elie added sincerely.

A slight heartbeat made Elsa blush as she thought: "I'm… beautiful? ...Wait? Why am I getting all fluttery over this? Since when am I so sensitive over such a small thing?"

The lady interrupted them again: "Excuse me, but would you like to try something else?"

Elie enthusiastically shook his head: "No need! Pack up all the clothes from here and there! And also from this side and over there too! And from there as well!"

Surprised, Elsa exclaimed: "You just ordered all the clothes in this room. But what are you going to do with all of that? They're all women's clothes."

Elie joked: "That's true! I'm going to wear them all at once!"

Elsa burst out laughing: "Very funny!"

Elie continued with a mischievous smile: "We came here for you so what do you want me to do with women's clothes?"

Elsa replied while laughing: "Wear them all at once! You said it!"

The lady couldn't help but laugh too: "Ha! Ha! It's so lovely to see you like this! You look like newlyweds!"

Elsa teased Elie: "We really are newlyweds!"

The lady smiled warmly: "Really? I guessed right then. You make such a beautiful couple!"

Elie made a quick decision: "Get everything I mentioned in this size and bring it to this address."

"Very well, Sir!" the lady agreed.

"Let's go!" announced Elie.

"What? But I need to change first!" protested Elsa.

"No need! They're already yours anyway," he replied.

Elsa couldn't help but smile as she said: "How cool it is to be rich! I didn't even think it was possible!"

Elie waved his credit card while smiling: "For me, anything is possible!"

With an exaggerated bow, Elsa added while laughing: "You are my master! (bows)."

Once out of the store, Elie and Elsa headed towards the car.

"After we're done with the clothing, let's go see the jewelry and more," suggested Elie.

Elsa, surprised, exclaimed, "What? But isn't it over yet?"

"Not yet!" replied Elie, a smile on his face.

Elsa sighed, "I feel like this is going to be a tiring day!"

In her thoughts, she said to herself, "But at least, thanks to him, I've been able to buy everything I need for an entire lifetime. Do I really deserve this? Or will he take everything back once the contract is over? But I don't have time to think about that right now. All that matters to me is my family. Once they get the necessary care, I will be reassured and grateful for everything."

They visited almost all the luxury stores in the city, moving from accessories to refined clothing. After a long shopping spree, Elie declared, "I think we're done. We can go home now!"

Elsa replied, "Actually, I need to meet someone, so go ahead without me! And I also need to return to the hospital."

"Are you going to stay at the hospital again tonight?" asked Elie.

"Of course!" affirmed Elsa.

"Do you want us to drop you off?"

"No, I'm fine! I think I'll just take a taxi," she replied confidently.

"As you wish!" agreed Elie.

"Alright! I'm off now," she said as she turned around. Then she added with a bright smile, "Oh! Thank you for today! It was a better day thanks to you!"

Elie, hesitating, asked, "Are you sure you don't want us to drop you off?"

"Absolutely!" she replied with a radiant smile. "And besides, I'd like to enjoy the luxury my husband has given me!"

At that moment, the driver announced, "Sir! The car is ready!"

"Very well! We can leave!" exclaimed Elie, followed by his butler who was pushing him in his wheelchair.

Elsa watched the car drive away before taking a taxi to see her friend.