Isabella sat quietly in the backseat of the luxurious black car beside Lina, who looked elegant even in silence. The woman radiated calm control, her posture perfect, her expression unreadable. She didn't talk much, only asking a few polite questions on the way.
"What do you do in your free time?" she asked, her voice smooth but distant.
Isabella clasped her hands on her lap and gave a soft smile. "I… I like sketching. Mostly faces and little things from my imagination."
Lina nodded once. "That's nice."
She didn't ask much more, but Isabella knew how to keep her answers simple. She didn't mention hacking. Not even a word. That part of her life was locked away, hidden like a treasure she couldn't afford to expose. It wasn't because she was ashamed—it was her secret weapon. And people like Lina? They asked too little and noticed too much.
Lina then asked about her education.
"I finished school," Isabella said honestly, keeping her gaze low. "I didn't go to college… yet."
"And your age?"
"...Nineteen."
There was a pause.
Just for a second, Lina's eyes flickered with something. A subtle gleam that Isabella couldn't quite place—something between realization and thought. But it disappeared quickly, her face returning to its calm, graceful state.
The rest of the ride was quiet.
When they arrived at the mall, Isabella's eyes went round like saucers.
It was massive like something out of the books she used to read in secret. Glittering glass walls, wide golden entrances, mannequins dressed in beautiful dresses, rows of expensive stores with their fancy displays and soft music in the background. Guards in black escorted them through the side entrance as if they were royalty.
For Lina, this was routine.
But for Isabella… it was a dream.
A novel-like experience.
Her feet moved carefully, her heart racing with every step. Once upon a time, she used to walk past malls just to peek inside, staring at dresses she couldn't afford and imagining herself wearing them someday. It wasn't like she couldn't make money—she could, with a single keystroke. But her uncle watched her like a hawk. Even when drunk, he checked her browser history, her bank account, her emails. He wouldn't let her go out without reason. Wouldn't let her dress nicely. Wouldn't even let her keep money.
And now here she was.
Walking next to a woman who could buy entire stores if she wanted.
Freedom, Isabella thought, her lips curving into the tiniest smile. This is what it feels like.
Lina walked gracefully through the grand hallways of the mall, her heels tapping softly against the smooth floors, while Isabella followed behind like a small, quiet shadow.
They entered an elegant clothing boutique first—one of those shops where the mannequins looked like real-life princesses and the dresses cost more than what Isabella had seen in her entire life.
Isabella's heart raced just standing inside. She barely dared to touch anything, keeping her hands clutched tightly in front of her.
When the shop attendant approached, Lina spoke calmly and smoothly, "Bring a few pieces in her size."
Within minutes, luxurious dresses were displayed before her. Fabrics she had only seen in magazines…soft pastels, flowing silks, detailed embroidery that shimmered gently under the light.
Isabella panicked.
"I… I don't need, really," she said quickly, shaking her head, stepping back. "I-I have clothes already."
But Lina didn't even look at her refusal.
She simply nodded to the attendant. "Pack these."
And just like that, three beautiful dresses were selected without a second thought.
Then it was shoes.
Elegant sandals, soft flats, delicate heels.
Again Isabella tried to refuse, her cheeks burning with guilt and nervousness. "I-I can manage… really, I'm fine…"
But Lina, without raising her voice, simply gestured once.
Shoes were packed.
After that, they stopped by a skincare boutique, the shelves lined with expensive creams and glowing bottles. Isabella was overwhelmed. These things were pure luxury things she never even dreamed she could touch.
By the end of the shopping, there were several bags being carried by guards behind them.
Lina didn't say much during the trip. She was calm. Silent. Graceful But Isabella could feel something in her.
It wasn't just cold duty.
It wasn't obligation.
It was a quiet, careful warmth.
A kind of warmth Isabella hadn't felt in years...not even in little ways.
Not since her father and grandmother.
She clutched the shopping bag to her chest, walking silently beside Lina, her heart full of a feeling she didn't know how to name.
Maybe this woman wasn't the softest.
Maybe she wasn't the kindest with words.
But her actions…they made Isabella feel something she hadn't felt for a long, long time—
Cherished.
Even if only for a moment, Isabella promised herself she would treasure it.
As they walked past another row of shining stores, Lina's calm voice broke the silence.
"Do you want to buy something else?" she asked, her tone as smooth and steady as always.
Isabella opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, Lina's phone buzzed sharply in her purse. She pulled it out gracefully, checking the screen with a slight frown before answering.
"Yes... hmm…" Lina spoke in short, clipped words, her tone serious now, her posture a little more tense.
After a few moments, she ended the call and turned toward Isabella.
"I have something urgent that came up," she said, tucking the phone back into her bag with fluid motions. "I need to leave, dear. But you can continue shopping." She gave a small nod toward the black card still in Isabella's hands. "Use his card, alright?"
Isabella quickly shook her head, her hands waving nervously. "It's okay, ma'am, you can leave. I don't need to buy anything else…"
The words had barely left her mouth when she noticed a slight change in Lina's face.
A tiny frown. Barely noticeable, but enough to make Isabella's heart jump.
Oh no... Did I say something wrong? she panicked internally.
But Lina only stepped closer, her sharp blue eyes softening a little.
"Not ma'am," she said firmly but not unkindly. "Call me Mom."
Isabella's breath hitched.
Before she could even properly react, Lina turned elegantly on her heel, two guards following her at a polite distance, her heels clicking against the marble floor.
Isabella stood there, frozen, her shopping bags held tightly against her chest, her wide brown eyes staring at Lina's disappearing figure.
Mom...?
She felt a strange warmth bloom inside her chest...a feeling so foreign it left her dizzy.
She stayed there for a long moment, blinking in a daze, before slowly lowering her gaze to the shiny black card in her hand.