143As they continued down the aisles, Seraphina’s cheerful energy brightened Allvar’s mood. She waved off his attempts to be modest as she piled luxurious items into their cart, her laughter infectious.“Allvar, I’m serious,” she said, glancing at him with a playful smile. “Take anything you like. Today’s my treat!”Allvar chuckled, though he looked a bit shy. “I appreciate it, really, but you don’t have to go overboard. I’ll be fine with just one or two things.”“Oh, nonsense,” she replied, waving a hand dismissively. “I’ve never met anyone who needed some spoiling as much as you do. Now, what about this jacket? It’s practically calling your name.”He hesitated, reaching out to touch the soft fabric. It was undeniably nice, the kind of thing he’d admired from a distance but never seriously considered buying. “It’s… a bit much, don’t you think?”“Not at all,” Seraphina said, her eyes twinkling. “If you like it, it’s yours. I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”Allvar shook his head, smil
144Allvar sighed, preparing himself for the inevitable. He knew Serena and Derek were the type to throw insults when they were feeling insecure, but this time, he wasn’t going to let it bother him. Not with Seraphina standing by his side.He glanced at her, seeing the way her expression shifted from calm to sharp. She stood tall beside him, her posture radiating quiet confidence, ready to defend him if need be. He couldn’t help but feel a small flicker of appreciation. Derek, who had been unusually quiet, couldn’t stay silent for long. His eyes glinted with mockery as he stepped forward, his lips curling into a smirk. “I just don’t get it, Allvar,” he began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “How in the world did someone like you manage to land a post at Waterfall Corporation? I mean, I can’t even imagine.”Allvar kept his expression neutral, though his fists clenched at his sides. Derek’s mockery wasn’t new, but he had learned not to rise to the bait. He responded with a dry chuckle
145“You know,” she cut in smoothly, her voice sweet but with a hidden edge, “it’s funny, Derek. You’re always so quick to assume how things work in this world. But Allvar? He’s not the type to need anyone to ‘help’ him get ahead.” Her eyes flickered briefly to Allvar, a small, affectionate smile curving her lips. “He does just fine on his own.” Derek sneered, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to lash out. “I don’t know what kind of games you two are playing, but it’s pathetic,” he snapped, narrowing his eyes at Seraphina. “You think this—this—has any real value? Allvar? He’s nothing.”“Oh, you’re right,” Seraphina replied with a delicate, mocking tilt of her head. “Allvar’s 'nothing'. But he’s more than enough for me, Derek. That must sting, doesn’t it? Knowing he has something you’ll never have: integrity.” Her tone was sweet, but there was a bite in her words that made Derek flinch.The tension thickened in the air, and Derek shifted uneasily. But his ego wouldn’t let him back
146“She’s way out of your league,” Derek muttered under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear. “What’s a woman like that doing with a loser like you?”Allvar’s eyes narrowed as he shot Derek a pointed look. “You know, Derek, maybe you’re right. A woman like Seraphina deserves someone who actually knows how to appreciate her.” He leaned in slightly, his tone turning just a shade colder. “Someone who knows not to mess with her, or anyone she cares about.”Derek scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Appreciate her? You think you’re capable of that? Don’t kid yourself, Allvar. You’re just playing a role, and when the act is up, she’ll see you for what you really are.”Seraphina stepped closer to Allvar, a smirk playing on her lips. She glanced briefly at Derek before locking eyes with Allvar. “You’re just jealous, Derek,” she said, her voice cutting through the tension like a sharp knife. “Because despite everything you’ve tried, Allvar’s got something you’ll never have—
147Derek couldn’t hold back anymore. He took another step forward, his battered body tense despite the bandages wrapped around his arm and leg. Each movement seemed to remind him of his recent defeat—an embarrassment he could barely swallow. The crowd’s attention only fueled the fire simmering in his eyes. He pointed a shaky finger at Seraphina, his voice a dangerous growl. “You think this is over? You think just because you play at loyalty, you’ve won?”Allvar’s expression hardened as he noted the bandages. There was a part of him that almost pitied Derek. Almost. But seeing the way Derek’s jaw tightened, the way his eyes glittered with barely-contained fury, he knew this confrontation was inevitable. “Derek, listen to yourself,” Allvar said, his voice measured, calm in the face of Derek’s storm. “You’re injured. You should be resting, not dragging yourself here to—”“Silence!” Derek’s face twisted, veins standing out like cords against his neck. “I don’t need your pity or your fa
148Derek’s eyes burned with fury, his hands shaking at his sides. “You think you’ve won, huh, Allvar? Well, I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.”Allvar couldn’t help himself. He burst into laughter, shaking his head as he looked Derek up and down. It wasn’t the response Derek was expecting, and it only made him angrier. “Really, Derek? You think you can scare me with that empty threat?”“What’s so funny?” Derek demanded, his voice thick with disbelief, his fists clenched at his sides.Serena raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two men as she stepped a little closer to Allvar. “Yeah, what’s so funny?” she echoed, her tone sharp but curious. “This looks pretty serious to me.”Allvar wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye, still chuckling. “Oh, it’s just... it’s just that you’ve been trying so hard to be the big bad wolf, Derek,” he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “But you’re not fooling anyone. Especially not me.”
149The tension in the air was thick as Derek lunged forward, his fury blinding him to the pain in his limbs. Before he could make another move, a group of salespeople appeared, rushing over in a hurry to break up the scene."Hey, hey! What do you think you’re doing?" one of them, a tall woman with a stern expression, demanded as she stepped between Derek and Allvar, holding up a hand. "This is a public space! You can’t go around fighting here."Serena, still flushed with anger, pointed an accusing finger at Allvar. “It’s him! He’s the one causing all this trouble!” she spat, glaring at him.Allvar raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “Me? No, Serena, it’s Derek who wanted to make a scene,” he said calmly, shaking his head. “I’m just here minding my business.”Derek’s face flushed red with rage. “You’re lying, Allvar! You’re always trying to get under my skin! You think you’re so much better than me!”“Allvar doesn’t need to do anything t
150Derek and Serena made their way toward the cashier, their footsteps heavy with tension. Derek’s fists were still clenched at his sides, but he forced himself to take deep breaths, trying to calm his rising fury. Serena, walking just ahead of him, couldn’t help but throw one last venomous glance over her shoulder at Allvar and Seraphina.At the counter, Allvar and Seraphina finally arrived, their presence commanding attention. They placed their items on the counter with casual ease, though both of them seemed keenly aware of the eyes still on them. Seraphina, her usual calm demeanor intact, gave a small, polite smile to the cashier, who was busy scanning their items."Anything else?" the cashier asked, her voice professional but tinged with the annoyance that had begun to simmer from the earlier scene.Allvar glanced at Seraphina and shook his head. "No, that’ll be all," he said smoothly, his eyes narrowing slightly as Derek’s voice echoed from