CHAPTER 3 : THE LEAD STREET MALL

Aria cried softly against my shoulder. Her tiny body shook because of the cold.

I pulled her blanket tighter around her.

Her socks were thin, and the hospital room was freezing.

"I know, my princess. We're going to fix that."

The nurse looked at the baby in my arms and frowned.

"Mrs. Sterling, you shouldn't leave the hospital today. You've lost a lot of blood."

"I can't leave my daughters in this cold room."

"Then let me call a doctor."

"No. I'll rest when they're warm."

"You're very stubborn."

"I'm a mother now. Being stubborn is part of the job."

"Then at least let me push you downstairs."

"Thank you."

The nurse sighed and began pushing my wheelchair toward the elevator.

"Your mother-in-law would hate you," she said.

"She already does."

"And, Mrs. Sterling?"

"Yes?"

"Your daughters are lucky to have you."

When we reached the ground floor, a taxi driver stared at the five baby seats I had asked the hospital to lend me. His eyes grew even wider when he saw the baby cycle.

"Lead Street Mall," I said. "Please hurry."

"Shopping for someone special?"

"For five someones."

"Lady, you can't take five babies in a taxi!"

"Then drive slowly."

"Slowly? Those are five babies!"

"Then drive carefully. Nobody is paying you to be rude."

"Who is paying me?"

"I am. I'll pay you double if you stop talking."

He laughed, but he started driving.

When we arrived at the mall, bright lights filled the building, and the floors shone beneath our feet.

I pushed the baby cycle through the entrance. People began turning their heads to look at us.

"Look at them," a woman whispered. "Are those quintuplets?"

"Yes," I answered. "All five of them."

"They're beautiful."

"Thank you," I said with a smile. "They're mine."

"Five at once? You must be exhausted."

"I am. But I'm also very happy."

Suddenly, the system's voice rang out inside my head. It sounded bright and cheerful.

"Host, today's task is to buy clothes. Buy new clothes for your five lucky stars and receive a reward of six million seven hundred and eighty thousand dollars."

I almost laughed.

"Six million? Just for buying clothes?"

"The reward will be paid when the task is complete," the system replied. "Keep your lucky stars warm."

"And what happens if I fail?"

"You will not fail, Host."

I looked down at my daughters.

Aurelia's tiny fist opened and closed around my finger. Ariella turned her head toward the bright lights and blinked slowly.

"Then let's see if this is real," I said.

We entered the first store. It was filled with beautiful pink dresses. A young sales assistant hurried over to welcome us.

"Hi! How can I help you today?"

"I need clothes for my daughters," I said. "For all of them."

The young woman blinked in surprise.

"All five?"

"Yes. Right now."

"Are they really quintuplets? They're so tiny!"

"They're very strong," I replied.

"Oh, I can see that! Look at how tightly she's holding your finger!"

We began filling the shopping cart with coats, socks, tiny shoes, and soft blankets.

"Socks first," I said. "Their feet are freezing."

"Coats next," the sales assistant suggested. "Our winter collection just arrived."

"Then bring me everything warm."

"Warm hats too?"

"Five of them."

"Gloves?"

"Five pairs. They are tiny, but I will not forget any of them."

I picked the warmest jackets and the softest blankets I could find.

When I wrapped Aria in a pale yellow coat, she stopped crying.

"Look, she likes it!" the sales assistant said with a smile.

"She's warm now," I replied. "That's all she needs."

"What about the pink dresses?"

"Yes, those too. Every girl deserves a pink dress."

Ariella reached toward a silver bow hanging on the rack. Alabella grabbed a red hat, while Arianna frowned at a lace collar and pushed it away.

"Too fancy," I said.

The sales assistant laughed.

"She already knows fashion!"

"She knows what she wants. That's enough."

"What does she want?"

"Warmth first. Style second."

"Then she is smarter than me."

After we had chosen everything, we went to the counter.

The sales assistant scanned the last item and suddenly stopped. Her smile disappeared as she looked at the screen.

"Miss Sterling, your total is seven hundred thousand dollars. How would you like to pay?"

I stared at her.

"Seven hundred thousand?"

"Yes. That's the total for everything in your cart."

"Use the card."

"Are you sure? That's a lot of money."

"My daughters are sure."

She took the black card and swiped it through the machine.

A moment later, the machine beeped and printed the receipt.

The card worked, but only about three hundred thousand dollars remained.

"Is there a problem?" I asked.

"No, ma'am. But you won't be able to buy much more with what's left."

"Then we are almost done."

"We have three hundred thousand left," I said quietly. "Then we'll spend it on what matters."

Suddenly, the system's voice rang out inside my head again. This time, it sounded sharp and urgent.

"Host, hurry! Complete the task to receive your reward."

"I'm trying," I whispered angrily. "Be patient."

"Patience is for people who have time."

I took a deep breath and looked at my daughters.

"Keep going. Every dollar is for my girls."

"Then spend it well, Host."

The sales assistant finished putting the clothes into shopping bags. My hands were still shaking, but at least my daughters were warm now.

"That's everything," she said. "Thank you for shopping with us."

"Thank you for not asking me to leave."

She looked surprised.

"Why would I ask you to leave? Just look at those little faces! Come back anytime."

"I will. With five more bags."

I smiled and placed the last shopping bag on the baby cycle. Ariella reached out her tiny hand and touched the ribbon on the bag.

At that moment, the system's voice rang out again.

"Ding! Task complete. Host, your reward is ready."

I quickly took my phone out of my bag and stared at the screen. My heart began to beat faster.

"Six million, seven hundred and eighty thousand dollars," the system announced. "All the money has been legally transferred into your account."

"Legally?" I whispered. "That was fast."

"Your account is verified. Your lucky stars did their part."

With shaking fingers, I opened my banking app.

The money was there.

It was not waiting for approval. It was not a promise that might disappear the next day.

It was already mine.

"Mama, is it real?" I whispered before stopping myself and smiling.

My daughters could not answer me yet. They were only hours old.

The sales assistant's mouth fell open when she saw my phone.

"Ma'am, is that money yours?"

"Yes," I replied. "It's mine."

"Are you sure? That's a lot of zeros!"

"I counted every single one of them."

"Please don't tell anyone," I added.

"I won't. I promise."

"Not even your manager?"

"Especially not my manager."

I did not look back at the store. I was too busy staring at my bank balance and thinking about the system's final words.

"Host, your lucky stars have earned this. The next mission will be sent soon."