When Serenity Bled into Chaos

"Jacob, do you like this dress?" she asked, holding up a floral sundress, her eyes showing excitement and a little nervousness.

I looked at the dress for a moment, then met her eyes. "It’s nice. I’m sure it’ll look great on you. Why don’t you try it on and see how it feels?"

She nodded quickly and went into the fitting room. I could hear the soft rustle of fabric and her quiet humming from outside, which made me smile.

I tapped my shoes on the floor along with her humming.

An idea came to me, so I pulled out my phone and called a trusted contact. I spoke quietly, giving clear instructions for a difficult task, knowing the deadline was very tight but had to be done immediately.

"But Chairman, finishing this so quickly is almost impossible," he said, his hesitation made me clench my fist.

My shoulders tensed, and my jaw clenched as I opened my mouth to shout. Then I caught sight of the curtain of the fitting room where Natalie was trying on dresses and forced myself to stay calm. I took a deep breath and lowered my voice. "Make it happen. I don’t accept excuses."

"I suggest you treat this task as if everything you care about depends on it," I said in a calm but firm tone, making sure he understood. The silence on the other end told me my words had an impact.

"I-I will… I promise," he stammered, his voice shaking under the pressure.

Leaning back on the couch, a small satisfied smile appeared on my face as I thought of Natalie's earlier smile. Her eyes had lit up when she saw the bright roses in the florist shop. She couldn’t stop looking at them, completely focused, and it made me happy to see her like that.

It struck me that, no matter her past, she still loved flowers like any other girl. I had noticed she liked pink and pale pink roses the most.

That’s why I asked my assistant to decorate the entire floor—from the hallway to the bedroom—with pink roses, and I even placed a bouquet in my car to surprise her.

I pulled my collar up and stretched the cuff of my sleeves, feeling proud.

I was lost in thought when she walked out. Her bright smile caught my attention, and I couldn’t help but smile softly at her.

She looked absolutely gorgeous.

"You're stunning, Natalie," I said sincerely. "Do you like this dress?"

"I absolutely love it!" she said, spinning around. "Thank you so much for bringing me here, Jacob. I’ve never felt this happy!"

Her excitement made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t expected. Seeing her this cheerful gave me a quiet sense of satisfaction. "I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself," I said, smiling softly. "Let’s look around some more, and if you want, we can grab some ice cream afterward."

She nodded quickly, her energy catching me off guard. I asked the sales assistant to pack the outfits she had tried on and suggested she change into a pair of navy-blue jeans and a clean white blouse for comfort.

As we moved through the mall, I stayed alert, making sure she had everything she wanted. I offered her my arm whenever the crowd got tight and carried her shopping bags without thinking twice. I led her to stores that matched her taste and pointed out a few things she might have missed. Every time her face lit up at something new, I felt a quiet thrill—it made the whole day feel worthwhile.

We walked through the aisles at a slow pace, Natalie stopping every now and then to touch the fabrics or look closely at the designs. I stayed right behind her, watching her reactions. There was a calm look on my face, mixed with amusement, because she asked questions about almost everything, and I didn’t mind answering any of them.

We went through several stores as she chose different accessories.

At Gucci, she picked two handbags she liked—one in beige and one in black.

At Jimmy Choo, she tried on a few sandals before choosing a soft gold pair.

At Hermès, she spent time checking scarves, running her fingers over the smooth material until she picked a light pink one.

At Swarovski, she took her time looking at earrings and bracelets, her eyes focused as if she was studying each piece.

My eyes widened when I realized she knew so much about brands. She even explained the differences in designs and materials with confidence.

My lips formed a small “O” as I listened. She talked about them like she had always been familiar with the high-end world.

I exhaled a long breath. She wasn’t distant or unusual in her choices. She was just like many other women who enjoyed good brands and pretty things.

Her excitement reached its highest point when we reached the watch section. I chose a simple Michael Kors watch and placed it on her wrist, fastening the clasp. Her face brightened immediately, and she bounced slightly on her feet. Seeing her that happy made the long shopping trip feel completely worth it.

It hit me then—this was my first proper outing with her, no it's a date. Natalie talked nonstop about the stores, the accessories, and the things she liked. She was relaxed and cheerful, nothing like the quiet girl I had met earlier, and seeing this side of her was new to me.

I listened to her closely, a small smile appearing now and then as she continued. Spending this day with her made something clear: it wasn’t just a shopping trip. It helped her feel more comfortable around me, and it brought us a little closer than we were before.

"Ahh, I’m so tired, but this has been the best day ever," Natalie said, her voice light as she enjoyed her popsicle, a relaxed smile on her face.

By the time the sun began to set, I was carrying a stack of her shopping bags, each one showing how happy she had been throughout the day. Her cheerful mood rubbed off on me.

As we walked toward the parking lot, my phone buzzed with a call from Austin. I declined it twice, but the phone kept ringing again and again. I was about to switch it off when Natalie gently put her hand on my arm to stop me.

"Take the call. It might be something important," she said, grabbing the shopping bags from my hands.

"Okay, wait for me in the car," I told her, tossing her the keys. I stepped aside and answered the call. "What’s the issue, Austin? You’ve been calling nonstop. What happened?"

"Alpha, I just got information that Asher Black, the Alpha of Blue Moon, is planning to make a move on Luna, so—"

"What?!" I snapped, cutting him off. My stomach dropped as the meaning of his words hit me.

Without wasting a second, I turned around and ran toward the parking lot, cursing myself for letting my guard down and hoping I wasn’t too late.

"Natalie! Where are you?" I shouted.

A cold fear rushed through me when I saw the empty spot.

She was nowhere to be found. The only thing left behind were the shopping bags scattered on the ground.