Two Hearts

Shopping

Laura's POV

While I was making breakfast, Daniel walked into the kitchen. And immediately, I felt that something was different. We looked at each other differently. Talked to each other differently.

The old tension was gone. We were more relaxed.

Closer.

Maybe sharing a room had helped us more than all the words we had left unsaid.

Breakfast felt like it belonged to a family that had been sitting around the same table for years. We talked. Passed things to one another. There were no arguments. No tension. No awkward silences.

"Ready for today?" Daniel asked in an unusually cheerful mood.

"For what?" Ellia asked.

“Shopping." The word left his mouth far too casually.

He was bringing up the very thing I'd refused yesterday. And now he was using the heavy artillery - The children. He knew perfectly well that if they started begging, I would eventually give in.

"YES!" both children shouted at the same time.

And there it was. The inevitable.

An hour later, we were all in the car heading toward the mall. I, naturally, was pouting slightly while staring out the window.

"Are you angry?" Daniel asked innocently.

I turned toward him.

"What do you think? You used a forbidden tactic.” I pointed toward the back seat where Ellia and Markus were happily chatting.

Daniel simply shrugged. But he was smiling. He knew I was right. And he'd done it on purpose.

At the mall, Daniel refused to let me enter a single store I chose. I could only stare at them while we walked past. Never mind that I'd been shopping there for years. Never mind that the prices were reasonable. Or that normal people could actually afford them.

No.

Daniel led me directly toward the luxury section.

"You can choose whatever you want," he said as we entered the first store. "Update your wardrobe. Expand it. Refresh it."

Somewhere along the way Markus and Ellia disappeared. I'd briefly noticed Daniel whispering something to them, and within five minutes they were gone. When I asked where the children were, he simply waved a hand.

"Don't worry. We'll meet up later."

That answer should have concerned me. Unfortunately, I was too distracted by the store itself.

The first boutique specialized entirely in women's business wear. Blazers. Skirts. Tailored trousers. Professional dresses.

Everything was elegant. Everything looked expensive. Everything probably was expensive.

"Good afternoon. How may I assist you?” One of the sales associates approached us.

She was tall, beautiful, and dressed exactly the way someone working in a luxury boutique should be dressed.

Her eyes never left Daniel. Not once.

I glanced at him. But Daniel didn't even look at her.

"My wife needs a new wardrobe," he said, pulling out his credit card without the slightest hesitation. ”Please give her whatever she wants."

My wife. Seriously? It was the first time he'd said it out loud. Publicly.

"Of course, sir.” The saleswoman immediately turned toward me and guided me farther into the store.

But I noticed the look she gave me. She was not pleased.

And honestly?

I understood why. I looked completely out of place. I was wearing my oldest pair of jeans. A simple T-shirt. My hair was tied back in a ponytail. I looked like I was going grocery shopping. Not spending a small fortune on designer clothing.

Within minutes I was drowning in outfits - Different colors. Different cuts. Different styles. Different brands.

And honestly?

Almost all of them looked amazing. As if they'd been designed specifically for me. If I showed up to work dressed like this, nobody would recognize me.

Normally I rotated between the same two suits I'd bought almost five years ago. Suits that had been begging to be retired for at least the last two years.

And the colors.

I never realized so many colors suited me - Light gray. Cream. Peach. Soft beige. And emerald green.

Especially emerald green. The shade somehow made my eyes stand out.

I stepped out of the fitting room wearing the emerald suit. By now Daniel had insisted on seeing every single outfit. He'd given every previous one the same reaction. A thumbs up. A nod.

"Looks good."

But when I stepped out wearing the green one...

Something changed. He simply stared. For a second. Then another. Then another.

For a moment I thought he hated it. Then he finally spoke.

“Beautiful." His voice was quieter than before. "You look absolutely beautiful."

I froze.

"This color makes your eyes stand out."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Nobody had ever complimented me like that before. Not because of an outfit. Not because of my eyes. Not like this.

"Thank you," I said softly.

Then escaped back into the fitting room before he could see how much that compliment affected me.

When I came back out, Daniel was holding another suit. It was plaid. Decorated with pearl details around the collar. It looked incredibly expensive. And incredibly old-fashioned.

"How about this one?" he asked.

I stared at it. Then at him. Then back at the suit.

"Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not eighty."

A nearby saleswoman failed miserably at hiding her laughter.

I looked at Daniel. He looked at me. And suddenly we were both laughing.

When I'd finally tried on everything, I started sorting through the outfits. Trying to decide which ones I liked most. Then I accidentally looked at one of the price tags. I almost had a heart attack.

"Daniel, this coat costs more than my first salary," I whispered, leaning closer to him.

"That explains a lot."

I stared at him.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

Arrogant i***t. Always with his comments.

"I don't know which one to choose," I admitted, looking over all the outfits. "They're all beautiful."

“Good." Daniel nodded toward the sales associate.

She appeared beside him instantly.

"We'll take all of them. Please have everything delivered to this address.” He handed her a piece of paper.

"What? No!" I nearly shouted. "Daniel, you can't do that!"

Before I could continue protesting, he had already handed over his credit card and was steering me out of the store with a satisfied smile.

“Hey!" I smacked his shoulder. "You can't do that! Do you have any idea how much money you just spent? That's insane!"

"Now you listen to me.” His tone was firm. But somehow still gentle.

I honestly didn't understand how that was possible.

"You deserve this."

I opened my mouth. He didn't let me interrupt.

"This is your day. And money doesn't matter. It's just money."

I stared at him. Just money? Who said things like that?

"And now stop arguing and let's keep going."

"What do you mean keep going?" I protested. "I'm not buying anything else!"

"Try me.” The growl in his voice made me immediately realize I wasn't being given a choice.

At all.

Every store we entered after that made me want to faint from the prices. Daniel, meanwhile, couldn't have cared less. At some point I became afraid to try anything on. Because every single thing I liked ended up being purchased.

No matter how much I protested. No matter how much I complained. No matter how many times I told him no.

I was beginning to suspect there had been some sort of secret communication between every luxury store employee in the mall.

Because everywhere we went, we were welcomed with smiles. Some stores offered champagne. Others brought snacks.

After several boutiques, I felt slightly lightheaded from all the champagne glasses being handed to me.

In a few stores Daniel started choosing outfits himself. And naturally, because most of the saleswomen seemed ready to melt simply from being in his presence, they couldn't resist making comments.

"Your husband has excellent taste," one of them said sweetly.

I nearly choked on air.

Daniel simply looked up and replied,

"I know."

That smirk. That ridiculous smirk. I wanted to hit him with the sweater I was holding. Repeatedly.

By the time we'd finished most of the stores, I realized something alarming. I wasn't going to have room for all of this. I would actually have to put away my old clothes. At least temporarily.

Because Daniel had left absolutely no room for negotiation.

I now owned: Suits. Dresses. Tops. Jeans. Skirts. Cardigans. Sweaters. Coats. Jackets. Shoes. A ridiculous number of shoes. I was pretty sure I had over twenty pairs by now.

Maybe more.

Everything came from expensive designer collections.

Everything.

My head was spinning. And somehow I felt more exhausted than after a full day at work.

Then we stopped in front of the last store - Women’s lingerie.

"Absolutely not.” I didn't even hesitate.

Daniel sighed.

"Well..."

"No."

"I wasn't even finished."

"No."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"I have no intention of going in there."

I crossed my arms.

Good.

"However," he continued, "I strongly recommend matching lingerie and sleepwear."

I stared at him.

"Daniel."

"What?"

I opened my mouth. Then closed it again.

Because honestly?

I had no idea where to even begin. Before I could recover, he had already called over one of the sales associates. He handed her his card. Pointed at me.

And said,

"Anything she wants. I'll come back later."

Then he left. Just like that. Leaving me alone.

I turned toward the saleswoman and offered a polite smile. Her smile vanished the second Daniel disappeared from sight.

"Please follow me.” Her voice had suddenly become much colder.

I pretended not to notice.

Because it was painfully obvious that this wasn't my world. Without Daniel standing beside me, I was fairly certain some of these stores wouldn't even let me through the front door. They'd probably assume I was trying to steal something.

The lingerie itself was beautiful. And outrageously expensive. I'd never worn anything like it before. Soft lace. Elegant designs. Different colors. Different styles.

Everything felt like a second skin.

There were silk nightgowns. Short ones. Long ones. Silk robes. Matching sets.

And then...

The very spicy section. Absolutely not. I had no intention whatsoever of seducing Daniel.

I simply wanted practical things that matched my new wardrobe. Nothing more. Nothing less.

When I finally left the store, Daniel was already waiting for me.

"Well?"

I knew exactly what he was asking. Had I actually bought anything?

"I didn't get anything.” I shrugged. "Too expensive."

His eyes widened.

“What?!" He immediately turned toward the store.

I couldn't hold it anymore.

"Daniel." I held up his credit card. "It was a joke.” Then I burst out laughing.

The panic on his face disappeared instantly. Relief replaced it. And a second later he was laughing too.

“Good." He shook his head. "If you find that funny, let's keep going."

His smile returned.

"I have a surprise for you."

"Daniel..."

I already didn't like the sound of that.

"I know.” His grin widened. "That's why it'll be even better.”

After walking in silence for a while, Daniel suddenly stopped.

I hadn't even noticed where we'd ended up. When I looked up, large elegant letters stretched across the building's facade.

SPA & Wellness Retreat

"Daniel, what's this?" I pointed at the entrance.

"This," he announced proudly, "is where you'll spend the next few hours."

My stomach immediately dropped.

"No."

His smile widened.

"Yes."

"Daniel..."

He ignored me.

"Massage. Facial treatments. Hairdresser. Manicure. Pedicure. The full package.” He said it as casually as if he were listing groceries.

"Daniel, that's too much. I can't accept this."

He raised one eyebrow. The eyebrow. The one I hated. Because avoiding his questions afterward was practically impossible.

"Fine," he said. "Tell me honestly. When was the last time you went to a hairdresser?"

I opened my mouth. Then closed it again. Because I genuinely couldn't remember.

"I don't know.” And that was the truth.

I tried to go at least once a year. Sometimes once every two years. It depended entirely on what my budget looked like at the time.

“Exactly." His expression softened.

"Now go inside. Relax. Enjoy yourself."

I sighed.

"Daniel..."

"Tomorrow is going to be a very long day.” His voice became thoughtful. "And I think tomorrow evening is going to be even more interesting."

Only then did I remember - Grandmother.

The shopping frenzy. The endless outfit changes. The stress over prices. The fact that Daniel refused to take no for an answer.

I'd completely forgotten that his grandmother was arriving tomorrow. Daniel clearly noticed the panic crossing my face.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The reason you need this."

Before I could protest again, he gently pushed me toward the entrance.

"Go."

And somehow an entire team was already waiting for me.

Honestly?

I'd never experienced anything like it.

Ever.

During the massage I nearly fell asleep. At one point I was genuinely worried I might start snoring. Every muscle in my body relaxed. The stress I'd been carrying around for months seemed to melt away.

Then came the facial treatments - Cleansing. Hydrating. Massage. Things I had only ever seen advertised online.

A stylist explained which makeup shades suited me best. Which products worked for my skin. What colors complimented my features.

The hairdresser refreshed my haircut and suggested soft waves. Apparently my natural hair texture already leaned slightly wavy. He insisted I should wear it down more often because it highlighted my face.

Then came the manicure. The pedicure. A perfect French manicure that looked elegant without being overdone.

By the end of it all, I barely recognized myself.

Not because I looked completely different. But because I looked like a version of myself I'd never had time to become.

When I finally stepped outside, Daniel and the children were waiting across the street. While Daniel was absorbed in his phone, Markus and Ellia sat beside him eating ice cream. I immediately noticed several shopping bags next to them.

"What are those?" I asked, pointing at the bags.

Daniel looked up.

And froze. Completely froze.

For a moment he simply stared at me. Like he'd forgotten how words worked. Then he blinked. Twice. And finally seemed to remember how to speak.

"Umm..."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Daniel."

"The kids did a little shopping for their new activities.” The answer sounded strange. Almost distracted.

And he was still staring at me. Like he'd never seen me before.

“Oh." I dragged the word out. Pretending not to notice his reaction.

"Should we go home?"

Because honestly? I was exhausted. Completely exhausted.

“Yeah." His answer came automatically. But his eyes still hadn't left me.

At this point I was starting to feel self-conscious. Surely a haircut and a stylist couldn't have changed me that much. I had seen myself in the mirror before leaving.

My hair fell in soft waves over my shoulders. The makeup was light and natural. Nothing dramatic. Nothing extreme.

I simply shrugged.

The moment we arrived home, I headed upstairs. I wanted to change into comfortable clothes.

One last time.

Before packing away the things I knew I probably wouldn't be wearing anytime soon. Because no matter what happened, I wasn't throwing anything away.

If the day ever came when I had to leave this house, I would take my things and my children with me. Nothing else.

I stepped into the bedroom.

And stopped.

The room was overflowing - Shopping bags. Boxes. More shopping bags. More boxes.

Everywhere.

I rushed into the closet room.

It was even worse. Boxes lined the walls. Bags covered every available surface.

I glanced toward the section where I'd left my clothes yesterday. They were still there. Exactly where I'd put them.

I sighed.

Behind me I heard footsteps - Daniel.

I pointed at the chaos surrounding us.

"How is this even possible? We were just there."

He looked around. Then shrugged.

"Magic."

The i***t actually looked proud of himself. And somehow that made it worse.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. I felt like I was fighting a war on two different fronts.

On one side, I was trying to unpack everything we'd bought. On the other, I was trying to prepare dinner before everyone started asking when food would be ready.

At some point I asked Daniel to take the boxes containing my old clothes and cosmetics down to the storage room.

The look he gave me was pure confusion. I knew exactly what he was thinking - Why?

I didn't want to explain. I didn't want to tell him that those things were my safety net. That if one day I had to leave, they would be coming with me.

Not the designer clothes. Not the expensive shoes. Not the luxury handbags.

Mine.

So instead, I simply looked at him and said,

"For once, please just do what I'm asking and don't ask questions."

His eyebrows rose.

"And don't even think about throwing anything away."

He looked mildly offended.

"I wasn't going to."

"You were thinking about it."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

A pause. Then he sighed.

"Fine."

I pointed a finger at him.

"I'll know."

That earned me a laugh.

By the time dinner was ready, everything looked completely different.

One side of the closet belonged to Daniel. The other belonged to me. Shoes were neatly arranged on shelves. Handbags and accessories had their own sections.

The endless shopping bags had finally disappeared.

If I had walked into that closet a week ago, I never would have believed any of it belonged to me. I would have assumed some wealthy socialite lived there.

Not Laura. Definitely not Laura.

Even the beauty products had changed. Everything the specialists had recommended at the spa had somehow magically appeared in the bathroom - Skin care. Hair care. Cosmetics.

Every single thing.

I would have bet my life that Daniel was responsible.

By the time we finally sat down for dinner, I was exhausted. Completely exhausted. Markus and Ellia immediately launched into yet another pointless argument.

I didn't even remember what it was about. Something completely insignificant. Something only children would consider a life-or-death issue.

Normally I would have patiently listened. Normally I would have mediated. Normally.

But not today.

“Enough." The word came out sharper than intended. The entire table froze.

"I just want to eat in peace, take a shower, and go to bed.” I took a breath.

Then added more calmly,

"Please."

The silence that followed was immediate. Everyone stared at me. Even Daniel.

The children looked shocked. Daniel looked even more shocked. As if I'd suddenly grown a second head.

"What?" I asked.

Daniel simply shook his head and continued eating.

Finally. Silence. Beautiful silence.

Later that evening, after showering and changing, I crawled into bed.

I lay there staring at the ceiling. Thinking - About the shopping. About tomorrow. About Daniel. About everything.

I had finally accepted one thing. I was never going to change his mind. Not about money. Not about luxury. Not about buying everything in sight.

As long as I lived here. As long as his grandmother was around. I would simply have to learn how to coexist with it.

And honestly?

I hated it. Because none of it felt like mine. I felt indebted. And I hated feeling indebted.

A few minutes later, the bedroom door opened. Daniel walked in. He glanced toward the bed. Then toward me.

And immediately noticed something.

"There's no pillow wall tonight?” His voice was full of amusement.

Normally I would have argued. Tonight I didn't have the energy.

"I'm too tired.” I pulled the blanket closer. "Good night."

I switched off the lamp on my side of the bed and turned onto my side. I didn't even realize how exhausted I was.

Within seconds, I was asleep.

The next morning, I woke up feeling hot. Too hot. Like I couldn't breathe properly. Like something heavy was pressing against me.

I frowned and slowly opened my eyes.

At first, I couldn't understand what was happening. Then reality hit me.

Daniel's arms were wrapped around me. Completely wrapped around me. At some point during the night, he'd pulled me against him and fallen asleep.

I froze.

Every muscle in my body locked up. Because Daniel was still asleep. Still holding me. And he had absolutely no idea.

This was bad. Very, very bad.