Chapter 16
993 Words
Chapter Sixteen
“Buy it all.”
Stefan’s voice was a low growl, but the command cut through the noise of the luxury boutique like a knife. Every head in the store turned toward him, including mine.
"What are you doing?" I hissed, clutching the arm of the chair I had been forced into moments ago.
He didn’t even glance at me. Instead, his piercing eyes stayed locked on the store manager, who was already scrambling to obey.
"Sir, all of it?" the man stammered, beads of sweat forming on his brow.
Stefan adjusted the cuff of his tailored suit, his movements deliberate. "Did I stutter?"
"No, of course not," the manager replied, his voice shaking. "We’ll get everything packaged immediately."
"Good." Stefan finally turned his attention to me, his expression unreadable. "Sit tight, Shania. This won’t take long."
My jaw dropped. "You can’t just buy out an entire store because of one dress!"
He raised an eyebrow. "It’s not just about the dress."
I folded my arms, glaring at him. "Then what is it about? Flexing your ridiculous wealth? Making everyone around you feel like they’re beneath you?"
He smirked, a cold glint in his eyes. "You think this is about them? It’s about you, Shania. You’re carrying my child. You deserve the best—nothing less. And if that means clearing out a*****e to prove my point, so be it."
I stared at him, speechless. The sheer audacity of the man was staggering.
"And what am I supposed to do with all of this?" I asked, gesturing to the racks of designer clothes now being pulled down and boxed up.
"Wear it," he said simply. "Or don’t. I don’t care. But you’re not walking around dressed like someone who doesn’t know her worth."
I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off with a sharp gesture.
"Enough," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "Let them do their job."
I clenched my teeth, sinking back into the chair as sales associates swarmed around us like worker bees. Stefan, meanwhile, pulled out his phone, scrolling through emails as if nothing had happened.
An hour later, we left the boutique, the trunk of Stefan’s luxury car overflowing with shopping bags. I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, arms crossed, refusing to meet his gaze.
"Don’t pout," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
"I’m not pouting," I snapped, finally turning to glare at him. "I’m processing the fact that you just spent a small fortune to prove a point."
He shrugged, his grip on the steering wheel firm. "Money’s meant to be spent."
"On what? Ego trips?"
"On you," he said without hesitation, his eyes briefly meeting mine before returning to the road.
His words silenced me, leaving me to stare out the window as the city lights blurred past.
Later that evening, we arrived at Stefan’s penthouse, where a team of staff had already begun unpacking the mountain of shopping bags. I stood in the corner, watching in disbelief as they carefully hung dresses, folded sweaters, and placed shoes in neat rows.
"This is insane," I muttered under my breath.
"It’s life," Stefan said from behind me, his voice startlingly close.
I turned to find him standing with two glasses of champagne, one of which he extended toward me.
"I can’t drink that," I said, eyeing the glass.
"It’s sparkling cider," he replied smoothly. "I may be ruthless, but I’m not careless."
Reluctantly, I took the glass, sipping it as Stefan leaned against the wall, studying me.
"You don’t like this," he said after a moment.
I lowered the glass, meeting his gaze. "It’s not about liking it or not. I just don’t understand why you’re doing all of this."
He stepped closer, his presence as overwhelming as ever. "I told you, Shania. You’re mine now. And I take care of what’s mine."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I forced myself to stand tall. "I didn’t ask to be yours, Stefan."
"You didn’t have to," he said, his voice soft but firm.
Before I could respond, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening.
"Excuse me," he said, stepping away to take the call.
I watched him go, my mind spinning.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of voices echoing through the penthouse. Curious, I slipped out of bed and followed the noise to the living room, where Stefan was seated on the couch, flanked by two men in sharp suits.
"What’s going on?" I asked, stepping into the room.
Stefan looked up, his expression unreadable. "Sit down, Shania."
I hesitated but eventually took a seat across from him.
"This is Mr. Grant," Stefan said, gesturing to one of the men. "He’s handling the legal matters regarding Adrian."
My heart sank. "What legal matters?"
"Divorce papers," Mr. Grant said, sliding a folder across the table toward me.
I stared at the folder, my stomach twisting.
"You wanted this to be over," Stefan said, his voice calm but firm. "This is how we end it."
I swallowed hard, opening the folder to reveal the neatly typed documents.
"Everything’s been arranged," Mr. Grant continued. "The terms are more than fair, considering the circumstances. Adrian has no grounds to contest them."
I looked up at Stefan, my emotions a whirlwind. "You’re serious about this?"
"Deadly," he said, his gaze unwavering.
I took a deep breath, my hands trembling as I picked up the pen.
"This is your chance, Shania," Stefan said, his voice softer now. "To take control of your life again. To leave Adrian behind for good."
I hesitated for only a moment before signing my name.
As I set the pen down, a sense of finality washed over me.
Stefan leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Good. Now we move forward."
And just like that, the chapter with Adrian was officially closed.
- Writer
