Chapter 182: Furniture Shopping.
Lukas had barely finished his morning coffee when he glanced at Annie and Bella, already bored on the couch, laughter echoing between them as if they’d known this place almost forever now. The morning sun spilled across the luxurious windows, casting a soft golden hue over the room. It was the perfect day for something productive and joyful.
"Let’s shop for the mansion," Lukas said with a grin, pulling on his tan overcoat. He was in an unusually bright mood—there was something calming about having Annie and Bella close. Annie, gentle and glowing in her first trimester, nodded eagerly. Bella clapped her hands, her energy infectious as ever.
Jay was ready with the Mercedes, and soon they were heading toward the first of many high-end furniture stores in Philadelphia. Their first stop was at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, a store known for luxurious yet modern pieces. Annie found herself drawn to plush cream-colored sofas, testing each one with cautious excitement. Bella, on the other hand, was darting around, pointing out everything from gold-rimmed coffee tables to designer lamps that looked more like art sculptures.
"This place smells expensive," Bella teased, flopping onto a velvet couch.
"That’s because it is," Lukas chuckled, watching her with amusement.
They visited RH Philadelphia next, a massive structure that looked more like a palace than a store. Annie spent time selecting soft linens for the bedrooms—she had a good eye for calming palettes. Bella got distracted in the outdoor section, envisioning garden parties and wine nights, dragging Lukas and Annie over every ten minutes to check out something new.
Throughout the day, they snacked constantly—fresh croissants from a boutique bakery near Rittenhouse Square, gourmet pretzels from the Reading Terminal Market, and a quick stop at a Korean dessert cafe where Lukas insisted they try bingsu. Annie’s face lit up with every bite, while Bella kept poking her spoon into Lukas’s bowl instead of her own.
The best part wasn’t even the shopping. It was the laughter. The inside jokes. The spontaneous dance Bella did when she found music-themed wall art that matched her room idea. The way Annie carefully took photos of different bedroom sets, her mind was already nesting. And the way Lukas silently paid attention to everything they liked, jotting notes down on his phone, already imagining the house slowly becoming a home.
By the time evening fell, the back of the Mercedes was filled with catalogs, shopping bags, and a few custom order slips. They were exhausted but smiling, cheeks glowing with the kind of joy that only came from a day spent right.
As the car drove back through the warm lights of Philadelphia, Annie leaned on Bella’s shoulder, and Bella hummed something soft. Lukas looked at them from the rearview mirror and felt something unfamiliar—peace.
"One more store?" Bella asked, peeking her head forward.
"Only if we get dumplings after," Annie said sleepily.