Chapter 176: Stayed Single
Rain arrived at the boutique just in time, meeting her Aunt Melanie, who had come with Rico. Without wasting a moment, Rain whisked her aunt away and began picking out clothes—daily outfits, casual wear, formal attire, and much more.
"Rain, this isn’t necessary! Look how expensive all these things are. It’s too much. I don’t need all this!" her aunt protested, but Rain brushed her off.
"I’m only getting you a week’s worth of clothes, Aunt," Rain replied with a playful pout. "Come on, try everything on and choose more. Trust me, it’s better to pick what you like, or you’ll end up with a walk-in closet stuffed with random things!" she added with a grin, whispering to Aunt Melanie about how her father-in-law had done that to her closet.
"You see, Alexander brought us here, and it wouldn’t feel right to turn down his kindness. Please, make my husband happy and get everything you need." She then signalled the manager, who immediately came over to assist her aunt.
While Aunt Melanie was in the fitting room, Rain sat beside Alexander, who had been quietly watching her from the couch.
"I’m going to melt under your gaze," she teased, and Alexander simply smiled, pulling her closer. Rain comfortably leaned on his shoulder, her eyes drifting to the dressing room where her aunt was trying on clothes.
"You know, my aunt is the reason I’m where I am today," Rain said thoughtfully. "When I was twelve, she secretly gave me the money she had saved without my father knowing. My stepmother didn’t want me to continue high school, and my father refused to support me, but Aunt Melanie made sure I did."
"Your aunt is a remarkable woman," Alexander said softly.
Rain’s eyes welled up as she whispered, "Yes, she is. During senior high, I caught her skipping in buying things she needed despite the money my father gave her every month. She was saving it all so I could continue on to college. That’s when I pushed myself even harder. I applied for and got a scholarship, and took on part-time jobs."