"How much do you say this costs?" Sylvia asked—a young, vibrant beauty resembling the moon, with an innocent, cute face but a bold, elegant, independent, and mysterious personality.
"I've told you before—it costs ten Lunaris, and that's the final price," the seller said.
"That's bullshit! This costs five Lunaris everywhere around this market. Why must yours be different, huh?" Sylvia responded, already feeling angry.
"I'm selling it for ten Lunaris. If you don't want to buy, you can go elsewhere. We all have the same price," the seller said dismissively.
Sylvia's anger flared. She clenched her fists, her voice sharp with frustration. "No! This woman can't just decide to sell at whatever price she wants. That's not right! I'm going to report her to the town's head. This is rubbish! Just because she's a seller doesn't mean she can inflate prices however she pleases."
Elara sighed, knowing full well that her sister wouldn't leave this argument until she won. "Sister, let's just go to another store, okay? There's no need to argue."
But before she could convince Sylvia, something caught her attention—a poor beggar, a young boy, no older than eleven, sitting on the street, his frail hands stretched out for alms. Compassion filled Elara's heart. She stepped forward, ready to help.
Then came Dominic Lancaster—the domineering, ruthless businessman. He stood with his hands in his pockets, casually observing the scene like an uninterested spectator.
Elara's breath caught. She had never seen a man so impeccably dressed, so strikingly handsome, in this part of the community before. What is he doing here? she wondered.
Before she could dwell on it, the poor boy ran up to Dominic, desperation in his eyes. "Sir, sir, please help me! I'm hungry. Just a little money—anything you have, please!"
Dominic looked down at the boy, his face twisted with irritation. His gaze dropped to his suit, where the beggar's dirty hands had left smudges on the pristine fabric. His expression darkened.
With a swift motion, he shoved the boy away. "How dare you touch me?" he roared. "Do you have any idea how much this suit costs, you street rat?!"
Elara's eyes widened in shock. The sheer cruelty in his voice sent a chill through her. She couldn't stand injustice. Without hesitation, she rushed to the scene, kneeling to help the boy up. Her voice was calm yet firm as she turned to the arrogant stranger.
"This is no way to treat a child," she said, meeting Dominic's sharp gaze without fear. "If you can't help him, the least you can do is ignore him and walk away."
Dominic's eyes narrowed. No one—no woman—had ever dared to question him like this before. He took a slow, assessing look at her. She wasn't poorly dressed, yet there was a weakness about her… a quiet gentleness that intrigued him.
For the first time, Dominic Lancaster was at a loss for words.
For the first time in his life, someone had dared to shout at him. And not just anyone—a woman. His sharp gaze met Elara's, taking in the soft radiance of her features. She was striking, her beauty reminiscent of the sun—warm, gentle, yet impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, Sylvia's attention shifted when she noticed her sister, Elara, arguing heatedly with a handsome stranger. Alarmed, she immediately left the market stall and rushed toward her.
Dominic, still reeling from the audacity of being confronted, barely had time to process what had just happened. No one—not in his entire life—had ever questioned him like this. People cowered in his presence. They feared his power, his influence. But this woman? She stood her ground as if his name meant nothing to her.
Elara, on the other hand, could feel her heart hammering in her chest. She wasn't sure what had come over her—why she had stepped forward, why she had challenged this man. But seeing the helpless boy tossed aside like dirt had ignited something in her—a fire that even her normally gentle and quiet nature couldn't suppress.
"How dare you treat a child like that?" she asked again, her voice steady but firm.
Dominic narrowed his eyes. Who was this woman to question him?
Before he could respond, Sylvia's voice cut through the tension.
"Sister, let's just go," she said, placing a hand on Elara's arm. "There's no point arguing with someone like him, it's obvious he just a spoilt brat who grew up with a silver spoon and has no respect for humanity."
Elara exhaled sharply, still staring at Dominic, before turning her gaze toward the beggar boy. She knelt beside him, dusting off his clothes, and pulled a small pouch from her belt. "Here," she said, pressing a few Lunaris coins into his palm. "Get yourself something to eat."
The boy's eyes widened. "Thank you, miss! Thank you so much!"
Elara smiled warmly. "Be careful, alright?"
Dominic watched the scene unfold, his expression unreadable. There was something about this woman—something unsettling.
She wasn't just beautiful. She was kind. Selfless. Unshaken by power.
And for the first time in his life, Dominic Lancaster found himself intrigued...,