"Let me help you look," Dustin offered, seeing Irene hesitate. She appeared calm, but anxiety coiled in her stomach. The fear of choosing something unaffordable gnawed at her.

Elisa and Jaxon watched from the sidelines, anticipating a spectacle. Fortunately, Dustin avoided the most expensive items. He took his time, though he privately felt the price range was prohibitive.

"What are you two doing?" Elisa sneered. "You won't find anything cheap here. There's no point in forcing it if you can't afford it. Why go into debt for pride? Enough with the pretense. I know your circumstances. If you can't afford anything, don't buy anything. This boutique has a good reputation; the staff won't mind if you leave empty-handed. Don't you feel ashamed wasting their time?"

Dustin frowned. Irene's face hardened with anger. Elisa's taunts drew the attention of other shoppers, some casting scornful glances. Such incidents were common; the boutique was a status symbol, frequented by those seeking social media clout, even without purchasing. The unspoken judgment of the onlookers hung heavy: Don't buy if you can't afford it.

"Who says we're not buying anything?" Dustin retorted flatly. He then grabbed a random dress, without letting Irene try it on. "Miss, we'll take this one," he declared.

"Alright. This way for payment, please," the assistant replied, smiling.

Elisa watched as Dustin led Irene to the counter. "This dress is 699,900 dollars. Card or cash?" the assistant asked, after scanning the price tag. Irene's heart lurched; the dress cost more than all her clothes combined.

Dustin nonchalantly produced a card, keyed in the PIN, and the transaction completed.

"Hmph! You really bought it!" Elisa exclaimed, displeasure etched on her face. Yet, a strange satisfaction simmered beneath her annoyance at Dustin's extravagant gesture.

"The dress only costs a few hundred thousand dollars. Do you need to act so haughty?" Elisa chuckled, mocking Dustin's composure. "What's the point of pretending to be rich if you can't afford it? Alright, enjoy looking at the clothes here. I'm going upstairs," she declared arrogantly. "The first floor is nothing compared to the second. Only VIP members can go upstairs; most people can't. Jaxon has a Gold Membership—a rare honor in Lannopolis. It's a shame a member can only bring one guest; otherwise, I'd have brought you both to broaden your horizons."

Irene felt the sting of Elisa's mockery intensify. "But it wouldn't do any good taking you upstairs. You can't afford anything up there anyway. Well, then, bye-bye…" Elisa sneered, taking Jaxon's hand and ascending the stairs.