She looked genuinely shocked to see Elijah, her eyes widening in surprise. Albin greeted Elizabeth with an unexpected burst of energy, unlike anything she had ever witnessed from him. Startled by his vigor, Elizabeth lost her grip on the precarious stack she was holding. Boxes crashed to the floor, their contents sprawling in a chaotic mess. She shot a look of clear annoyance at Elijah, then deliberately turned her back on both men and stooped to retrieve her scattered belongings.

Seizing the moment, Albin tugged at Elijah’s arm, urging, “Elizabeth, let us give you a hand.” Without hesitation, Albin knelt beside her, swiftly collecting the items, while Elijah remained aloof and rigid. A plastic bag had ripped open, rendering repacking futile. With everything scattered, managing it alone was impossible.

From his towering position, Elijah’s voice dripped with disdain. “You can’t even manage simple tasks. If it’s too much, why not just pay for delivery?” Elizabeth kept her gaze fixed on the ground, her voice steady. “Not everyone can afford to throw money around like you, Mr. James. Some of us have to keep a tight budget.”

Sensing the rising tension, Albin grabbed a box and pressed it into Elijah’s hands. “Come on, Elijah, help out.” He then hoisted the majority of the remaining boxes himself, leaving only a few snacks behind. “Elizabeth, you handle these. We’ll take the rest upstairs for you.”

Elizabeth rose to her feet and firmly declined. “I appreciate your offer, but please, just leave them here. I’ll have the security guard assist me later.” Albin stepped back, clutching the box, unwilling to relinquish it. “There’s no need to bother them.”