Chapter 66: Out for Fun

Ever since Chris started taking her shopping, it had always been one expensive mall after another. So, June’s mouth was left hanging open when he stopped in front of a familiar mall.

He had driven to downtown, leaving behind the luxury malls in their vicinity, but June had never for once thought he was coming here.

She had thought he was probably driving to one of the expensive malls downtown.

It was one of the malls that sold things that weren’t overly expensive while also selling expensive things.

"Are you sure you want to shop here?" she asked while waiting in the car.

The movement of people going to and fro already contrasted with the silence of Chris’s usual expensive malls.

Chris nodded.

"Of course. I don’t want to drag you to another mall you’ll be uncomfortable with. I think you should be the guide today while I follow."

June smiled again.

They hadn’t even started shopping, but she could already tell she was going to have a lot of fun today.

And she could instantly tell this was Chris’s way of making her feel comfortable with not going to work today.

But as soon as she stepped out of the car, the surprise Chris had for her hadn’t finished.

She saw him looking around as if he was searching for something.

"Are you getting cold feet already?" she teased him.

Chris looked at her with a smirk.

"I think I’ll do well here. Watch me and be surprised."

Just then, June heard someone yelling her name.

Her head swung sideways, but among the busy crowd, she could hardly make out who was calling her.

"June!"

And that was when she saw her, waving towards them and jogging at a fast pace.

June’s eyes widened, and she looked at Ellie in surprise.

"What are you doing here? Did you also come to shop?"

Ellie nodded. She was out of breath from jogging.

"What a coincidence. We also came out to shop. We’re lucky to meet each other in this sea of people."

Ellie stole a peek at Chris.

"Lucky indeed."

"Thank God you’re here. Together, we can show Chris some of the best places here."

Again, Ellie stared at Chris.

"Thankfully, he came prepared. I can’t imagine what he would look like in his expensive suit in the midst of everyone here."

Chris snorted.

"I heard that. And for your information, I look good in everything."

She turned to June and pretended she couldn’t hear Chris, even though she was doing a terrible job of it.

"Is he always this egotistical?"

June smiled.

"You can ask him. He’s right beside you."

But instead, Ellie pulled her forward.

"Come on. I already have some places in mind where we can go."

Chris closed the doors, locking them tightly.

"Not yet, smarty. I need to get this one..." He said, pointing at June. "A smartphone."

For the first time that evening, Ellie focused her full attention on him.

"Finally, someone to call her attention to it. I already told her countless times that whatever she is using is not a phone."

June squeezed her eyes.

"I can make calls to you, can’t I?"

"But you can’t video call me and show me things I am dying to see, can you?" Ellie asked back.

Chris watched them banter and smiled.

He had made the right choice by adding Ellie to their small shopping spree.

From the moment the doctor had asked June to rest, Chris had known it would be difficult to change June’s mind. So, he had thought of the best way to change her mind while making her feel relaxed too.

"Well, I don’t care about all that. All I know is you’re getting something with a location tracker today."

And before they could start bantering again, he pulled both women with him.

They moved with the crowd, watching how people focused on their direction. Yet, occasionally, June could tell some were stealing glances at Chris.

Even in his casual clothes, he looked just as outstanding as he usually did in his suits.

"This is the place," Ellie said, pushing them both into a store that had different phone banners in front of it.

There were other similar stores beside it, but Ellie insisted they buy it at this particular store.

"This store has more credibility than the rest. In this part of the state, you’ve got to be mindful of where you step into."

After saying that, she glanced at Chris.

Not that she thought anyone would dare to scam a Vassari.

They got into the store.

June’s gaze moved around until it settled on a phone that interested her.

"I like that."

Chris chuckled.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

But when she checked the price, she almost dropped it back. Then she remembered.

"This is your gift to me, right?"

Confused, Chris nodded.

"Of course. I brought you here, so I am paying for everything you buy."

Then his eyes extended to Ellie too.

"And you too."

On cue, Ellie also picked up one of the phones June had picked.

She had always wanted this phone, but because she couldn’t afford it, she always avoided it.

Chris raised his brow at her.

"Are you sure that’s what you want? You can always pick something more expensive than this."

Ellie shook her head.

"I’m okay with this. It’s exactly what I wanted most."

June laughed.

"I know, right? We saw this together in an advert and both loved it then."

Chris smiled at the women.

To them, the phone might be expensive, but to him, it wasn’t.

He took them to the cashier, who smiled at them as he made payment for the phones. The cashier even claimed to give them some sort of discount.

Soon, they were out of the store, both women holding onto their new phones.

Unknown to them, there was someone taking pictures of them.

"Can we go to the store I was talking about now?"

Chris narrowed his gaze at her.

He still had more things he wanted to get for them. But he had invited Ellie with them, so he should be ready to compromise.

"Fine. Let’s go wherever you want."

Ellie’s eyes lit up like a child who had been presented with a Christmas gift early.

She pulled June with her while Chris walked casually behind them.

But he felt a pricking sensation at the back of his neck.

It was odd.

He felt like he was being followed.

When he looked back, there was no one.

It was hard to pick someone out in the midst of the crowd.

And for a second, he blamed himself for not coming out with a guard.

At least, apart from him, there would be someone in the shadows keeping watch over June.

He moved closer to them, not wanting to lose sight of them.

Ellie and June had turned towards a dirty corner, and Chris followed.

Wherever Ellie was taking them, he didn’t like it.

Then she stopped in front of a large store with blinking lights in front of it.

Before they could step inside, Chris stood in front of them.

"What are we getting here?"

She narrowed her eyes and whispered, "You said June is in a sad mood and has been thinking. So, I thought of bringing her somewhere fun."

"They sell fun in here?"

Ellie rolled her eyes.

"If that’s your way of putting it, yes, they do."

June, who hated being ignored, moved closer to them.

"What are you whispering about? Are we not going in?"

"Of course, we are," Ellie said, pulling her in before Chris could stop them again.

He followed behind, and the first thing that pissed him off was the noise that seemed to be coming from every angle.

Outside, you would have thought there would be no one in the store, but getting inside revealed that it was bigger than one could imagine.

It was no wonder it was placed in a dark spot of the mall.

Chris frowned.

He wanted to ask them to go back.

Places like this were filled with dangerous people.

But June and Ellie ran to the first gaming item on their right.

It was a punching bag.

And more importantly, the smile on June’s face was the brightest he had ever seen on her.

He sighed.

The pricking feeling was back.

There was no doubt someone was watching them.

June was the first person to start.

She threw a punch at the bag, and it bounced roughly, swinging back and forth.

"Take that, Dad."

She puffed air onto her hand and turned to Ellie, who was watching her with a smile.

Soon, Ellie took the position June had just left, swinging her hands in the funniest manner while June watched her.

Her punch was stronger than June’s, sending the bag further and making it swing back with an intense force.

Chris picked up his phone.

This was the time to fulfill his promise to Rauf.

He picked up his phone and took a picture of June smiling.

He sent it to Rauf.

"She’s in a great mood. I told you, taking your time is the best move."