Chapter 5: Shopping

Sprawled on her bed was Arya who was so lost in the deep abyss of her thoughts, she didn't hear the loud car horn coming from outside her room window.

It was when her mother, Emilly Pierce, knocked on her door, that she was snapped out of it.

It was then that she realized what today was. Quickly opening her room door she rushed into the bathroom.

It didn't take her long to have a quick shower and do her hair, the only problem was finding an outfit. She didn't know who Ryker had sent to help her with shopping.

 Realizing that she didn't have enough time she just decided to wear the best casual outfit she had.

It was a skin-fitting white crop top and a simple palazzo with a pair of casual sneakers. Grabbing her bag, Arya sprinted outside.

"You don't want something to eat?!" Her mother yelled after her.

"Don't worry!" Arya yelled back.

Stepping outside, Arya was stunned once again by seeing the car parked in front of her house. She still wasn't used to everything that was going on.

"Took you long enough, get in." A woman who didn't look much older than she was, commanded.

Arya's face turned red due to embarrassment. She quickly got in the front seat of the car and buckled her seatbelt.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I'm-" 

"Arya Pierce, I know. I'm Allison Rivera." The woman introduced herself as she drove out of her neighborhood.

Her skin was fair and smooth like she hadn't worked a day in her life. She had the same deep blue eyes that Ryker had and her long blonde hair was styled into a wolf cut. She was pretty even the frown plastered on her face couldn't change that.

"You're Ryker's sister, right?" Arya asked. She didn't want the car ride to be boring, after all, the two of them would be family soon.

"Hmmm." Allison hummed in response. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.

Forced by her brother to come and pick up his soon-to-be wife, she was, at first, excited but when she saw the neighborhood and the person she was disappointed. Especially when the person had made her wait.

It wasn't that Arya wasn't pretty because she was. It was the air that she gave off, it was too simple. It wasn't befitting of someone that would carry their family name.

Getting the hint, Arya didn't try to start another conversation. She knew when she wasn't liked. 

The car ride was silent until they got to their destination. It was one of the biggest malls in their city, and every shop inside was high-end. Both of them headed inside and Allison directed them to one of the clothing stores. It was a brand that Arya had never heard of before.

"Sit down somewhere and I'll do all the shopping". Allison ordered. 

Arya did as she was told, she didn't care, and from what she could tell, Allison had a better fashion sense than her, and she also wouldn't be frightened by the price tag.

About twenty minutes had passed and Arya was getting bored so she decided to take a look around. It didn't take her long before she found a cute sweater that she thought her mother would like.

She grabbed it and wanted to take it to Allison but was stopped by a middle-aged lady.

"Yes?" Arya asked puzzled.

"Give me that sweater, I found it first." The woman demanded rudely as she observed Arya and scoffed.

"No, you didn't". Arya said flatly. She hoped that the woman would leave her after she refused but luck wasn't on her side.

"Are you saying I'm lying?" The woman came closer to Arya and dared to look offended.

"Calm down, I just said that you didn't find it first, I did." Arya lowered her voice so both of them won't bring any attention to themselves but the woman clearly didn't get the hint as she screamed.

"Do you know who I am?! If I tell you I want something, you give it to me. You're just some poor person, I bet you don't even have the money to buy that sweater." 

Arya was flustered and embarrassed, people around them who heard the commotion began to whisper. 

How did she get herself into another mess? She just wanted a sweater for her mother.

"Doesn't this girl know who Mrs. L is?"

"I know right? She should've just handed over the sweater."

"If the staff gets involved, Mrs.L would get the sweater. She's their biggest customer." 

"Isn't that the limited edition sweater that the Rivera company made?! No wonder Mrs.L is making such a fuss about it…" 

Similar whispers were heard from all angles. The store was big so even if it wasn't crowded, there was still a considerable amount of people.

"Why're you making such a fuss about this? You're honestly behaving like a child, are you sure you're a 'rich person' because right now, you're behaving worse than a sewer rat!" Arya refuted, she wasn't just going to stand there and have some woman insult her.

"S-Sewer rat!" The woman screamed, her face flushed a bright shade of red.

The moment Arya dared to talk back, their area was silent. No one dared to laugh as they were afraid that they'd become the next victim.

"What's going on here?" Allison came hearing the commotion, a staff member following right behind her, carrying all her things, well Arya's things. The middle-aged woman turned and once she saw Allison she took a step back.

Who didn't know The Allison Rivera?

"Allison, this girl over here took that sweater from-" 

"I wasn't asking you." Allison didn't even spare the woman a glance as she headed toward Arya and eyed the sweater in her hands.

"I found the sweater first but then, out of nowhere, this woman came accusing me of taking it from her." Arya explained, hoping that Allison would believe her.

Allison didn't even respond as she turned to the staff who was sweating bullets and tossed the sweater that was in Arya's hand to her.

"Add this to the bill and deliver the clothes to the address." She ordered.

"Let's go home." She said to Arya.

The two of them, having their shopping trio ruined didn't say anything until they got into the car.

"You don't know anything do you?" Allison asked her. She was pissed at Arya for troubling her.

"...Sorry." Arya apologized meekly, making Allison even more upset.

"I honestly why my brother even wanted to marry you... You have no background, although pretty, your personality is plain and you don't have what it takes to be part of our family!" Allison continued to rant and scold her all through the ride.

It annoyed her that a common person like Arya could cause her trouble. Their family was already on thin ice with Mrs.L's husband and Arya went ahead and got into a fight with her.

"Pack your things, you'll be moving out of this house in two days." Allison informed Arya.

"What about my parents?" Arya asked.

"They'll be given their own separate house to stay in."

Allison didn't even give Arya a chance to respond after she said that as she drove off. The sinking feeling in Allison's stomach grew bigger as she dreaded what her mother and brother would say about this.