After all the chaos done, engagement preparations are staring. Let's see a spark between the contract couple...
Lian's POV
Lian had never stepped into a place this shiny in his entire life.
The boutique's glass doors were taller than him — unnecessarily tall — and everything sparkled like someone poured diamonds over the floor.
Lian tugged at his sleeve nervously.
Lin:
"Oh my god, bro, don't touch anything. If you break it, we'll have to sell our house."
her mom :
"Lin, stop scaring your brother."
Lin:
"I'm not scaring him, I'm scaring myself!"
Farrah walked beside them gracefully, as if she owned the place.
Farrah:
"This boutique is one of Arion's main sponsors. Relax, no one will charge you."
She flipped her hair.
"Probably."
Lin clung to Lian's arm for safety.
Then Arion entered.
The store seemed to go quiet the moment he stepped in — tall, poised, wearing a sharp black suit that made even mannequins look underdressed.
Lian swallowed.
Arion nodded politely to the Veris family, his eyes landing on Lian with a soft flicker he tried to hide.
Arion:
"The designer is waiting for us inside."
His tone was calm.
But his gaze on Lian lingered just one breath too long.
Designer Boutique Chaos Begins
The head designer — a dramatic omega named Rylus — made a grand entrance wearing a flowing robe and too much confidence.
Rylus:
"DARLINGS, welcome! The couple of the year is HERE!"
Lian nearly tripped.
Arion blinked slowly, regretting his entire existence.
Rylus:
"You—" he pointed at Arion, "statuesque, brooding, expensive energy. I love it."
Arion: internal suffering
Then Rylus turned to Lian.
He gasped.
Rylus:
"And you… LOOK at you! Adorable! Soft! Perfect omega aesthetic but with a STRONG jaw? I'm obsessed already."
Lian: internal screaming
Lin whispered:
"I love this guy."
Farrah:
"Same."
Fitting 1 — Lian in a Simple White Tux
Lian stepped out of the changing room in a plain white tux.
Lin clapped loudly.
Lin:
"Bro, you look like an angel attending a rich person's wedding!"
Arion's eyes softened… then sharpened the moment he realized he was staring.
Arion (bluntly):
"It's too loose."
Rylus:
"Ah, the alpha speaks! Yes, yes, I agree. The waist needs contour. Come here, darling."
Rylus tugged Lian closer, adjusting the fabric.
Arion frowned.
Rylus noticed and smirked knowingly.
Fitting 2 — The Velvet Midnight Blue Suit
Lian stepped out again…
And the room went silent.
Dark velvet hugged his frame perfectly, the deep blue emphasizing the softness of his coloring and the quiet warmth in his eyes.
He looked…
beautiful.
Arion's breath actually caught.
Not visibly.
Not audibly.
But enough that Farrah elbowed him.
Farrah (whispering):
"I saw that."
Arion glared at her.
Lian noticed Arion's eyes lingering… and immediately looked away, face warm.
Lian (panicking internally):
He's staring because he's judging the suit.
He's not staring at ME.
Meanwhile:
Arion (panicking internally):
Why does he look like that? Why is he— stop staring, Arion. STOP.
As Rylus adjusted Lian's sleeves, he placed one hand on Lian's waist to check the fit.
Arion immediately stiffened.
Arion (sharp):
"Is that necessary?"
Rylus raised a brow.
Lian froze.
Lin whispered loudly:
"Uh oh… jealousy alert?"
Lian's ears burned red.
Lian:
"Arion, it's fine—he's just doing his job."
Arion realized what he sounded like.
He cleared his throat, turning away slightly.
Arion:
"Right. I know. I didn't mean… never mind."
The air thickened for a moment.
Rylus grinned like he discovered gold.
Arion's Turn
Arion tried on his suit next.
He stepped out in a fitted black tux, buttoned high at the collar, strong lines emphasizing his broad shoulders.
Lin fanned herself dramatically.
Lin:
"Now I understand why rich people fall in love so easily. They have clothes that attack the heart."
Farrah:
"Calm down,Lin."
Lian looked at Arion.
And immediately looked away.
Arion caught the glance.
And immediately pretended he didn't.
The Final Outfit
Rylus presented the last set:
A cream-gold suit for LianA deep charcoal suit for Arion
When they stood side by side, the colors blended beautifully.
Complementary.
Magnetic.
Like they were meant to match.
Lian's heart thumped painfully.
Arion's chest tightened.
Lin whispered:
"Why does it look like they're already married?"
Farrah:
"Because the universe is tired of waiting."
Both leads pretended they didn't hear.
After the Boutique — Outside the Building
The families chatted happily on the sidewalk.
Lian held the suit box carefully.
Arion stood beside him, hands in pockets, refusing to look directly at Lian but glancing every three seconds.
Lian (softly):
"Thank you… for today."
Arion hesitated.
His voice softened.
Arion:
"It's part of the engagement process. But… I'm glad it went well."
Their shoulders brushed lightly.
Both froze.
Neither moved away.
Just a quiet moment… warm and dangerous.
Lin from behind:
"They're doing the shoulder thing now."
Farrah:
"Yes. Progress."
Families Return Home
At the Vayne home:
Grandfather Vayne:
"He looked good today."
Arion looked up, startled.
In rare praise, he added:
"He suits you."
Arion choked on air.
At the Veris home:
Mrs. Veris:
"Lian… Arion looked at you like you were precious."
Lian dropped his chopsticks.
Lin:
"HE DID!"
Lian buried his face in his hands.
Lian:
"I'm going to bed."
But he smiled just a little.
✨ Bonus Scene — "Besties With Dangerous Information"
Lin's POV
Lin shut her bedroom door, jumped onto her bed, and immediately opened her chat app.
She didn't even type anything yet — Farrah had already messaged.
Farrah:
ARE YOU AWAKE?
I HAVE INFORMATION.
Lin's eyes sparkled.
Lin:
Spill.
Farrah:
I think Arion is DOWN BAD.
Lin nearly screamed.
Lin:
YES I SAW THAT TOO.
The way he looked at Lian when he wore the blue suit??
EXPLAIN.
Farrah sent 12 voice notes in a row.
Lin didn't even listen.
She called her instead.
Call Begins
Lin:
"Okay, tell me everything. Leave nothing out. Even breathing patterns."
Farrah:
"Oh, I came prepared."
Farrah took a loud dramatic inhale.
Farrah:
"When Lian came out in that blue velvet suit? Arion's soul LEFT his body."
Lin:
"He STARED, right?? LIKE REALLY stared."
Farrah:
"Honey, he stared like he saw the last slice of cake in the fridge and wasn't sure if he deserved it."
Lin cackled.
Lin:
"That is the best comparison ever."
Farrah:
"And when the designer touched Lian's waist? Girl — GIRL — Arion literally frowned. His nostrils flared."
Lin gasped:
"Nostrils flared?! That's ALPHA JEALOUSY™!"
Farrah:
"I've known Arion for twenty-six years.
He has NEVER flared his nostrils for ANYONE."
Lin placed a pillow dramatically over her chest.
Lin:
"Oh my god.
My brother is irresistible.
This is life-changing."
Farrah:
"Oh please, Lian is baby deer energy. Of course my cousin fell first."
Lin:
"What do you mean fell first?"
Farrah:
"You didn't see what I saw today."
Lin:
"TELL ME OR I WILL COMMIT CRIMES."
Farrah dropping nuclear-level gossip
Farrah:
"When Lian walked out in the gold-cream suit… Arion stopped breathing."
Lin:
"WHAT."
Farrah:
"He literally froze.
Like someone unplugged him."
Lin shrieked:
"Oh my god OH MY GOD—"
Farrah:
"I had to elbow him because he was staring too long and looked stupid."
Lin:
"That is the funniest thing I've ever heard."
Lin exposing Lian
Lin:
"Well, just so you know—
Lian went to his room tonight and did the 'roll-around-on-bed-because-I'm-embarrassed' thing."
Farrah gasped in delight:
"NO.
HE DID NOT."
Lin:
"Oh he did. He literally buried his face in his pillow and said, 'Why does he stare like that?'"
Farrah screamed into the phone.
Farrah:
"They're so oblivious it hurts me."
Lin:
"I KNOW. If they don't kiss by the engagement ceremony, I'm pushing them together like action figures."
Farrah:
"Same. Actually let's synchronize it."
Lin:
"Should we… intervene?"
Farrah:
"Oh, absolutely. Subtly."
Lin:
"Subtly?"
Farrah:
"Okay fine, aggressively. But with STYLE."
Lin:
"YES."
They high-fived their phone screens at the same time.
Farrah (teasing):
"You know… Arion looked at Lian today like he was already his."
Lin threw her pillow across the room.
Lin:
"STOP I CAN'T HANDLE THAT."
Call Ends
Both girls hung up, grinning like villains.
Somewhere in their separate rooms, Arion and Lian lay wide awake, both thinking they had hidden their feelings perfectly…
Meanwhile:
Farrah and Lin knew EVERYTHING.
And they would absolutely weaponize it.