A woman stepped in front of them.
Sharp suit.
Perfect smile.
Cold eyes.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
The father nodded calmly.
“We’re looking for my daughter’s birthday gift.”
The little girl leaned closer to the glass, her eyes wide with wonder as the necklaces shimmered beneath the lights.
The woman’s gaze dropped.
Hoodie.
Jeans.
Shoes.
Her smile shifted.
Subtle.
Cruel.
“We don’t really have anything in your price range.”
Silence fell.
Heavy and sharp.
The father didn’t argue. He didn’t raise his voice. The words landed quietly, but they landed deep.
The little girl looked up at him, confused.
She didn’t fully understand the insult. She only knew something had changed.
His jaw tightened.
But he stayed calm.
For her.
Then fast footsteps echoed behind them.
