Lilith’s lips curled into a cold, sharp smile as she shoved him hard.
Rayan fell backward, landing on the floor with a loud thud.
Lia gasped, covering her mouth, her wide eyes darting between them.
The scene froze for a moment as Lilith towered over Rayan, her piercing blue eyes gleaming with icy disdain.
"You’re disgusting to me!" Lilith said sharply, her voice cutting through the tense atmosphere like a blade.
Rayan’s face turned red with anger as he glared up at her from the floor, his pride bruised more than anything.
"How dare you!!!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the store.
Lia rushed to help him up, clutching his arm as if he were gravely injured.
"Ray! Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling with mock concern.
Rayan pushed himself up with her assistance, his glare still fixed on Lilith.
Before he could say another word, the store manager and a few staff members arrived, their faces stern.
"What’s going on here?" the manager asked coldly, his sharp gaze scanning the scene, Rayan’s disheveled appearance, Lia holding his arm tightly, while Lilith stood calm and completely unaffected.
Rayan straightened, smoothing his shirt in an attempt to regain his dignity.
"This woman!" he started, pointing at Lilith, his voice filled with indignation. "She pushed me down! She’s creating a scene in your store!"
The manager’s gaze shifted to Lilith, his expression unreadable as he waited for her explanation.
Lilith didn’t flinch under the scrutiny. Instead, she crossed her arms, her piercing blue eyes locking onto the manager with confidence.
"I’m sorry, did he forget to mention how he tried to grab me?" she said, her voice calm yet sharp. "I simply moved out of the way. If he fell, that’s on him."
The staff exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of the situation.
Lia clutched Rayan’s arm tighter, her eyes wide with fake tears. "She’s lying! My poor Ray was just trying to talk to her, and she-s-he she attacked him!"
The manager raised a brow, clearly skeptical of the overly dramatic display.
"We have security cameras," he said coldy. "Would you like me to check the footage?"
Rayan and Lia froze, their faces paling slightly at the mention of cameras.
Lilith smirked, leaning back slightly as she spoke. "Please do. I’d love to see how this ’attack’ plays out on video."
The manager nodded, gesturing for a staff member to follow him. "Stay here. We’ll resolve this quickly."
As the manager left to review the footage, Rayan glared at Lilith, his voice dropping to a hiss.
"This isn’t over."
Lilith tilted her head, her smirk widening. "It was over the moment you stepped into my path, Mr.Rayan brook."
Lia tugged on Rayan’s arm, whispering frantically, but her worried expression betrayed her fear of the truth being revealed.
Rayan’s face twisted with anger as he quickly pulled out his phone, dialing a number with trembling fingers. His expression darkened further as he whispered something into the phone, his tone filled with authority and arrogance.
Moments later, the store manager returned, his earlier stern demeanor replaced by a nervous and apologetic expression.
"I’m so sorry, sir," the manager said, bowing slightly. "I didn’t realize it was you. Please forgive my behavior."
Lia’s face lit up instantly, a smug smile gracing her lips as she glanced at Lilith with triumph.
"It’s okay," Rayan said with a dismissive wave, his voice dripping with superiority. He puffed out his chest, reveling in the power he held in this moment.
Then, he turned to the manager, his sharp gaze fixed on him.
"But I want this woman—" he pointed at Lilith, his voice filed with venom, "thrown out of this shop immediately. She has no right to be here."
The manager hesitated, glancing nervously between Rayan and Lilith.
Lilith raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms casually as she tilted her head slightly.
"Oh, really?" she said, her voice smooth and sharp. "You think you can just have me thrown out because your fragile ego got bruised?"
Rayan’s smirk faltered for a second, but he quickly hid it with his arrogance.
"You heard me, manager," he barked. "Get her out. Now."
"Wait—" Rayan’s voice suddenly rose sharply as he turned his Focus to Lilith, his expression dark and filled with anger.
His hand gripped Lia’s waist tightly as he glared at her. "We’ll let you go, Lilith... if you kneel for me and Lia."
Lilith’s piercing blue eyes narrowed as she stared at him.
"Kneel?" she repeated, her tone calm but filed with icy mockery.
Lia gasped theatrically, covering her mouth with one hand. "No, baby! Don’t do this to Lilith... she’s my soul sister, remember?" she said, fake tears streaming down her cheeks.
Rayan, ignoring her faux protests, pulled her closer by the waist, his grip possessive.
"Why not?" he snapped, his voice dripping with venom. "She dared to throw me down in front of everyone. I won’t let her walk away without paying for it!"
His gaze locked onto Lilith, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. "Go on, Lilith. Show everyone what you really are. Kneel, and maybe I’ll let this slide."
The tension in the room was suffocating as silence fell.
Lilith stood there, her calm expression unchanged, though her eyes glinted with a dangerous light. Slowly, she crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as she regarded Rayan and Lia.
"Are you done?" she asked, her voice smooth and deadly.
Rayan’s smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his confidence.
"Not until you’re on your knees, begging for forgiveness," he spat.
"Miss, please leave the store," the manager said, his voice hesitant but firm.
Although he felt a twinge of pity for this strong and confident woman standing her ground, he couldn’t ignore the reality of the situation.
The man before him, Rayan brooks, held power and people like him could ruin others with a single phone call. Weak, poor people like her would have to bow down in the face of someone like that.
After all, power is everything, the manager thought bitterly, avoiding Lilith’s piercing gaze.
Lilith’s frown deepened as her sharp eyes darted between the manager and Rayan, who stood there with his smug, self-satisfied smirk.
This creepy, scum-of-the-earth, self-entitled piece of trash, Rayan—
He’s daring to have me thrown out?