I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!
Chapter 85 I don’t regret

Chapter 85: Chapter 85 I don’t regret

Riccardo’s gaze darted between them, his lips twisting into a smirk that sent a shiver down Alina’s spine. That look like he knew exactly how to dig under her skin.

"Don’t worry, Celeste," he said, smooth as always. "I’ll buy it for you. Honestly, it suits you better anyway."

The words hit Alina like a slap. Something sharp and bitter coiled in her chest—anger, humiliation, that old familiar sting of being the girl who scraped by on stale pastries and spare change. Her fingers curled into empty fists as she caught her reflection in the mirror—tired eyes, messy hair, the ghost of someone who still didn’t quite belong.

"Let’s go, baby," Riccardo said, throwing her a glance, expecting her to cave, to chase after him like other women.

"Alright," Celeste chirped, looping her arm through his.

Alina watched them walk away, their heads bent together, whispering, laughing. free\we,bnovel.c o(m)

After Celeste and Riccardo disappeared down the aisle, Alina stood still for a long moment. The yellow dress she’d wanted so badly was gone, and so was that little bit of warmth she’d felt in her chest.

She slowly turned back to the dress racks, trying to focus again but now, everything felt different. The soft music in the shop felt louder. The lights seemed too bright. Every price tag she touched made her fingers tense.

Most of the dresses were beautiful... but they were also far, far outside her budget.

1,899.

2,499.

Even a plain cotton one sat at 1,300.

Her heart sank lower with each tag. I can’t spend that much, she thought, biting the inside of her cheek. Not when Mom’s medicine bills are due... and I have to go back by morning...

She wandered further down the aisle until she found a tiny corner rack with clearance tags. The dresses there were less polished, slightly out of season, the kind no one really looked at twice.

Her eyes landed on a soft beige dress — simple, with short sleeves and a small flower stitched on the chest. It wasn’t trendy, it didn’t sparkle, and it definitely didn’t feel like sunshine... but it was the cheapest one she could find.

She held it against herself and looked in the mirror. It didn’t flatter her figure like the yellow one. It didn’t make her chestnut hair stand out or brighten her hazel eyes. But it was decent. Neat. Clean.

And affordable.

With quiet hands, she folded it over her arm and made her way to the counter.

The salesgirl — the same one who had ignored her when she walked in — raised an eyebrow as Alina placed the dress on the counter. She picked it up with two fingers, inspecting it like it might fall apart. "Final sale," she said flatly. "No exchange, no return."

Alina nodded silently and took out her card.

As she tapped it on the machine, she could feel the girl’s eyes crawling all over her, from her old shoes to her thin wallet to her tired face. That faint mocking smirk spread slowly on her lips, like she couldn’t believe someone like her was bothering to shop here at all.

Alina didn’t say anything. She didn’t react. But her fingers trembled slightly as she put the card back in her bag. Her chest burning with shame.

The salesgirl handed her the small shopping bag without a word.

Alina took it gently, holding it close to her chest. She turned and walked out, her head held just high enough to keep the tears from falling.

After stepping out of the boutique, Alina walked down the mall corridor with her paper bag clutched gently in her hand.

Her feet felt sore, her shoulders a little heavy, but she kept going — drawn forward by a little thought that tugged softly at her heart.

Maybe I can get something for the kids, she thought. Just a few small things...

She turned the corner and spotted the tiny stationery and book shop tucked between a tea stall and a gift store. Warm yellow lights glowed inside, and the shelves were lined with colorful notebooks, stickers, and picture books. Her chest eased a little as she stepped in.

The shop smelled like new paper and crayons. Somewhere in the back, a child was giggling while flipping through a flipbook, and that sound...that tiny, innocent laugh made something warm bloom inside her.

She picked up a soft blue notebook with a little dragon on the cover. Drake would love this, she thought, already picturing him scribbling fireballs. Then a set of moon-shaped erasers reminded her of Luna, and a sheet of ghost stickers made her smile so wide she nearly laughed. Boo would stick these on the windows, she thought.

One by one, she began choosing little things — a soft pencil pouch for Kelpie, a set of color pencils for Rocky, sparkly star stickers that Sable might not ask for but would look at quietly, a tiny shadow puppet kit Lucian might secretly enjoy.

Near the checkout, a stand full of picture books caught her eye. She ran her fingers over the spines until one title made her pause: "The Girl Who Rolled the Moon." It had soft watercolor illustrations and a story about a girl who carried light wherever she went. Her throat tightened.

She picked two storybooks — one for group reading time and one just because it looked magical.

By the time she placed everything on the counter, her basket was full and her wallet already bracing for impact.

The total blinked on the screen — higher than she expected. But for the first time that day, her heart didn’t ache as she swiped her card.

This, she thought as the cashier bagged everything with a smile, this I don’t regret.

As she stepped out with the warm weight of books and paper in her arms, her earlier pain began to melt. Her smile returned. The mall didn’t feel so cold anymore.

She could already imagine her babies squealing at the new stickers, huddling around her during storytime, their wide eyes and soft gasps at every page turn.