Chapter 14

A wave of outrage rippled through the crowd. Many scolded the assistant. Others worried that Hannah couldn't possibly afford the ruined gown.

Some had even lifted their crystals to record the scene.

The manager glared at the assistant, and the truth dawned on him.

He took the black card from Hannah, went to the counter, deducted the price of the damaged gown, and returned the receipt and the card to her with great respect.

The crowd began to whisper.

"So she wasn't bluffing. She really is rich!"

"I never thought rich people would wear such plain clothes..."

"Tch, what do you know? It's called returning to simplicity. The rich don't care about price tags. They only care what's comfortable."

"True, true..."

The manager forced a smile and tried to smooth things over. "Miss, perhaps there's been a mistake? This assistant is one of our best. How could she do such a thing?"

Hannah's anger flared. He was actually trying to protect her. Her voice was cold.

"A mistake? Shall we check the shop's recording crystal and see whether it's a mistake?"

The assistant covered her mouth, put on a pitiful face, and sobbed, "Brother-in-law..."

She caught herself at once. "Manager, she hit me..."

The manager glared at her, thoroughly annoyed. What a troublesome sister-in-law!

He looked at the onlookers still recording and knew perfectly well that if this wasn't handled properly, it would damage the Grand Arcade's reputation.

But she was his wife's younger sister. If he didn't back her, his wife would banish him to the sofa again tonight.

After a long hesitation, he gave the assistant a wink and lowered his voice. "Apologize to the customer properly. Look what you've done!"

She clutched her cheek, eyes glistening. "She hit me! Why should I apologize? Manager, you can't take an outsider's side and bully me!"

The manager gave an awkward smile and turned to Hannah, his tone gentle.

"Miss, our assistant says you struck her. Even if she was in the wrong, you shouldn't have hit anyone, should you? On behalf of our shop, I apologize. I hope you'll be generous and not hold it against our employee."

It was plain what he wanted: to shrink the matter down and commit to nothing.

On the surface he was apologizing to Hannah. In truth, he was favoring the assistant.

No wonder she was so arrogant and unafraid of complaints. Even if a customer reported her, with this manager "mediating," she would never face real punishment.

Some in the crowd chimed in.

"Yes, however bad it was, you can't just hit people. Slapping someone's face is going too far. Now the one in the right is in the wrong."

"So never act on impulse when you're out!"

"I don't agree. That assistant must have been awfully rude, or the girl wouldn't have hit her. If it were me, I couldn't have resisted either."

Hannah pointed at the assistant. "You don't need to apologize to me. The one who needs to apologize is her!"

The assistant glared at Hannah, her eyes full of resentment and malice.

She had already been slapped, and this woman still wouldn't let it go. Did she expect her to apologize to this witch in front of everyone?

The manager tugged her sleeve. "Aren't you going to apologize to the customer right now?"

She shot him another glare, secretly vowing that when she got home tonight, she would complain to her sister about him and see whether he dared protect outsiders again!

With visible reluctance, she shuffled over to Hannah and mumbled, barely audible, "I'm sorry..."

Hannah frowned slightly. "What was that? I can't hear you."

The assistant bit her lip and raised her voice a little. "Sorry!"

Hannah's lips curved into a half-smile. "Sorry for what?"

The assistant looked as if she would rather die, but she answered obediently. "I shouldn't have been so arrogant..."

Hannah laughed softly, her tone light. "Since you know you were wrong, don't repeat it. Not everyone has my good temper and will let you off this easily."

The assistant kept her head down and said nothing, her eyes full of resentment.

Seeing the tension, the manager hurried to smooth it over. "Miss, she has apologized. Shall we let the matter rest?"

Hannah nodded.

As she turned to go, the manager called after her, "Miss, you haven't taken your gown with you?"

He meant the slashed gown, still on the mannequin.

Hannah didn't even turn her head. Her tone was cold. "Throw it away. Clothes from this shop belong in the rubbish bin."

With that, she strode out of the boutique, leaving the onlookers staring at one another in bewilderment.