Chapter 4

Then, looking as if someone desperate to keep his distance, Clement added, “You can forget about marrying me. Hannah’s the one I want.”

I had reached my limit.

“Clement, take a good look at yourself. You’re not fooling anyone. You’re a wannabe in a suit. Do you actually think you’re a prize?

“How many times do I have to say it? I don’t fight over leftovers. Can you just stay away from me? You’re disgusting!”

He was furious. Hannah looked like she was about to cry.

“Kaitlyn, how can you be so mean? We’re only trying to help you!”

Just then, Betty Manor, the salesgirl who had gone to fetch the item, walked over.

“Ms. Johnston, here’s the bag you requested.”

“That’s the latest limited edition! Dad canceled your card, didn’t he? Where did you get the money?” Hannah blurted out before I could even speak.

Baron’s expression turned sour.

“Kaitlyn, don’t go around scamming people just because you carry the Johnston name.”

He then turned to Betty with an apologetic look and said, “There must be some misunderstanding. She can’t afford this bag. Please, for the sake of the Johnston name, don’t make a big deal out of this.”

Betty looked at him with a strange expression.

“Who? I’ve never heard of them.

“This lady is a diamond‑level member. Even if she was only here to look around, she can do that freely.”

“How is that possible? I’m only a gold member here. Are you sure you’re not making a mistake?” Hannah exclaimed.

She then earnestly tried to persuade me. “Kaitlyn, did you pick up someone else’s card? That’s illegal, you know! You could get in real trouble for that.”

“Miss, watch your mouth,” Betty said sternly. “Our memberships are all registered under real names. There’s no such thing as identity fraud here.”

Hannah’s face froze when she heard the word “identity fraud.”

Just then, Silas walked in. The atmosphere in the store was tense and confrontational.

He walked over to me, put an arm around my shoulder, and glared at the people in front of me.

“Are you all ganging up on her just because you outnumber her?”

Baron took one look at Silas’ expensive custom suit and thought he had figured it all out.

“Kaitlyn, do you have no shame at all? How could you do something this disgraceful? You can forget about ever coming back to the Johnston family!”

“Exactly, Kaitlyn, I know Mom and Dad cut you off financially, but that doesn’t mean you should sell yourself just to spend some man’s money,” Hannah said as her eyes kept drifting toward Silas.

I was so furious that I slapped her across the face.

“Don’t you dare project your filthy thoughts onto me!”

Seeing this, Clement lunged forward to defend her, but Silas blocked his path.

“A loose woman like you will never be part of the Carey family as long as you live!”

Silas narrowed his eyes and glared at him. “Oh, you mean the great and mighty Carey family? Don’t flatter yourself. Pretty soon, not even a stray mutt would bother crossing your yard.

“Security! Are you seriously going to let these mutts run their mouths in here?!”

Baron was still mumbling to himself, going on and on about the Johnston and Carey families. Unfortunately, no one paid him any attention.

That same afternoon, I received a text message from Laurel.

She told me to apologize to Hannah and that I must attend her party. Otherwise, I would never be allowed back into the Johnston family again.

I ignored her. In fact, I decided to prepare a grand gift for her.