Chapter 3

"Ma'am, please cooperate with us." The sales associate who had been standing nearby finally spoke, but she was addressing me. "You're causing a disturbance in the store, and… Miss Harper is one of our VVIP clients. If you can't prove your identity, we'll have to call security."

In luxury stores, flattering the powerful while stepping on the weak was the norm.

I had dressed casually today. I wore no jewelry except for a jade pendant hanging around my neck. To them, I was probably nothing more than a washed-up gold digger.

I straightened my collar, walked to the lounge area, and settled onto the leather sofa. "There's no reason to turn away a customer in business."

I crossed my legs and leaned back with composed ease. "Since Miss Harper says she's waiting for her dear fiancé to come blacklist me? Fine. I'll wait right here."

The calmer I appeared, the angrier Scarlett became.

Then her eyes fixed on the pendant around my neck. It was a protective charm my grandmother had given me when I was born. She passed away many years ago, and this was the only thing she left behind. It meant everything to me.

"Oh, this was also a gift from Nathaniel, right?" A flicker of greed flashed across Scarlett's eyes. "Amazing quality. It must've cost a fortune. If it was bought with my fiancé's money, take it off."

With that, she actually reached out to grab it.

I hadn't expected her to attack me in public. "What are you doing!"

I covered my chest with one hand while grabbing her wrist with the other.

But Scarlett fought like a madwoman, yanking at the pendant with all her strength.

The pendant dug into my skin, and a burning pain spread across my neck. Her ridiculously long acrylic nails raked across the back of my hand during the struggle, and blood immediately welled up.

The pain snapped the last thread of my patience. I swung my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

The sharp crack echoed throughout the store.

Scarlett covered her face and stared at me in disbelief.

I was breathing hard as well. Blood dripped from my hand onto the beige carpet, stark against the pale fabric.

"She hit her! The mistress hit the rightful partner!"

The two sales associates reacted immediately and rushed over to shield Scarlett.

"How could you hit her?!"

"Call the police! Call the police right now!"

Even the crowd of onlookers became agitated.

"So arrogant. A mistress actually dares to hit the fiancée?"

"The world really has changed. The shameless ones are always the boldest."

"Film her. Expose her!"

Countless phones pointed toward me, camera flashes stabbing at my eyes.

Seeing public opinion swing in her favor, Scarlett instantly slipped into performance mode. Tears filled her eyes on cue. "If you're really short on money, I can give you some. Please, don't destroy my family, okay? Nathaniel and I worked so hard to get where we are…"

Watching her pathetic act only disgusted me more.

"Scarlett, are you done performing?" I looked at her coldly. "I'll say this one last time. I am Nathaniel's mother, Judith Foster. Everything you're doing right now is pushing yourself toward a dead end."

At that, a trace of mockery flashed through Scarlett's eyes.

She lowered her voice so only the two of us could hear. "You old hag, still not done pretending? If I don't crush you today, I'll take your last name."