Chapter 4

Three days later, I found myself in the luxury goods section of Grandfield Mall. I was accompanying the company's newly appointed CEO, Scott Jennings, as we inspected the shops in the mall.

Scott was a top executive who appeared out of nowhere in the investment industry. He was brutally decisive and efficient, and he carried himself with a cold and refined demeanor.

I had just secured a research and development project that was worth over ten million dollars.

Scott had brought me to the mall that day to pick out a presentable outfit. We were scheduled to meet with the core partners of the project for dinner that evening.

"Why don't you try that suit, Ms. Spencer?" Scott suggested while pointing at a beautifully tailored suit.

I had just picked up the suit when Julian's mocking voice resounded from behind me. "Well, if it isn't Ms. Spencer, the poor wretch who doesn't even have 19,000 dollars to her name."

I turned around.

Julian and Hannah were standing a short distance away. Arm in arm, they stared at me with disdain.

It was obvious that they had dropped by the mall for some retail therapy after I kicked them out of the house.

Julian scrutinized the suit that I was holding and scoffed.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "Are you visiting this store to enjoy their free air-conditioning after I kicked you to the curb?"

"That suit costs a few thousand dollars. Are you sure that you can afford it if you accidentally damage it?" Julian snapped, intentionally raising his voice to catch the attention of the sales assistants and other patrons.

That familiar tactic of public humiliation and intimidation was Julian's go-to over the last three years.

"Don't talk about Charlotte like that, Julian," Hannah chimed in, her voice dripping with insincerity. "She's just looking at it. After all, it's not easy to earn money."

Julian scoffed and dragged Hannah over to the counter where the watches were displayed. He pointed at a luxury watch that cost 30,000 dollars and said, "Box this up for me."

He shot me a provocative look, his eyes glimmering with pride as he said, "Take a good look. This is how a woman deserves to be treated. Hannah's entering the public sector soon. This watch is a perfect match for her. As for you, you're only worthy of picking up trash for the rest of your life!"

He haughtily pulled out a card from his bag, balancing it between two fingers as he handed it to the sales assistant.

It was the supplementary card that I had given him in the past.

Julian assumed that I had only removed my card details from his phone's payment options. He probably had no idea that I had already stopped by the bank to freeze all my cards still in his possession.

The sales assistant took the card and swiped it across the terminal, but the screen flashed red.

"My apologies, sir. The system has detected that this card has already been frozen by its owner," the sales assistant explained politely as he handed the card back to Julian.

Julian's smug expression stiffened.

"That's impossible!" he exclaimed. "Swipe it again!"

The sales assistant did as he was told, but the outcome was the same. The payment didn't go through.

The people around us shot strange looks at Julian.

Hannah looked incredibly awkward and reflexively let go of Julian's hand.

I scoffed and stepped forward. "Mr. Hendricks, it's a little inappropriate for you to use your ex-wife's card to spend on your mistress, don't you agree?

"Also, just a heads-up, the court summons regarding the 300,000 dollar dissipation of marital assets will be delivered to you tomorrow. I hope that you're ready to pay the penalty in any way that you can."

The color drained from Julian's face. He pointed an accusing finger at me and shouted, "Charlotte, you fucking bitch! How dare you set me up like this? You think freezing a card scares me? A broke nobody like you doesn't deserve to run your mouth in front of me!"

Julian lunged at me and tried to slap me.

"Security! Kick this lunatic out of the premises!"

Scott stepped in, flanked by two bodyguards. He didn't even spare a glance at Julian as he walked over to me.

"You're still not done dealing with this trivial matter, Ms. Spencer? The directors and business partners are waiting to meet you at tonight's dinner."

A deathly silence descended upon the store the moment the words left Scott's lips.

Julian stared at me, his eyes wide with shock. "B-Business partners?" he stammered.

Scott glanced at him before turning his attention to the sales assistant, saying calmly, "Pack up the suit that Ms. Spencer was looking at earlier. Include the watch as well. Charge the items to my personal tab. Record the purchase as a welcome gift from the company to Ms. Spencer."

Julian had a complete mental breakdown.

I accepted the coat that Scott offered me and didn't spare another glance at Julian. We left the store together.

Hannah's voice resounded from behind us, full of disdain. "Why did you try to show off when you have no money? How humiliating!"

She shoved Julian's hand away and left the store without sparing a glance at him.

Julian's whole body was trembling when he crumpled to the floor.