Chapter 2

I folded my arms and waited to hear what she had to say.

"You're only here to win me back," she announced. "I know you can't get over me, but I'm already married. You staged this encounter and tried to turn the crowd against me because you want us to get back together, didn't you? Well, forget it. That's never going to happen."

Before I could fire back, the older woman next to me cut in. "Just because he's got a cart full of gifts doesn't mean he's here to win you back. Maybe he's buying gifts for his relatives!"

I couldn't help nodding in agreement. "Exactly. You do your shopping, and I'll do mine. We can pretend we don't know each other. What's wrong with that?"

Miriam stared at me. "That's not going to work. I spent plenty of money on you when we were together. The least you can do is pay for my stuff this time, and then we'll be even."

As soon as she finished speaking, someone in the crowd snickered.

"So that's what this is about. She has no money! Just ask your husband to pay!"

Humiliated, Miriam turned toward the crowd and shouted, "What do you guys even know? He's a shameless, broke scumbag who drained all my savings and then cheated on me. What's wrong with making him pay for my stuff now?"

The way people looked at me changed immediately.

I couldn't believe she was calling me a broke scumbag when I'd been the one paying for everything throughout our relationship.

I snapped, "When did I ever spend your money? The house was mine. I paid the utilities, picked up the tab every time we ate out, and even bought the clothes you're wearing right now.

"You were perfectly happy to let me spend money on you, but now that we've broken up, you're spreading lies and calling me a broke scumbag! If you don't clear this up right now, I'm calling the police and letting them sort this out!"

Miriam didn't look worried in the slightest. Instead, she deliberately provoked me. "Go ahead. Call them. Let's see whether they arrest you or me."

Infuriated by her shamelessness, I reached for my phone, but she caught me by the wrist.

"It's the holidays. Don't waste the police's time," she said loudly. "Just pay my bill today, and I'll forget about all the money I spent on you before. And stop stalking me. I only have eyes for my husband. You can't even compare to him."

She made sure everyone heard that last part, then leaned closer and whispered, "Who do you think the police will side with? You or a relative of the mayor?

"And even if you don't care about yourself, at least think about your dad. He's spent his whole life working a low-level government job. Do you really want to cause trouble for him?"

The onlookers kept shifting their gazes between us.

With each new twist in the argument, more people gathered around, reluctant to miss what would happen next.

Eventually, the mall's head of security came. "Everyone, please pay for your purchases and move along. Crowding together like this could be dangerous."

Despite his efforts to disperse the crowd, nobody budged an inch. They kept their eyes fixed on us.

"You both seem like respectable people," the head of security said. "There's no point getting worked up over something like this during the holidays and giving everyone else a show. If you have a problem, let's take it to the office and talk it out."

That was when I noticed that several people around us were holding up their phones. Our argument had almost certainly been recorded and posted online.

If I didn't clear things up, strangers who knew nothing about the situation would end up believing I was the bad guy.

If anyone I knew saw the video, it would embarrass my family, too. Just imagining my dad seeing it made me tense up. He'd absolutely chew me out.

Miriam whispered something to the head of security, and his attitude toward her immediately became much more deferential.

When he turned back to me, he looked down his nose at me. "Sir, you're causing a disturbance and obstructing foot traffic. Please leave immediately."

Miriam chimed in beside him. "That's right! Look at how many people you've held up. Come on, let's go pay."

She tried to drag me along with her, but the older woman standing nearby had finally had enough of Miriam's behavior.

"What's the rush? I've been watching this whole time. This young man came here by himself to buy holiday gifts, and you accused him of stalking you. Then you called him a scumbag and claimed he bled you dry. Where's your proof?

"There are plenty of people here who saw what happened. You're the one who went out of your way to approach him and demand that he pay for your stuff. Have you no shame?"

I looked at the older woman with deep gratitude. I could've hugged her on the spot. Her willingness to stand up for me was far more effective than any explanation I could give.

"Exactly!" I said. "You claim I spent all your money. Then show everyone the proof. If you can't, I'll show everyone my own receipts."

I had just raised my phone to show the crowd when one of the security guards snatched it out of my hand.