Chapter 3

“Mom, you should have seen Amber's presentation. It's a good thing Victor asked her and not some…peasant that would have disgraced us.” Lilith, his younger sister said with a chuckle.

“Yes. She is what this department has been lacking. The bosses will be thrilled. Can't wait till she's my daughter-in-law,” Stella beamed.

I rolled my eyes. At the same time all our phones buzzed with new gossip news.

‘Victor Kingswell and Amber Williamson expecting already?’

“Omg this was a week ago, Mom. Do you think Amber is pregnant with Victor's baby?”

I blinked at the pictures of Amber and Victor at an obstetrician, both staring deeply at a paper, most likely test results.

Something about her smile made my skin prickle. I shook my head. I was probably overthinking.

Amber was pregnant? Good for her.

The next morning I left the house before anyone else woke up.

At the mall, as I walked towards the restaurant where Robert and I would meet, a familiar voice stopped me.

“Avery. What a brilliant surprise,” Amber muttered with a bright smile.

I groaned.

“Why didn't you tell us you were coming shopping? Mom and I would have added you to our plans.”

I tightened my grip on my bag. Why was she everywhere!

Stella scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Amber darling. Why don't you come with me? You don't want to get contaminated by…pests roaming in places they don't fit into.”

I remained straight faced.

“Hi Amber. Hi Stella,” I greeted curtly. Their eyes widened. What? Surprised I didn't call you Mrs. Kingswell and try to kiss your ass as usual?

I turned to leave when Stella said with a sneer, “See how disrespectful she is, I don't know why Victor married this thing.”

I didn't flinch, just kept walking.

“Avery!” Amber called. I gritted my teeth and faced her, raising my brow.

“Why don't you join me and Mom? It'll be really eventful if you do.”

“Thank you,” I said flatly. “But I'd rather not.”

Amber pouted, and started taking steps towards me when Stella chimed in, “oh come on Amber, you know you're pregnant. Don't go around bad luck. We don't want anything happening to my grandbaby.”

An awkward silence fell on us. I clenched my fists till my knuckles turned white. Amber's eyes softened and she mouthed, “I'm sorry,” as Stella dragged her away.

I took a deep breath and walked into the jewelry store, browsing through the aisles while waiting for them to leave.

Once they did, I snuck out to meet Robert.

“Miss Ardent. Here is everything you asked for,” he said, handing me a sealed envelope. “I also added a card with some money in it. Please contact me anytime you need anything.”

I nodded with a small smile and left.

At the exit, an attendant stopped me. Two bulky security guards stood behind her.

“Excuse me ma'am. Can you come with us?”

My brows furrowed. “Why should I come with you?”

“Because ma'am,” she eyed me suspiciously.

“You stole jewelry from the jewelry store.”

I frowned. “I beg your pardon?”

For a moment I thought I was being pranked. But she didn't laugh. Nobody did.

A crowd started gathering.

“I didn't take anything. Sorry your store got robbed but it definitely wasn't me.”

“Then you won't mind if we check your bag?”

“Sure,” I agreed quickly. I had nothing to hide.

The attendant nodded to the security guys. They seized my bag and dumped the contents on the floor. I bent to pick up my belongings when I heard gasps. I looked up and froze. Dangling before me was a glamorous diamond necklace, from my bag.

“Oh my goodness such a pretty woman is a thief? How shameful,” an onlooker commented.

“What family could she have come from? This is such a big disgrace.”

I opened my mouth, but a different voice cut through.

“My goodness Avery. When I said shopping could be eventful I didn't mean you should take it literally.”

My head shot towards her. She shook her head and clicked her tongue. The whole “nice” personality from earlier was gone with the wind.

“I did not steal anything,” I said firmly.

“If you needed money you could have asked Victor or even me, Avery,” she murmured. “You didn't have to stoop so low.”

“Miss Williamson knows her?” someone asked.

“Sadly guys, I even considered her family. Not knowing she is just a pathetic good-for-nothing woman. Is this the kind of lesson you will teach your child—”

Smack!

My hand landed on her jaw.

Amber's head snapped to one side, causing gasps to echo in the mall.

“Avery! How dare you hurt my daughter,” Stella roared, coming from another direction.

“Oh I'm sorry,” I mocked. “It seems the same hands that slipped and stole that jewelry also slipped now. My apologies to everyone. How much is the jewelry?” I asked the store attendant.

“50000 dollars ma'am.”

I handed her the card Robert had given me.

Amber and Stella exchanged stunned looks.

I smirked. They didn't expect me to pay, huh?

I dumped the jewelry at Amber's feet. “Please…take that as an apology gift from me, Miss Williamson.”

I turned, flipped my hair and walked out with the broadest smile I could muster.