The Day Her Influencer Boytoy Insulted Me

When I saw that familiar name, my smile hardened. "I saw the watch first. Why should I let him have it?"My words startled both the salesperson and the male influencer, Alan Parr.The salesperson, whose name tag read "Liam", walked up to me and gave me a look of undisguised disgust. "You? The measly chump change in your pocket can't even buy one of our paper bags! You're offending our VIP client. Get out! Or else I'm calling security!"I couldn't help but want to laugh at Liam's snobbish gaze.He was obviously new and didn't know me. I'd been traveling the world with my daughter for the past six months, so I hadn't been here in a long time.Whenever a new watch was released before this, the salespeople at the store would always text me to ask if I wanted one.Just then, my daughter, Lila Carson, came running out of the mall's play area and into my arms, tenderly calling out to me.My first instinct was to take her away from there. I didn't want her to see Alan's hideous face.I

The atmosphere in the lounge was somewhat tense. 30 minutes were almost up. Alan stood up leisurely and walked to the card reader to swipe his card, but it was still unresponsive.The arrogant look on his face faltered. He tried using another machine, but the result was the same.A hint of awkwardness flickered across Liam's sycophantic face.Alan took his phone out and called Jennifer again.To his surprise, she didn't answer. I glanced at my phone and made a mental note of the time. The company usually held its daily meetings at this hour.With my support, Jennifer had risen to become a company executive. Fearing others would call her a gold digger, she went to the office every day. She was terrified of giving people anything to gossip about.When he couldn't get through, Alan grew frantic and repeatedly called her in a panic.After some time, he looked up, clenching his teeth. "Maybe my girlfriend is busy and can't respond. I'll pass on the watch for now. Once she's done

The gentle smile Jennifer directed at Alan froze, then disappeared, replaced by a look of panic when she spotted me.She shoved Alan away from her so violently that he stumbled backward and nearly fell."Shane?" She practically rushed over, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly. Her eyes darted around wildly as she avoided my gaze. "What are you doing here?"Alan was caught off guard, the smugness on his face fading before turning into confusion and displeasure.He came over and tried to take Jennifer's arm once more, his voice gentle. "Jenny, what's going on? You scared me."However, Jennifer recoiled as if she were avoiding the plague and shook his hand off once more."I've got nothing to do with him," she explained hastily. "He… he's just a cousin. Yes, a distant cousin."The explanation was laughably clumsy.I glanced down at the watch in my hand, saying nothing. I was going to let him struggle in this self-inflicted farce."A cousin?" Alan's voice suddenly rose, filled

Jennifer stepped forward, tentatively reaching out to take my hand."Honey, you know how I've treated you and our family all these years."She stammered, her voice thick with emotion, "I-I made only one mistake. Just this once! I won't do it again. Not anymore. Please, I beg of you. Forgive me."She casually shifted all the blame onto Alan, as if he was some demon and she was an innocent woman who'd been bewitched by him.It was utterly ridiculous.While Jennifer tearfully played the victim, Alan, who'd been on the floor, finally seemed to snap out of his daze.The color had long drained from his face, replacing it with an ashen pallor. His gaze now held nothing but utter resentment.He clutched his swollen cheek as his venomous, piercing gaze fixed on Jennifer's back. "She's talking nonsense!"His sharp voice completely tore through Jennifer's pitiful facade. His voice trembled with agitation, every word filled with deep-seated hatred. "I didn't seduce her at all! She was th