"Who could she be? I'm curious about that too. I wonder if his fiancée knows," the woman said, her cold eyes locking with Erica's increasingly uneasy gaze.
An awkward smile flickered across Erica's lips as she darted her gaze around the room. She noticed the judging expressions of onlookers faces twisted in anticipation, as if waiting for her secrets to be exposed. The atmosphere turned suffocating.
She had no idea how much this mysterious woman knew about Rafael's past, but she refused to let a single word destroy the carefully crafted reputation she had built.
"I don't know what nonsense you're talking about," Erica denied, forcing confidence into her voice. "Rafael would never cheat. His ex-wife was the unfaithful one."
A deliberate, eerie smile graced the woman's lips while her fingers curled outrageously at the memory of those vicious articles. They had painted her as a cheating wife who took her own life out of shame.
She had never anticipated such a narrative. Deep down, she believed Rafael had spread those lies to cover up what he had done to her.
"So unfortunate," she murmured, keeping her tone calm and measured.
"Why are you so interested in Rafael's private life?" Lucy snapped. "Mind your own business and stop ruining our mood."
"You're right. I shouldn't ruin the atmosphere," the woman replied with irony, stepping closer to Erica. "After all, this is a place for shopping, not a café for spreading rumours. Be gone."
"What?" Erica gasped, eyes narrowing. "Who do you think you are, ordering me around? Don't get a big head just because you're some VIP. I'm one too,"
The woman's expression remained unfazed, her cold gaze locked on Erica. This halfsister hadn't changed one bit over the years. It would be entertaining to watch her arrogance and everything she built come crashing down.
Just then, the manager arrived with two security guards, slightly out of breath.
"You called for me, ma'am?" he said with a respectful bow.
The woman shifted her cold gaze from Erica, ignoring her indignant outburst. "Throw these bitches out," she commanded the manager.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, bowing again as she turned away, no longer willing to tolerate the sight of the woman who reminded her of the hell they'd put her through.
She had achieved what she wanted. The public would now begin to question the glossy narrative surrounding her supposed death and Rafael's spotless image. She was determined to expose the truth about their betrayal.
"Who are you calling bitches? Do you know who I am?" Erica snarled, surprised at this woman's belittlement. "I'll teach you a lesson for being insolent!"
Erica lunged forward with impulsive intentions, but Calvin stepped in between them with fierce protectiveness. She retreated, cowed by his cold, deadly stare that could have knocked her down if she'd taken another step forward.
The mysterious woman acted as though Erica's fury was nothing more than a drop of water compared to the storm of retribution she carried within.
With Calvin at her side, she walked out of the VIP lounge.
"Where's the manager of this mall? I demand to speak with him" Erica snapped, her eyes blazing with such fury it seemed she could set the entire place ablaze with a single glare.
Seeing the manager nearby, Lucy's confusion grew. She hoped she hadn't gotten herself into trouble.
Lucy whispered to Erica, "He's the manager."
Erica turned her gaze back to the manager. "Oh, so he is the manager," she muttered. "Why are you just standing there watching that woman be rude to us? Not only is she disrupting our shopping, but is this how you treat your customers?"
She couldn't believe that woman dared to disregard her status—a wealthy daughter from a family feared and respected among the elite.
Without offering any explanation, the manager said sharply, "Leave now."
"What?" Erica let out an incredulous laugh. "How much does she even spend here? Who is she that you obey her orders?"
Ignoring Erica, the manager turned to Lucy and said, "You're fired!"
"Fired? Why am I being fired?" Lucy stammered, her face contorting in confusion.
"Neglecting your duties and engaging in defamatory conversation with a customer," the manager replied curtly.
Erica didn't understand what was happening, but she wasn't leaving the store without wrapping up what she had picked out. She tried to stay calm.
"Lynn's mall is the only place with these designs in the city right now. Get it wrapped quickly, or I won't leave," Erica commanded.
The manager noticed how adamant this blonde-haired woman was. If he delayed any longer, he risked his job.
Finally, he gave a sharp command to the security guards. "Throw them out. Nothing leaves with them, especially not that dress."
"Wait! I need this dress for today's event!" Erica protested desperately.
The security guards surged forward, gripping Erica and Lucy by the arms like unruly criminals refusing to obey.
"Stop dragging me!" Erica protested, struggling in their grip.
Seconds later, the guards stumbled at the entrance, hurling Erica and Lucy out as onlookers watched in astonishment, phones already raised and recording.
Eyes wide with terror, Erica lost her balance and sprained her ankle, crashing to the concrete floor with Lucy tumbling on top of her.
"Ahh…!" Erica groaned under Lucy's weight, nearly knocked breathless. "Get off me!" she yelled, voice cracking with pain.
Startled by Erica's furious tone, Lucy scrambled off quickly.
Erica refused to stay humiliated. She pushed herself up, her movements stiff and shaky. She stormed toward her car, face flushed with rage, Lucy following, equally humiliated.
Erica did her best to appear calm, but her fury was unmistakable as she ruffled her hair in frustration. She left the store empty-handed, missing out on the clothes, jewellery, and nightdress she had carefully selected and was moments from paying for.
That strange woman! Lucy!
And those security men who tossed her out like a thief. They had ruined her entire shopping experience, leaving her completely humiliated.
She held herself back from reacting, not because she feared whispers about being the second woman in Madelyn's failed marriage, but because she couldn't afford to ruin her current relationship with Rafael.
Not now. Not when everything had gone so perfectly for her over the past five years. She had everything she'd ever wanted—status, wealth, and Rafael.