“I like this one, Mom. Can you buy it for me?”
“Of course, sweetheart. If you like it, I’ll buy it for you,” Adah replied without hesitation. Turning to the sales associate, she said, “We’ll take this one. Please wrap it up.”
Ethan pointed to the other pretty dresses laid out on the sofa. “Why don’t you look through the rest and see if there’s anything else you like, sis?”
“Okay, okay!” Vanessa chirped, shoving the purple dress into Ethan’s arms before excitedly rummaging through the rest.
Across the room, Claire paused mid-sip of her milk, her brow knitting in frustration.
Are these people deaf? The salesgirl had clearly explained these dresses were already reserved, yet they were still picking through them as if they owned the place. Did anyone even bother to ask her what she thought?
Oh, right. The Linwoods had always been arrogant. As long as Vanessa wanted something, no one else’s opinion mattered—certainly not hers.
And if she dared to object? She knew exactly what would happen: a barrage of insults and snide remarks from the whole family.
She’d endured enough of that in her previous life.
If they thought they could bully her again, they were in for a rude awakening.
Setting her milk down carefully on the coffee table, Claire strode over and, without a shred of politeness, shoved Vanessa aside as she dug through the dresses.
Unlike her frail past self, Claire was now strong and healthy. At five, she was already half a head taller than Vanessa—and a lot stronger, too.
With one forceful push, Vanessa toppled onto the floor, landing hard on her backside.
Spoiled and coddled her whole life, Vanessa was used to dishing out cruelty, not receiving it. Shocked and humiliated, she burst into tears.
Claire towered over her, eyes icy and unyielding. “Did you even ask me before touching the dress I picked? Who said you could?”
Adah’s heart ached as her precious daughter wailed. She rushed over and scooped Vanessa into her arms.
“Everyone, please calm down,” the saleswoman said firmly. “These dresses have already been reserved. You’re welcome to look at our other selections.”
Adah bristled, furious that a mere shop assistant would dare take sides against her darling daughter. “Is this how you do business here? Do you have any idea who I am? If I complain, you’ll be out of business by tomorrow!”
Claire watched the Linwoods lose their composure and couldn’t help but sneer. Some things never changed—whether in her past life or this one, the Linwoods were as irrational as ever.
But this was Northcrest City, not Cresthaven. The Linwoods had no power here.
Suddenly, Claire’s eyes filled with tears as she let out a wailing cry, “Mom! Orion! Someone’s being mean to me! I’m scared, sob, sob…”
On the other side of the store, Mrs. Tempest and Orion had been picking out dresses for their own sweet girl when they heard Claire’s distressed cry. Their hearts skipped a beat.
They dropped the dresses in their arms and rushed to her side.
“I’d like to see anyone try to hurt my daughter,” Mrs. Tempest declared coldly.
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