Chapter 19
Not far away, two young women strolled through the mall, their eyes scanning their surroundings.
Christine Williams’ gaze landed on a familiar figure standing at the jewelry counter. Her expression froze.
Leaning toward Seline, she whispered curiously, “Isn’t that Suzanne?”
Seline followed Christine’s line of sight, her lips curving into a smirk the moment she spotted Suzanne.
There she was, holding an emerald bracelet—an expensive piece far beyond what someone like Suzanne deserved.
Feigning surprise, Seline lightly said, “Oh, Sue is here too. Let’s go say hi.”
With Christine in tow, she gracefully made her way toward Suzanne, carefully masking her true emotions behind a gentle smile.
“Sue, are you buying a bracelet?”
Suzanne’s gaze sharpened slightly.
Of all the people to run into, it had to be Seline.
She felt like her luck couldn’t get any worse.
Both she and the sales associate turned toward the voice.
Seline was dressed in a flowing light pink maxi dress, radiating an air of delicate elegance. Her flawless makeup enhanced her soft features, and the pale pink diamond necklace around her neck shimmered under the mall’s bright lights.
Beside her, Christine, dressed in a form-fitting dress, appeared far less striking in comparison.
The sales associate’s eyes lit up at the sight of another wealthy customer.
Suzanne, however, merely gave Seline a brief glance before turning away, choosing to ignore her completely.
Seline’s smile faltered for a split second, irritation flashing beneath her composed facade.
How dare Suzanne dismiss her so casually?
Soon, the truth about her pretending to be Jane Smith would be exposed. Seline couldn’t wait to see how long she could keep up this arrogance.
Her gaze flicked to the bracelet in Suzanne’s hands, and an idea formed in her mind.
Her lips curled into a sly smile.
If Suzanne wanted this bracelet—then she simply wouldn’t let her have it.
Without warning, Seline stepped forward and plucked the emerald bracelet from Suzanne’s hand, admiring it as she smiled.
It truly was a fine piece.
Looking at the sales associate, she declared brightly, “I’ll take this bracelet.”
Suzanne’s expression darkened.
Was Seline really pulling this stunt again?
Seline turned to her with an apologetic look, her voice dripping with sweetness.
“Sue, I want to buy this for Mom. After all, she’s taken care of you for so many years. Surely, you won’t mind, right?”
With just one sentence, she had pushed Suzanne into a corner, making her refusal seem cruel.
Yet, her eyes gleamed with false innocence.
Seline’s ability to act like a saint was as polished as ever.
Christine quickly chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.
“Of course, she’ll let you have it! Mrs. Yates has been nothing but kind and dedicated to caring for her all these years. Not letting her have this bracelet would be heartless.”
Although Christine had lowered her voice toward the end, it was still loud enough for the surrounding shoppers to hear.
Suzanne’s lips curled into a faint smile.
Mandy being kind and caring toward her? What a joke.
From the moment Mandy married into the Yates family, Suzanne’s life had been nothing short of miserable.
Her father had grown increasingly indifferent, eventually cutting off her allowance altogether. She had been left to eat leftovers while Mandy and Seline dined on lavish meals.
And now, they wanted to paint Mandy as a loving mother?
A cold glint flashed in Suzanne’s eyes.
“Everything should go on a first-come, first-served basis, don’t you think?”
Without hesitation, she reached out and took the bracelet back from Seline’s hands, making it clear she had no intention of giving in.
Seline hadn’t expected such outright defiance.
Her carefully maintained expression almost slipped as her hands clenched into fists.
She silently seethed.
This version strengthens the tension while keeping the flow sharp and engaging. Let me know if you’d like any refinements!
