Chapter 0093
Judy’s POV
Irene’s tone softened when she spoke. “Honestly, I wanted to hang out with you because I needed someone to talk to. I just… I need reassurance that it’s all in my head.”
“What’s on your mind?” I asked, genuinely concerned.
She bit her lower lip, staring at her hands for a long moment before replying. “Not here,” she said after a brief silence. “Let’s just enjoy the evening first. We can talk when we grab dinner.”
I stared at her for a moment, feeling the weight of her unspoken thoughts. If she didn’t want to talk now, I wouldn’t push it. I could tell she needed time to process things. I respected that.
Thirty minutes later, we arrived in the busy city. Leroy parked the car in front of one of the department stores, and to my surprise, he didn’t get out with us. The guards in the car behind us, however, did get out once they parked. They wore casual clothing, but the weapons hidden beneath their outfits were hard to miss. They were making an effort to follow us without making it too obvious, but I didn’t think Irene appreciated the gesture.
She glanced at the guards, her expression darkening. “Let’s go into this store,” she said, pointing toward one of the high-end boutiques.
I swallowed. I’d only ever walked by this store before—never actually stepped inside. Even when my family had money, I wouldn’t have dared to shop here. The prices were as high as the polished glass windows that gleamed in the light. But I wasn’t going to argue with Irene; I followed her into the boutique, unsure of what to expect.
“Pick out anything you’d like,” Irene said, her voice carefree as she disappeared around a corner, likely already on her way to grab something for herself. “It’s on me.”
“You really don’t have to buy me anything,” I protested, but she was already gone, buried in a rack of designer clothes.
I sighed, looking around at all the expensive, beautiful outfits. It was all so far out of my reach. These weren’t clothes I could ever imagine myself wearing. I slowly walked around the boutique, marveling at the fashion that felt so foreign to me. What must it be like for Irene, to live in a world where everything she touched was just hers? She could come into a store like this and buy whatever she wanted, while I couldn’t even afford to look at the price tags. I wondered how it felt to never have to worry about money. Being a Landry meant she never had to work for anything. Everything had always been handed to her.
My eyes wandered to the jewelry counter, where dazzling designs were on display. One piece in particular caught my attention—a necklace with a ruby pendant surrounded by clusters of diamonds. It sparkled brilliantly under the lights, and I found myself drawn to it.
I reached out to touch it, but before I could even brush the ruby with my fingertips, a loud snap echoed through the air as the black box containing the necklace was slammed shut. My heart skipped a beat. I quickly pulled my hand back, startled, and looked up to see the furious woman who had approached me.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she spat, her voice dripping with disdain.
My heart hammered wildly in my chest. “I was just looking—”
“You can’t even afford to breathe in this store, let alone touch this necklace. Keep your grimy fingers off!” she hissed, her words cutting into me like a blade.
My wolf growled in response, instinctively protective of me, and I could feel the heat rise in my chest. “I’m sorry?” I murmured, shocked by her venomous words.
“You should be,” she sneered. “How dare you walk into my boutique and think you have any right to touch anything here. You shouldn’t be here.”
“I’m a customer—” I tried to explain, but she cut me off with a harsh laugh.
“Oh, please. You couldn’t afford one of our socks, let alone our jewelry,” she mocked, her eyes flicking over my outfit in disgust. “Look at you—dressed like a cheap hooker. Is that what you do for work? Must be a real struggle to have to suck dick for a living.”
I felt my stomach drop, and my wolf’s growl grew louder, but I pushed it back, trying to stay composed. “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice shaking with anger and humiliation.
“I can’t believe you were about to touch a five-million-dollar necklace,” she spat, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re lucky you didn’t dirty it, or I’d make you pay for it. Now, how about you save yourself from further embarrassment and get the hell out of this store!”
I took a deep breath, trying to hold it together, but before I could say anything more, a gruff male voice interrupted.
“What seems to be the problem here?” The man’s tone was sharp, and he walked out from behind the counter. His tailored suit and dark designer glasses made him look every bit the manager of a high-end boutique.
The woman sneered at me before turning her attention to the man. “She almost ruined the Emily Wonton designer ruby necklace,” she hissed, glaring at me with loathing.
The man’s eyes narrowed as he assessed me. “Do you have any idea how expensive that necklace is?” he asked, his voice dripping with disdain. “I’m the manager here, and I made the rule that anyone who can’t afford my products isn’t allowed in. If you aren’t planning on making a purchase, I suggest you leave.”
The woman laughed, her voice mocking. “Look at her—she can’t afford anything here.” She sneered at me again. “She’s pathetic. I’ll have security throw her out immediately.”
“No need to get security,” a familiar voice said from behind me. “I’m sure we can talk this out like adults.”
I turned, my heart skipping a beat when I saw him. Gavin.
