Chapter 250
“Where is she?” Lucia scanned the store. When she realized Audrey wasn’t in the store, her heart started racing
“The lady had an urgent matter and left first,” the sales assistant explained with a smile. “She said to please take the dresses and jewelry first. Sherl come to your place to pick them up.”
“Take them first? I’ve been expecting her to pay!‘ Lucia thought
She turned and shot a glare at Jenna, who wrung her hands awkwardly. She’d been too busy attending to Lucia to notice Audrey slipping out.
‘How disrespectful to leave without a word while shopping with an elderl‘ Jenna thought.
“Mrs. Lucia Winifred.” Jenna offered a way out, “I think Mrs. Audrey Winifred still liked that more expensive dress, but she didn’t get to try it properly Why don’t we come back tomorrow?”
Lucia’s face fell as she slowly removed the pearl jewelry. “For a big event like a birthday party, we should pick something she’s satisfied with.”
Her movements were slow, filled with reluctance.
She placed the pearls on a velvet tray and glanced back at them as she turned.
“Put this jewelry set on hold for Mrs. Lucia Winifred,” Jenna told the clerk.
The clerk’s smile nearly cracked.
They’d served VIP–level wine and service, only to make no sale?
“Wait, please!” The sales assistant stopped Lucia at the door. “Could you settle the bill?”
“What bill?” Jenna huffed. “Mrs. Lucia Winifred said she’d bring Mrs. Audrey Winifred back to choose again.”
The assistant bowed politely. “The lady who left was wearing a bracelet. She said it would be paid for along with the clothes” The dresses could be purchased later, but the bracelet needed to be paid for now
Lucia felt a stab of pain in her chest.
She remembered now.
Audrey had been lingering over traditional jewelry and had put on a clunky, old–fashioned gemstone bracelet. And she’d mocked Audrey’s taste, thinking she was new money with no sense of style.
“How could you let her walk out with the bracelet without asking for payment?” Jenna exclaimed, quickly shooting a glance at Lucia’s face,
This was a mess. They’d failed to scam a freebie and might end up out of pocket
The sales assistant looked baffled. “You brought that lady here and said you led with virtue, that you wouldn’t hassle the stall, and that you’d take both dresses. We assumed you’d be paying
“But you should’ve asked.” Jenna said.
“Drop
rop it,” Lucia snapped. She was livid at herself for falling for Audrey’s scheme, but she had to keep up appearances in public. “How much is the bracelet?”
The assistant hurried to fetch the receipt. “Including craftsmanship fees, it’s 13,000 dollars in total”
Lucia squeezed her handbag lightly, vein visible on the back of her hand.
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Chapter 250
She had that money, but she didn’t want to shell out her own cash
But with Audrey already gone wearing the bracelet, she couldn’t refuse to pay
“Madam.…..” the assistant said,
“pay.” Lucia protted out, spinning toward the cash register.
“Welcome!” the assistant greeted.
“Mrs, Winifred?” Just as Lucia reached for her card, she heard someone call her,
She turned to see two women entering -one in a business suit with a bob, the other in a dress with a round, youthful face
“You are…” Lucia said.
“This is Ms.
Talia Price, the heiress of the Price family.” Jocelyn said with a smile.
“It’s you, Mrs.
- rs. Winifred. I thought I was wrong.” Talia stepped forward warmly, then frowned slightly at the receipt in the assistant’s hand
Most society ladies favored diamonds or pearls, rarely such elaborate traditional jewelry
She know Lucia was Logan’s second wife. But after years with him and occasional public appearances, why is her taste so questionable?” she wondered
Lucia noticed the shift in her gaze.
Not just strangers, even she couldn’t stand Audrey’s antics.
She forced an awkward smile. “I bumped into a distant relative just now. We haven’t seen each other in years, so I gifted her a bracelet.”
Talia gave a small nod,
Everyone knew wealthy families emphasized matching backgrounds, precisely to avoid messy poor relatives who showed up occasionally to mooch.
Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.
Cut them off, and they’d gossip about you snubbing poor relatives after marrying into money.
“If she’s a friend of yours, she’s a friend of ours,” Talla said, glancing at Jocelyn and tilting her head slightly
Jocelyn immediately reached for the bill.
“Oh, that’s not necessary.” Lucia protested, making no move to reclaim the bill.
Jenna jumped in, “it’s our first meeting. How can we let you pay, Ms. Price? Mrs. Winifred has to meet friends later and can’t carry the dresses she picked, so we were just…”
Talia saw right through it
They wanted her to cover the dresses too.
She nodded at Jocelyn, who told the sales assistant, “include Mrs. Winifred’s chosen dresses in the total”
“What about the jewelry?” the assistant asked hesitantly
“The dresses and jewelry selected are my own responsibility. Ms. Price was just being polite. How dare you take advantage?” Lucia snapped at the
assistant
Taha silently rolled her eyes.
09:00 Fri, 13 Jun
Chapter 250
“Who’s really pushing their luck here?” she thought.
With a flick of her wrist, Jocelyn paid for both dresses and the pearl jewelry
Jenna quickly took the shopping bags. “This is too generous, Ms. Price, Please don’t hesitate to ask Mrs. Winifred for help with anything in the future.”
Lucia maintained her society lady poise, politely refusing twice before accepting
“Here’s my number. Let’s have coffee sometime,” she said, handing Talia a business card before leaving with Jenna
Jocelyn joined Talia, sneering, “We’re just letting her walk away like that?”
“Patience,” Talia said with a faint smule
If she’d stated her purpose first, Lucia might have hesitated to accept the gifts.
Now that Lucia had taken the benefits, she’d find it harder to refuse when Talia made her request.
As soon as Lucia settled in the car, Audrey called. “I had to handle an emergency. Are you still at the store?”
Lucia rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. “You left without a word? This was with me. If it were another society lady, that’d be unforgivable rudenessTM
“It was an emergency. I’ll be more mindful next time. I just realized I left wearing a bracelet. If you’re still there, I can come pay
Lucia opened the jewelry box, touching the plump pearls affectionately
If Audrey showed up, she’d realize someone else had footed the bill.
“No need to come.”
Lucia added, “I already paid for the bracelet and bought the dress for you”
“Really? Thanks a ton!” Audrey exclaimed.” works too.”
- “I heard wealthy mothers–in–law give bracelets as first meet gifts. Mine isn’t diamond, but traditional jewelry
‘Works too? ? How dare she sound ungrateful?‘ Lucia thought.
Lucia wanted to correct her that she was her mother, not her mother–in-law, but before she could, someone called Audrey in the background.
“Be right there!” Audrey called out, then said to Lucia, “Since you’re already gone, I won’t stop by. Cotta go
After hanging up, Lucia set her phone aside and picked up the pearl necklace, running it through her fingers.
She said, “Jenna, ask y
your contacts. Anyone who works for the Price family? I need to look into Talia.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
