Chapter 14 Clash At The Clothing Store
Sophie Miller was once the heart of the White family. She carried herself with quiet. strength, and she hated conflict.
She said, her voice soft, “Excuse me, I got this dress first.”
The young woman, Stella Hughes, eyed Sophie up and down–her clothes worn, cheap
She snorted, barely looking at Sophie, and snapped at the saleswoman. “How could you just let anyone in?”
Sophie frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Stella waved her off, her voice full of scorn. “You let anyone try on clothes? What if I catch some gross disease?”
Sophie shook, anger building. “Young lady, didn’t your parents teach you respect?”
Stella didn’t even glance at her, barking at the saleswoman, “I said I’m taking this dress. Stop wasting my time, or I’ll talk to your manager.”
The saleswoman, knowing Stella’s influence, gave Sophie a sorry look and started to wrap the dress.
Sophie had never been so openly ignored. She stepped forward, saying, “Rules are rules. First come, first served.”
There was room between them, but Stella shoved Sophie hard, her voice sharp. “Get out of my way! Don’t you dare come near me!”
Caught off guard, Sophie stumbled and fell, hitting the floor.
Stella acted like it was nothing. She pulled hand sanitizer from her assistant and rubbing her hands.
“Gross. Hope I didn’t catch anything–bad luck,” she muttered.
“Ow!” The assistant gasped, pointing at Sophie, half–sitting up. “Blood–she’s bleeding…
Sophie’s forehead had hit the corner of a coffee table, her head spinning. A crumpled bill brushed her cheek as Stella tossed it.
“Here, medical money–more than enough. Don’t try to scam me, or I’ll have you arrested for fraud,” Stella sneered, tossing another bill.
Sophie focused, seeing two hundred–dollar bills on the floor, stained with her blood.
da
Anger surged as she yelled back, “think you are, hurting people just
because you’re rich?”
Successfully unlocked!
She grabbed the bills, throwing them at Stella. They stuck to her dress, blood
Chapter 14 Clash At The Clothing Store
smearing, then fell at her feet.
Stella shrieked. “You bitch! Do you know how much these shoes cost? Lick them clear or you’re not leaving!”
Sophie stared, shocked, unable to believe her ears. The assistant grabbed her
shoulders, holding her down.
A foot hovered near Sophie’s face. Stella’s voice oozed arrogance. “Letting a nobody like you touch my shoes is a favor. Lick them clean.”
The corner was hidden, with no one around but the saleswoman.
Stella’s bodyguards stood watch outside–she wasn’t worried about getting caught.
Her smug grin barely formed when a figure rushed in, a hand slapping her face hard.
“Slap!” the sound echoed in the empty store.
Annabel’s eyes burned with cold fury.
She pushed the saleswoman aside, helping Sophie up. Seeing blood on Sophie’s face, her anger flared.
She turned to a stunned Stella. “That cut on my mom’s head. That you?
Stella snapped out of it. “You hit me? Wait… Where the hell are my bodyguards?”
Her eyes darted, spotting two men sprawled nearby. They were her bodyguards, knocked out.
A few grand a month, and they couldn’t handle one woman.
Stella stomped, furious. “I’ll sue you! I’ll ruin you!”
Annabel’s laugh was icy. “Go for it.”
She cracked her knuckles, stepping toward Stella. “But first, you’re not walking out of here.”
Stella, a bully who crumbled under pressure, backed up, her voice shaky. “You… you wouldn’t dare…”
The assistant rushed to her side, raising her voice. “We’re
with Luma Me Our boss
is Charles Shaw. Touch Miss Hughes, you’re messing with the Shaw family!”
“Luma Media?” Annabel’s eyes flashed with mockery.
Her arm was grabbed. She turned to see Sophie, worry on her face.
“Annabel, I’m okay. Let’s just go, Sophie said softly.
Annabel glanced at Sophie’s wound, her eyes darkening. “Alright, I’ll take you to the hospital soon.”
Stella, thinking Annabel was chickening out, stuck out her chin. “Get lost, trash–stay
Chapter 14 Clash At The Clothing Store
in your hole and stop grossing people out!”
A dagger zipped past Stella’s ear, lodging in the display case with a thud.
Annabel lowered her hand. “Your bodyguard’s–take it back,” she said, her voice flat.
She helped Sophie out, leaving Stella frozen.
Stella turned, seeing the dagger, her face paling. She collapsed, legs weak.
Then she yelped, jumping up. It was a yellow puddle spreading beneath her assistant, who’d wet herself in fear.
They were standing side by side, so the dagger had grazed the assistant’s scalp.
As Annabel left the store, Stella’s piercing scream followed her. “Bitch! I’ll make your
pay!”
Annabel’s eyes stayed cold, her steps steady.
Sophie, walking beside her, twisted her hands. “Annabel, are we in trouble?”
Annabel tucked a strand of Sophie’s hair behind her ear, her voice gentle. “Don’t worry,
Mom. We’re fine.”
Then she smiled. ‘Trouble? Yes. But only for Stella.”
She took Sophie to the hospital to get her wound treated. Later, they had a quiet dinner before going to Sophie’s apartment.
Night had settled, but Annabel stayed.
“Mom, I want to sleep here tonight,” she said, linking her arm with Sophie’s, her tone light.
Sophie, moved, nodded warmly. “Of course, sweetheart.”
Annabel leaned closer, her voice casual. “Mom, other families have heirlooms, right? Do we? Like a pendant, maybe?”
Sophie’s eyes flashed with something strange. “Silly girl, even if we had an heirloom, it‘ d be with Walter.”
Annabel noticed the change but didn’t push. She assumed Sophie wasn’t ready to talk about the pendant.
Before bed, Annabel’s phone rang loudly.
Victor’s angry voice blasted through. “You little brat, where are you? Get back here now!
He was so loud Sophie heard it too. She looked at Annabel, her voice soft. “Is that your
dad?”
“Yeah,” Annabel said, her face cold in the dark.
Victor, hearing Sophie’s voice, lost it. “Sophie, still alive? After all the mess you made,
Chapter 14 Clash At The Clothing Store
now you’re pushing Annabel to stab people?”
Annabel’s laugh was sharp. “You’re the one who raised me like this, not Mom.”
She hung up, blocked Victor’s number, and tossed the phone aside.
Sophie’s face was heavy, her voice quiet. “Annabel, your dad…”
Annabel wrapped her arms around Sophie, breathing in the faint soap scent, her voice
soft. “Mom, I’m tired. Let’s sleep–forget the bad stuff.”
Sophie didn’t answer, just patted Annabel’s back gently.
Annabel fell asleep fast, but Sophie stayed awake, her mind racing all night.
The next morning, Sophie got up early, making Annabel’s favorite ravioli.
Over breakfast, Annabel enjoyed every bite, feeling warm inside. Before leaving, she pressed a card with 300,000 dollars into Sophie’s hands.
“Mom, buy yourself something nice. I’ll come back soon,” she said, her voice firm.
Sophie, not knowing the amount, tried to say no but gave in, tucking the card away.
On the drive back, Annabel unblocked Victor’s number. Her phone buzzed with a flood of nasty messages.
Victor: [You brat, think Walter’s love makes you untouchable?]
Victor: [Get back here and apologize to Charles’s artist!]
Victor: [You jerk, check those online posts–if the White family stocks tank, I’ll kill you. I swear!]
Annabel deleted them all with a tap and opened a browser.
The internet was buzzing with videos of Stella Hughes, the Luma Media actress.
In a hospital gown, Stella cried, tears running down her face.
She sobbed, “Yesterday, my assistant and I had a small run–in with an older woman at the mall. Her daughter not only hit me but pulled a dagger. I later found out she’s Annabel White, the White family heiress.”
She clasped her hands, her voice begging, looking innocent. “I’ll cover my medical bills. I don’t need Miss White’s apology–just hope she stops carrying daggers. It’s too dangerous.”
Annabel’s face stayed blank as she watched. She called the mall’s management.
She said coolly, “Hello, this is Annabel White. Yesterday, my mother was harassed by Stella Hughes at your Luxe Vogue store while shopping. I need all the surveillance footage.”
The reply was short. “Sorry, Miss White, we can’t provide surveillance.”
