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Novel Catalog
Chapter 99 Hide Her Identity
The store clerk hesitated for a moment but quickly took the card from Cecilia’s hand, recognizing the significance of the VIP status it implied. Yvette’s smug demeanor faltered for just a split second, but she quickly regained her arrogance. “You think that just because you have a fancy card, you can make me leave?” she sneered.
Cecilia’s calm voice cut through the tension, her tone measured and cool. “This store is a place of business, not a battleground for your petty squabbles. If you insist on causing trouble, you’ll find yourself outside, where you belong.”
Yvette opened her mouth to retort but was stopped when the store staff, after a brief exchange of glances, began to take her by the arms.
“You can’t do this!” Yvette protested, but her words were drowned out by the murmurs of the customers around them, some of whom were already whispering about her behavior. It was clear the scene wasn’t going in her favor.
Vivian stood next to Cecilia, arms crossed, her face a mask of satisfaction. “You should’ve known better than to mess with us. Go ahead, keep talking, but I don’t think anyone here cares to hear you whine.”
Yvette’s face flushed a deep red, but she knew she had lost. The staff firmly escorted her out of the store, leaving behind a group of stunned onlookers.
Once the door closed behind Yvette, Cecilia turned to the clerk, her tone no longer sharp but smooth. “Thank you. I’ll be taking my leave as well.”
The clerk nodded quickly, visibly relieved that the situation had been diffused. “Of course, Ms. Smith. Please, let us know if you need anything else.”
As Cecilia and Vivian walked toward the exit, Vivian couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know, that felt pretty good. I don’t think anyone’s going to forget this incident anytime soon.”
Cecilia offered a small smile but didn’t respond immediately. She was still lost in thought, the incident with Yvette only adding to the weight she felt over everything unfolding. The conflict with Stella, the growing distance between her and Nathaniel, and now these new entanglements with people like Yvette—it was all too much.
Finally, after a long pause, Cecilia spoke. “It’s never just about the dress, is it?”
Vivian glanced at her. “What do you mean?”
Cecilia sighed softly. “It’s always about something deeper. Yvette’s remarks… they were personal. They weren’t about a stupid dress.”
Vivian raised an eyebrow. “You think she was trying to get under your skin?”
“Definitely,” Cecilia replied, her eyes hardening slightly. “People like Yvette—Stella’s friends—they don’t just make empty comments. They use what they know to attack. And right now, I have a feeling they’re not done with me yet.”
Vivian didn’t speak for a moment, clearly processing what Cecilia had said. “We’ll deal with them. You’re not alone in this.”
“I know.” Cecilia’s voice softened slightly. “But I think it’s time I stop playing defense. It’s time to take control.”
Vivian gave her a knowing smile. “I couldn’t agree more. But let’s go get that drink first, yeah? You deserve a little peace after all this chaos.”
Cecilia nodded, allowing herself a brief moment to relax before they left the mall. Still, as she walked out into the bright afternoon light, the weight of what was coming lingered at the back of her mind. She had a plan to make, and it would involve more than just legal battles. It was time to take a stand against everyone who thought they could use her, manipulate her, or dismiss her.
And she wasn’t going to let Nathaniel—or anyone else—stand in her way.
