The manager, quickly catching on, furrowed his brow and turned on the saleswoman with fury. “You idiot! What did we teach you during training? You should know by now that the customer is always right! You’re supposed to treat every guest with respect, no matter who they are! Consider your paycheck for this month gone!”
Then, flashing Rebecca a more ingratiating smile, he added, “Do you even realize who you’ve insulted? This is Miss Green – her family owns this entire mall!”
The saleswoman’s face crumpled in despair, all color drained from her cheeks. She knew she had crossed a line she couldn’t step back from. Trembling, she dropped to her knees before Rebecca and Allison, her voice shaking as she stammered out a frantic apology, her future now hanging by a thread. “I’m so sorry! It’s my fault for being careless!” The saleswoman’s voice trembled, eyes wide with panic.
From the side, Francene’s cold laugh pierced the air. “The Green family? Hah! So what? Let me make one thing clear – even if the president himself walked in here today, it wouldn’t change a thing! I was the one who grabbed the dress first, so that makes it mine!”
The manager, sensing the brewing storm, wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. He couldn’t afford to offend Francene, yet he knew the consequences of crossing Rebecca. Desperate to keep the peace, he stepped forward with a placating smile. “Ladies, please, it’s just a dress. There’s no need for things to escalate. I deeply regret the confusion caused by my staff’s incompetence.” At that last part, he shot the trembling saleswoman a scathing look.
“What are you waiting for?” he barked, motioning toward the dress. “Wrap it up for Miss Green!”
But he wasn’t finished. Turning to Francene with a strained grin, he hurriedly added, “As for you, Mrs. Johnson, we sincerely apologize for the trouble. How about this – as a gesture of goodwill, please accept a brand-new handbag from our exclusive spring collection. It’s made of the finest crocodile leather, you know.”
Before Rebecca or Allison could react, Francene exploded in anger. “Who gives a damn about your stupid handbag? I said I wanted that dress! Are you deaf? Besides, I grabbed it first!” Caught between the store’s “first-come, first-served” policy and Francene’s fury, the manager squirmed under the pressure. Francene might have flaunted her wealth, but Rebecca was someone he couldn’t risk offending.
Francene’s expression darkened, fury twisting her features. She was used to throwing her money around, crushing anyone in her way with a smile, but to be embarrassed like this by two nobodies? Unthinkable!
Seething with rage, she pulled out her phone and made a call.
“Melany, I just got back, and already people are walking all over me! Are you seriously just going to let this slide?”
Melany and Colton, who had been shopping nearby, immediately set off toward the scene.
Snapping her phone shut, Francene shot a venomous glare at Rebecca and Allison. “Just wait,” she hissed. “My daughter and son-in-law are on their way, and they’ve got more money than you could ever dream of. Mark my words – you’re going to regret this!”
Upon receiving Francene’s call, Melany quickly dragged Colton to Skylight Mall. As they entered the store, they immediately spotted Allison standing confidently, arms crossed, looking completely unbothered.
“Allison? What are you doing here?” Melany asked, her voice soft but laced with barely concealed frustration. How was it that Allison was always everywhere, seemingly unfazed by whatever chaos followed her?
Meanwhile, Francene, noticing Colton and Melany’s arrival, grew even more arrogant.
“If you know what’s good for you, give me the dress!” Francene snapped. “Do you not see who my son-in-law is? He’s the CEO of the Stevens Group. Upset him, and you’ll regret it!” She then pulled Melany over to her side, trying to assert even more dominance.
“Melany, darling, this dress is my wedding gift to you,” she added, a smug smile spreading across her face. “Just look at how exquisite it is. Wear this to the wedding ceremony, and you’ll be the most stunning bride in all of Ontdale! But some people,” she sneered, “just don’t know when to back down.”
However, Colton wasn’t paying attention to the dress or even Melany. His eyes were fixed solely on Allison.
She was dressed in casual yet refined attire, projecting an air of power through simplicity. The cool indifference she exuded made her feel almost untouchable. Despite all the talk of his upcoming marriage, Allison hadn’t even glanced in his direction, acting as if the entire situation were beneath her.
Feeling a surge of frustration, Colton spoke, his voice turning cold. “Allison, do you really need to take Melany’s dress? It’s important for the wedding. Why don’t you just give it back? I’ll pay double.”
Allison looked at him, her expression icy, a mocking smile curling on her lips. “Ah, Mr. Stevens. Arrogant and stupid as ever. It’s impressive, really. But here’s the thing-money doesn’t interest me.” Her voice cut through the air like a blade. She turned to the store manager. “Pack the dress.”
The store manager, who had been silently observing the exchange, understood the dynamics all too well. While the Stevens family wielded power, the Green family was just as formidable. And it was clear that Allison and Rebecca had laid claim to the gown first.
“Right away!” the manager said hastily, moving to wrap up the dress.
Colton’s face darkened as he glared at Allison. “This dress is a gift from Francene for Melany. It’s meant for her to wear at our wedding.”
He was certain that despite Allison’s distant demeanor, she still cared about him. He was convinced that her actions were driven by jealousy. His frown deepened. “Allison, if you really can’t stand Melany, take anything else. But not this dress.”
Allison’s eyes gleamed with amusement, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Even Rebecca couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his assumption.
“Allison, did you hear that?” Rebecca said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Some people actually think we’re here just to mess with their wedding. What a joke! We were here first, you know.”
Allison sighed theatrically. “What can you do? Ignorant clowns are everywhere these days. I’m used to it.”
She then turned her attention back to Colton, her voice sharp. “Mr. Stevens, it’s bad enough that you can’t tell right from wrong, but now you’re blocking my way. Are you planning to lie in the road again, waiting for me to run you over? Or perhaps,” she added, her eyes narrowing, “you’re longing for another trip to the warehouse?”
Her words sliced through him like a knife. “I never knew you could stoop so low, Mr. Stevens. After all the losses you’ve faced, you still think I care about your wedding? Ridiculous.”
Colton’s face paled as memories of his recent humiliations surfaced. Still, Francene stood behind him; he couldn’t back down now.
Sensing the growing tension, Melany quickly stepped in, her voice soft and seemingly innocent. “No matter how much you dislike me, Allison, please don’t ruin my special day. This dress is a gift from my mother. I can let you have anything else, but not this.” Her expression was delicate, as though she were the true victim in all of this.
Rebecca rolled her eyes at Melany’s pretentious act, her patience wearing thin. She raised her hand, ready to slap some sense into her, when suddenly someone caught her wrist.
It was Sherman, Kellan’s assistant.
“Miss Green, Miss Clarke, a pleasure. Mr. Lloyd was on his way to the top floor and happened to notice you.”
Allison looked up and saw Kellan in his wheelchair, watching the scene unfold with a bemused expression.
“Don’t lower yourself to their level,” Kellan said softly, his tone laced with amusement. “Miss Green, if you strike her, it’ll only give her the attention she’s after.”
Kellan’s sudden arrival had an immediate effect. He shot the store manager a sharp smile. “Do you just let any common riffraff shop here?”
The manager, already on edge, turned pale. “Mr. Lloyd… I-I didn’t know…” he stammered, breaking out into a cold sweat. Colton, still unwilling to back down, spoke up again. “Mr. Lloyd, are you here to take what’s mine?”
Kellan didn’t even glance at him. Instead, he looked at Sherman, who gave a subtle nod.
“Blacklist them,” Kellan said calmly. “I don’t want to see them in any of our luxury stores again.”
“Understood.” Sherman stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. “Both of you need to leave. We don’t tolerate rude behavior here.”
Melany’s face twisted in frustration, but she quickly tried to salvage the situation. “Mr. Lloyd, this must be a misunderstanding. We had no idea this store was yours. My mother just wanted to buy me a wedding gift, nothing more…” She had known that Kellan owned several luxury brands, but she hadn’t anticipated this store being one of them. If they were blacklisted, luxury shopping in Ontdale would become impossible, forcing them to go abroad. “Isn’t this a bit much over a few harsh words? Mr. Lloyd, blacklisting us feels extreme, don’t you think?” Her voice wavered slightly as she began to back down.
Francene, who had been riding high just moments ago, now stared in shock, her eyes wide. “What? This place belongs to him?!” What rattled her most wasn’t just the store, but that Kellan was standing up for Allison!
Colton’s face darkened as the realization sank in – Kellan was drawing a line. If the Stevens family was blacklisted, their luxury brand partners would quickly withdraw.
Before Colton could speak, Kellan wheeled himself over to Allison. His expression was indifferent, but his tone casual, as if they were old friends.
“It’s rare that we get to have dinner together, Ms. Clarke, and yet you find yourself in such unpleasant company. Don’t worry, though – I’ll pick you up personally next time. No one will bother you again.”
Allison smiled faintly. “It was just a casual stroll…” Their easy, effortless exchange created an air of intimacy that left Colton simmering. His mood darkened with each passing word.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, the store manager wisely intervened. “Ms. Clarke, we’ll have the dress delivered directly to your home.”
With that, the drama finally came to an end.
But as Kellan and Allison continued their conversation, Melany’s jealousy boiled beneath the surface. She forced a sweet smile, but her words carried a sharp edge. “Forget it. Allison, I know you still have feelings for Colton. That’s why you’re after my wedding gift, right? But it’s my fault – I won’t hold it against you.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.