Chapter 79:
Tessa reeled, stunned. “Have you lost your minds? You can’t just throw me out!”
“If you don’t go quietly, security will handle it. Trust me, being dragged out won’t do your reputation any favors,” the manager replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Stacey stared, just as rattled. “All this because of something Rylie said? My future husband is one of Mr. Owen’s top business partners. Aren’t you worried about your own jobs?”
A small, knowing smile played on Rylie’s lips. “No one told you? That three-hundred-million-dollar contract was canceled this morning.”
Tessa’s temper flared, and she retorted, “How dare you wish misfortune on our family!”
Her words barely left her lips before several staff members firmly ushered her toward the exit. In the chaos, Tessa stumbled and collapsed, her chronic leg pain seizing up and leaving her writhing on the floor. Stacey hurried to her side, but despite her best efforts, she couldn’t get Tessa back on her feet, and together they made a pitiful sight.
Sweat beaded across Tessa’s forehead as she grimaced through the pain. “It’s never hurt this badly before.”
Stacey, her confidence starting to waver, fumbled for comfort. “I went to Marsha — she’s supposed to be the Wilde family’s medical genius. She even got a special prescription from her grandmother. With the medicine and my massages, your legs should be healing. This must just be a side effect.”
Taking Stacey at her word, Tessa clung to her arm and forced herself upright. “Get your father on the phone — now! That ungrateful brat Rylie will pay for this humiliation. I won’t let her get away with it!”
Stacey tried to offer reassurance, but doubt crept in. “Something’s off, Mom. The staff here all know the Kirk family. Why would they still side with Rylie and risk crossing us?”
Tessa barely let the suspicion cross her mind before brushing it aside. “Her status above ours? No chance. She must have found herself some sugar daddy.”
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“I’ll call Fred — he might know what’s really going on,” Stacey said, already fishing her phone from her bag.
Before she could place the call, the mall’s loudspeakers crackled to life: “Attention all shoppers. Effective immediately, Vantage Mall will be closed to the public for the exclusive use of the Owen family’s honored daughter. All shops are to suspend business for the next two hours.”
“What?” Stacey jerked her head up in disbelief. All around them, the mall’s lights flickered off, leaving only the Beedleshine boutique aglow beneath a single, stark spotlight. A dozen black-suited bodyguards assembled, forming a barrier to keep out prying eyes as they guided a young woman from the store.
Tessa’s voice trembled. “What… what is this?”
A sick feeling took hold of Stacey. “It couldn’t actually be Rylie, could it?”
“That’s ridiculous,” Tessa retorted. “There were other girls in there, and Rylie’s just some country bumpkin. She couldn’t possibly be that important.”
Not far away, a cluster of frustrated young women from wealthy families was also being hustled toward the exits. Paola’s face had gone pale, and her friend shouted furiously at security, “You’re out of your minds! Paola’s an Owen too! How dare you treat us like this?”
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