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“This card requires an annual expenditure exceeding one million dollars, and it also demands celebrity authentication for approval.
“Anyone in possession of this card is far from ordinary. You may have just landed yourself in trouble!”
At that moment, Chelsea Kent, the store manager, approached Shelly and Sharon. “Ms. Barrett and Mrs. Barrett, is there anything I can assist you with?”
Shelly quickly chimed in, “Someone seems to have stolen a VIP membership card. Shouldn’t you verify their identity?”
Taking the card, Chelsea glanced at Mia. ” May I ask if this card belongs to you?”
Mia shook her head. “No, it doesn’t.”
Shelly immediately chuckled, “As I said earlier, Mia must have either stolen or found this card somewhere. She doesn’t even know where it came from.”
Sharon sneered, “Mia, a chicken will always remain a chicken; it can never transform into a phoenix!”
“Who are you calling a chicken?”
Suddenly, the fitting room door swung open, and Eva emerged.
Instantly recognizing the two women before her¨Cone being Timothy’s mother and the other his cousin¨C Eva was outraged by their insults toward Mia.
While Mia’s brothers might tolerate such behavior, Eva certainly couldn’t.
Rolling up her sleeves, Eva pointed accusingly at Sharon.
“You old hag, your skin’s on the verge of sagging to the ground, yet you have the nerve to insult Mia. Given your advanced age, where have your manners disappeared to?”
Throughout the years, Sharon had never experienced such a direct verbal assault. Enraged, she stuttered, “Y¨Cyou… who do you think you are? How dare you insult me like this?”
“What’s wrong with insulting you? Just wait, I might even give you a beating later,” Eva defiantly replied.
After all, Eva harbored a fiery temper when it came to defending her family.
She had maintained a low profile in Nord City over the years, seldom venturing out in public.
Her visits to Bern City were infrequent, and she had deliberately skipped Maya’s engagement banquet last time due to her dislike for Maya. /
Therefore, the Barretts didn’t recognize her at all.
However, Eva was well acquainted with them, particularly with the knowledge of Mia’s secret marriage to Timothy. Aware of the three years Mia had spent enduring injustice from the Barrett family, Eva harbored a lot of pent¨Cup anger.
It appeared that Sharon and Shelly had unwittingly found themselves in her line of fire!
Observing Eva on the brink of losing her temper, Mia promptly intervened. “Eva, please calm down. In a civilized society, we must uphold the rule of law,” she urged.
Certainly, the individual who initiated.
violence was ultimately the real loser.
Eva scoffed with disdain. “Who needs civility when dealing with such individuals? Do they even deserve it?”
Sharon was immediately provoked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “So Mia, she’s your sister¨Cin¨Claw? No surprise there, birds of a feather flock together.”
Fanning the flames further, Shelly firmly instructed Penny, “Quickly verify this card. We need to let the owner know it’s been stolen and inform the cops that these two poor folks have been using it unlawfully.”
Upon hearing this, Eva erupted into laughter. “Oh, come on, it’s just a card. Why are you making such a fuss? Have you been living under a rock?”
Sharon snorted derisively. “What’s the matter? Are you feeling guilty?”
Caught in a dilemma, Chelsea found herself torn between the affluent Sharon and the unfamiliar Eva.
Ultimately, Chelsea decided to believe Sharon’s assertions. She turned to Mia and Eva, stating, “I apologize, but I must make a phone call to reach the owner of this card.”
Without hesitation, Chelsea retrieved her phone and dialed the number provided on the card. Soon enough, the phone placed on the nearby sofa began to ring loudly.
The atmosphere immediately grew tense.
Shelly exclaimed incredulously, “Is the owner of the card present in this store?”
Mia glanced back, her eyes filled with disbelief as she realized that the phone belonged to Eva.
So, Eva was the cardholder?
However, according to Shelly’s earlier explanation, acquiring such a card required an annual expenditure of a million dollars, along with other evidence of status, making it unlikely to be easily obtained.
Could Eva’s family be that affluent?
With a mocking expression, Shelly taunted, “Mia, did you guys steal someone else’s card in the store? Now that you’ve been caught red¨Chanded, let’s see what excuses you come up with.”
Chelsea glanced at the buzzing phone on the sofa before turning to Penny. “Is the owner of this phone in the fitting room, perhaps?”
Just then, Eva walked over, reaching for the phone as she gave it a wave.
Apologies, but this is actually mine,” she remarked.
Shelly’s expression morphed into one of disbelief. “That can’t be right. Just because the owner isn’t here, do you think it’s okay to take their belongings?”
Since when did Mia have such wealthy connections?
Sharon fixed Penny with a stern glare, demanding, “Speak up. Where is the owner of this phone? Bring her out! Someone is attempting to steal her VIP membership card along with her phone.”
Penny, visibly nervous, stammered, Chelsea, this phone belongs to Ms. Delgado. I confirmed their details when they entered the store.”
Chelsea’s expression changed abruptly as she rushed over to Eva, holding out the VIP membership card.
“I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding. It was our mistake, and we sincerely regret any inconvenience caused. Please accept our apologies.”
Mia watched in astonishment, struggling to comprehend the situation unfolding before her.
Just then, Eva extended the card back to her. “Mia, please, take it!”
Observing the card in Eva’s hand, Mia hesitantly replied, “This card seems too valuable. I can’t accept it!”
“It’s a gift for you. Just take it. After all, there are plenty of patronizing individuals out there,” Eva replied.
Sharon, feeling humiliated, snapped back, “Who do you think you’re insulting?
Consumed by jealousy, Shelly couldn’t resist making a snarky comment as she observed the VIP membership card in Mia’s hand. “What’s the use of taking the card? You still can’t afford anything in this store.”
Eva shot back, “It’s not a problem. This card has an annual spending limit of millions of dollars. Mia can use it as she pleases.”
Sharon couldn’t resist asking, “Who are you exactly? And why are you being so generous to Mia?”
Shelly chimed in, fanning the flames, Yeah, Mia is just a gold¨Cdigging imposter. She used every trick in the book to marry into our family.
“And when she realized she couldn’t get her hands on any money, she immediately started talking about divorce and running into the arms of another man. Watch out, Mia might try to steal your husband.”
Upon hearing these words, Mia’s expression grew uneasy. She hadn’t anticipated Shelly to openly reveal her three¨Cyear marriage with Timothy.
In response, Mia countered sharply, “If I were truly a gold digger, I would have seized control of the Barrett Group by now, and all of you would have been kicked out of the Barrett residence.”
Clicking her tongue, Sharon declared, Oh, Mia, I expected this from you. That’s why I insisted on having you sign a prenuptial agreement. If you and
Timothy end up divorcing, you won’t receive a cent!”
Mia arched an eyebrow, her tone unwavering, “Well, it seems you’re not up to speed. Timothy actually tore up the prenuptial agreement in front of me.”
“What? That’s impossible!”
Sharon’s complexion paled upon hearing Mia’s revelation. The prenuptial agreement had been their only leverage, against Mia.
Undeterred, Mia continued, “And let’s not forget, before Grandma Laura’s surgery, she had Timothy sign an agreement ensuring that the child I bear will inherit the Barrett Group.”
Shelly’s eyes widened in disbelief as she glanced at Mia’s belly, realizing she was pregnant.
Although she was unsure why Mia had kept this information concealed, Shelly couldn’t shake the feeling that Mia had ulterior motives.
Shelly held her herself back from speaking out, reluctant to reveal Mia’s pregnancy to Sharon.
If Sharon were to accept Mia due to her child, it could potentially jeopardize Shelly’s future within the Barrett family.
Sharon was furious, her body trembling with anger. “Mia, your true colors are finally showing. Let me make one thing clear. With your incompatible background, you are entirely undeserving of Tim.”
“Exactly! The contrast between your worlds is undeniable!” Shelly chimed in.
Eva stood up in defense of Mia, scoffing, You don’t even own a VIP membership card, yet you dare to act like you’re wealthy? You’re just relying on sheer nerve, aren’t you? Mia couldn’t care less about your family!”
Sharon responded arrogantly, “Oh,
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please. My son happens to be the CEO of the Barrett Group!”
“So what? You can’t even secure a VIP