Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Caroline objected immediately, “Who gave you the authority to dismiss people like that? Even with the store manager’s arrival, she hasn’t confirmed your VIP status, has she?”
Without hesitation, Shelly retorted, “I may not be a VIP member, but someone else is.”
Observing the escalating tension, Mia turned to Gianna and requested, “Could you please clear the area?”
Gianna responded respectfully, “Certainly, ma’am.”
Shelly’s face lit up with a triumphant expression. “See that, Blair? How’s that for a reality check? Now, both of you, leave!” “I used to think you were impressive, but it turns out you’re just leeching off someone else’s VIP membership card. You might as well change your name to Miss Mooch-a-lot. Let’s go!” Blair mocked.
After Blair changed out of her dress, she turned and walked away.
Standing in place, Shelly grinned smugly as she quipped, “Well, if you’re so fond of piggybacking, why not get your own VIP membership card like Aubrey’s? Then you can piggyback all you want.”
Next to Shelly, her sidekick Jennifer Clarke added, “Exactly. Blair has been mooching off Aubrey’s card all this while. She has no right to say anything.” “Yes, these days, it seems like almost everyone has an older sister, right?”‘
After expressing her frustrations, Shelly nestled closely to Mia.
“Monalize, you’ve been so nice to me. I’ve always looked up to those with older siblings. Blair has been showing off, bragging about having an older sister. Today, I finally feel like I’ve gotten my revenge.”
Masking her unease, Mia responded calmly, ‘Shelly, from the moment I met you, I felt a genuine connection.” “Monalize, if you end up marrying Tim someday, we’ll truly become family, even closer than we are now.”
Mia smiled knowingly. “That’s certainly a possibility, but it ultimately depends on fate. I must admit, I don’t have much knowledge about Timothy or the Barrett family.” “These are trivial matters, Monalize. If you have any doubts, feel free to ask me. I’ll provide you with all the information you need about the Barretts.”
Noticing Shelly’s enthusiasm, Mia smiled as she knew Shelly would take the bait.
She offered a faint smile and said, “Very well, as a gesture of gratitude, I’ll cover the expenses for your purchases today.” “Really? But I feel a bit embarrassed about this. I accepted your bag and shoes yesterday, and now you’re paying for my things. It doesn’t sit right with me. I’m not the type to take advantage of others.”
Witnessing Shelly’s insincerity, Mia’s mouth twitched in response.
However, she regained her composure quickly and replied, “It’s okay. I gave you those gifts willingly. Considering we might be family someday, this expense is insignificant to me. Please, choose whatever you like.”
Overwhelmed with excitement, Shelly exclaimed, “In that case, I won’t hesitate!”
With that, she quickly stepped away and took the dress that Blair had previously tried on.
Flaunting this item in Blair’s presence might escalate her agitation even more.
Jennifer couldn’t help but interject, “Shelly, I’m so envious of you.” “I know, right? Shelly, is she Tim’s girlfriend? She seems extremely generous, even having a VIP membership card. Having a connection with you will definitely be advantageous for US in the future.”
With an air of superiority, Shelly picked out a bag and retorted, “Well, of course. How could Tim’s girlfriend not be well-off? They share similar social backgrounds!” “Shelly, where is Monalize from? She doesn’t seem to be well-known in the high-society circles of Bern City.”
If a young person were to hold a VIP membership card, it would undoubtedly have sparked considerable discussion within elite circles.
Shelly replied nonchalantly, “She’s actually from Nord City, not Bern City, so it’s understandable that you’re not familiar with her. But since their relationship has just been confirmed, let’s keep it low-key for now.”
In the end, Shelly settled on several outfits, as well as a few bags and some shoes.
Wearing her newest dress, Shelly took a selfie and posted it on her social media with the caption: “Thankful for this wonderful gift from my future cousin-in-law!”
Upon seeing Shelly’s post, Luna’s expression twisted with anger.
Observing Shelly’s appalling behavior, Luna realized the necessity of taking action; she couldn’t afford to remain passive any longer.
Glancing at her son, Asher, Luna knew that the current situation couldn’t persist. Even if she disregarded her own well-being, she had to consider Asher’s future.
Luna swiftly dialed a number, her tone shifting as she spoke, “Mrs. Barrett, there’s something I’m hesitant to disclose. It concerns Tim. He’s brought back a woman from Xanier Island.”
On the other end of the line, Sharon remained composed. “I’m aware of this. The woman appears to be a young lady from a wealthy family in Nord City, and she and Tim seem compatible. You’re familiar with Tim’s romantic affairs; they’re beyond my control.”
At the mention of “compatible”, Luna’s expression turned cold. Without hesitation, she remarked, “I understand, but that woman bears a striking resemblance to Mia.” “What?” Sharon exclaimed, instantly abandoning her beauty regimen.
Sitting upright, Sharon grabbed her phone and asked urgently, “Luna, are you sure about this? This isn’t something to joke about.” “Mrs. Barrett, I wouldn’t fabricate such a serious matter to deceive you. I personally witnessed Tim’s encounter with this woman during my recent visit to Xanier Island. Her reputation on the island was not favorable at all.
“She doesn’t come from a wealthy family in Nord City, and there are rumors suggesting that she’s a gold digger who specifically targets affluent men there. Due to her notorious reputation in Nord City, she’s now set her sights on the wealthy men of Bern City.”
Sharon scoffed dismissively, “No gold digger could ever deceive Tim.”
When it came to romantic relationships, Sharon trusted Timothy. If Timothy had a wandering eye, he would have likely remarried and settled down by now. It seemed improbable that he would still be single.
“But Mrs. Barrett, this situation is different,” Luna persisted. “That woman looks exactly like Mia. Tim even brought her back to Bern City this time, which means he’s serious about her. I’m concerned that Tim might be misled into marrying her, which is why I felt the need to caution you.” “Hmph, this is unacceptable. That woman needs to be stopped. It’s bad enough she resembles someone, and of all people, she just had to look like Mia. What terrible luck!” Sharon lamented.
Upon hearing Sharon’s reaction, Luna couldn’t help but smirk. She knew Sharon would react negatively at the mention of that particular person- Mia.
Now that Luna had firmly established herself within the Barrett family, she was determined not to let Monalize disrupt her plans.
Luna continued, “Mrs. Barrett, take a look at Shelly’s post. That woman appears to have resorted to using petty tactics to gain loyalty.” “Alright, I understand the situation now. By the way, Luna, Asher hasn’t been feeling well lately. While you were away on Xanier Island for a few days, the nanny wasn’t attentive to Asher.
“It was only when I went to check on Asher that I found out. If I hadn’t intervened in time, I don’t know what condition Asher would have been left in by that negligent nanny.” “I take full responsibility for this, Mrs. Barrett. I never expected the nanny to engage in deceitful behavior behind the scenes. I will promptly find a suitable replacement,” Luna reassured Sharon.
“You don’t need to find another nanny. I’ve already arranged for one from the Barrett residence to take care of Asher.
“Perhaps it’s time for you to take a break from your outings. If work is overwhelming, consider resigning and prioritizing Asher’s well-being,” Sharon said.
“Alright, I understand.”
After ending the call, Luna shifted her gaze to the nanny sent by the Golding family. Her gaze flickered with a cunning gleam in her eyes.
Deliberately choosing an incompetent nanny and letting her behavior deteriorate were all part of Luna’s scheme.
She wanted Sharon to witness the situation and consequently arrange for a nanny from the Barrett family to care for Asher instead.
This arrangement would bring Asher even closer to the Barrett family.
Luna’s scheme had been advancing seamlessly until her unexpected encounter with Monalize during her trip to Xanier Island, which threw everything into disarray.
However, she wasn’t about to give up easily.
After concluding the call, Sharon swiftly glanced at Shelly’s post, confirming the selfie and its caption.
With a disdainful snort, Sharon remarked, “Future in-law? I have no clue about her background, yet she has the audacity to try and cozy up to Tim.”
Sitting beside Sharon, her sister Veronica Hopkins cautiously inquired,” Sharon, what’s going on?” “Veronica, Luna just called me and mentioned that Tim brought a woman back from Xanier Island. Apparently, she’s not just a gold-digger but also looks remarkably similar to Mia. Why do I always seem to come across echoes of Mia?” “Sharon, I trust Tim to be smart enough not to fall for a gold digger,” Veronica said.
“You don’t understand. Tim was completely infatuated with the late Mia. If things were different, I wouldn’t even acknowledge Luna’s son. It’s only because Tim refuses to marry and have children. Are we just expected to hand over everything from the Barrett Family to outsiders in the future?” Sharon sighed.
“Then why not simply let Tim marry Luna since they already have a child together? It would save US from the disturbances caused by other women,” Veronica suggested.
Sharon couldn’t help but frown in response. “But Luna comes from a rather ordinary background. She used to work in a bar, and she can’t even compare to Mia’s status.”
Veronica countered, “But if Mia were still around, do you honestly think you could have easily taken charge as the matriarch of the Barrett family?
Chances are, you’d have faced continuous challenges and obstacles. After all, dealing with a wealthy daughter-in-law isn’t always a walk in the park.”
Recalling Mia’s arrogant and domineering demeanor as the young lady of the Lane family, Sharon couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
However, she felt a sense of relief knowing that Mia was no longer alive; otherwise, Mia’s behavior would have likely driven her to the brink of anger.
Feeling a bit uneasy, Sharon said, “I’ll head to the mall to look for Shelly. I must have a word with that woman.” “I’ll accompany you, Sharon. I’m also curious about who that little troublemaker is,” Veronica offered.
With that, the two of them left the beauty salon and headed straight to the mall.
In the mall, Mia’s eyes gleamed with mockery as she watched Shelly carrying several bags.
Despite this, she kept a smile on her face. “Shelly, is there anything else you need to buy? I’m starting to feel a bit worn out from shopping. Let’s go grab a drink.” “Monalize, there’s a caf¨¦ in the mall that serves decent coffee. Let me treat you this time. Shall we go?”
Despite feeling somewhat reluctant, Shelly also realized that appearing too greedy wouldn’t leave a good impression.
Mia presented her VIP membership card to Gianna and asked, “Could you please check US out?”
Shelly’s eyes widened with envy as she caught sight of the card. If only she could have one too.
After paying the bill, Mia and Shelly made their way to the caf¨¦ downstairs together.
The ambiance was undeniably delightful-quiet, with only a few patrons, providing a sense of privacy.
As they sat down, Shelly couldn’t help but massage her feet. “My feet are killing me after standing for so long.”
Mia stole a glance at Shelly’s designer high heels and noticed that they didn’t fit well, causing visible blisters on her feet.
Despite her discomfort, Shelly stubbornly refused to take off her shoes; it was evident that she had a deep-seated vanity.
After they ordered their drinks, Mia asked, “Shelly, what is Mr. Barrett’s mother usually like?”
Shelly’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. She knew Mia would surely ask her about the Barrett family’s preferences.
Considering Mia’s desire to wed into the Barrett family, earning Sharon’s approval was undoubtedly important.
Without hesitation, Shelly replied, “Monalize, you have nothing to worry about. With your captivating beauty, remarkable family background, and your generous nature, Aunt Sharon is sure to take a liking to you.”
After all, Sharon had always shown a preference for daughters from affluent families as potential daughters-in-law.
As long as there was a match in social status, there shouldn’t be any significant obstacles.
A hint of sarcasm flickered in Mia’s eyes. It seemed her ex-mother-in-law was also somewhat superficial. Well, that at least made her easier to handle.