Standing amidst the plethora of luxury goods, Skylar felt like a fish out of water, fully aware of how
underdressed she was at the moment.
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice came from the distance. “Skylar? Oh wow, it’s really you.”
Her heart practically stopped when she saw who the voice belonged to. “Hey, you there? Did you forget
me? I’m Erica.” The lady waved, plastering a seemingly cordial smile on her face.
Of course I remember you, Erica Fox. Skylar’s face instantly darkened as a wave of unpleasant
memories came flooding back.
Erica was Skylar’s high school classmate. But far from being chummy buddies, Skylar avoided Erica
like the plague. Her disdain for the girl was simple – Erica was an egocentric school bully who thought
that she could do anything she wanted just because she had a rich boyfriend and a pretty face.
If any girl offended her, she swore to make life hellish for the person. Unfortunately, Skylar happened to
be one of those girls.
The incident began when Skylar was rushing for class, only to bump into Erica by accident.
Consequently, the latter girl’s coffee spilled everywhere. “Jeez. Do you have no eyes? Clean this mess
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtup, now! With your mouth, that is.” The steadfast Skylar refused to submit to the threat.
A fight thus ensued, and the result was a two-month hospitalization bill for the outnumbered Skylar.
Erica had her gang with her, while the poor victim had no one.
Her grandmother confronted the school management, hoping to get some form of justice for the piteous
grandchild. Unfortunately, they merely turned a blind eye to the issue. That was when Skylar decided
once and for all that she was going to work hard and be successful in the future, so that she did not
have to suffer from such indignance anymore.
“No reply. Tsk. Rude as ever.” Erica’s annoyance brought Skylar back to reality.
The lady grimaced internally. Of all people I can meet… Why must it be her? Skylar had absolutely no
intention to greet her ex-classmate.
As she was unable to elicit any reaction from Skylar, Erica turned to her boyfriend instead. Skylar
recognized the man to be the same boyfriend Erica was dating since high school. “This is Skylar Jones.
We were high school classmates, and she went to the Southwood Film Academy after we graduated.”
Then, with a scoff, she continued, “Don’t you think that’s hilarious? Someone with no money or
background trying to make it big in the entertainment industry, daydreaming about buying a Hermès… I
really pity her grandmother. It’s not easy for her to raise such a foolish grandchild.”
Yup, this person hasn’t changed a single bit. Skylar began plotting a thousand ways to leave this
conversation, but Erica’s boyfriend gave a response that stopped her.
The spindly, but otherwise handsome man eyed her from head and toe and complimented, “I guess the
saying is true – the arts academies are where all the beautiful ladies gather… “
Skylar inadvertently felt flattered, though the man’s indecorous eyes lingered on her body for longer
than she liked. On the other hand, his girlfriend was evidently trying her best not to combust in public.
Erica had always regarded Skylar as a manipulative vixen who only knew how to bewitch men with her
good looks. Now that her boyfriend had joined in on the plaudits, she could not help but feel nettled.
“What use is there for beauty if she’s penniless!” Then, turning to Skylar, she sneered, “I doubt you can
afford anything in this place. I can’t believe you had the confidence to even walk into this store in the
first place.”
Skylar had long been immune to such attacks. Equably, she replied, “Is there a problem with window
shopping? I don’t recall it being illegal… Unless you own the store and prohibit customers from doing
so?”
In terms of verbal sparring, Erica was no match for Skylar. She hissed, deciding to humiliate Skylar
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmanother way. Turning to her boyfriend, she purred, “Babe, can you get me that Hermès bag over there?
I’ve been eyeing it for a really long time.”
Without qualms, her boyfriend fished out his stacked wallet and pulled out his platinum card. However,
he then flaunted his card deliberately before Skylar, even winking at her at some point to get her
attention.
This made Erica even more livid. The more riled up she was, the more cruel her words became.
“As you can see, Skylar Jones, this store is better suited for people like us. As for you, maybe try
dressing better the next time before fooling your way into stores like these. This store’s owner may be
kind enough not to evict you, but you can’t say the same for the others.”
Skylar’s cool demeanor finally cracked.
Pointing at the Hermès handbag the man was holding, she bellowed, “You haven’t paid for that right? I
want it!”
He paused, skepticism and displeasure written all over his face. “Um, do you know how much this
costs?”
From the side came Erica’s unrestrained laughter. “Dude, you’re going to go bankrupt.”
“Yeah, sure thing.” Skylar rolled her eyes and proceeded to retrieve the black card that Tobias gave
her. Passing it to the cashier, she ordered with the utmost composure, “Get this wrapped up for me.”