Chapter 88

Evelyn's lips curled into a frosty smirk.

She watched with satisfaction as Vanessa's carefully constructed smile faltered and crumbled.

The sight filled her with immense gratification.

"Did you hear that? Why are you still lingering here?" Isabella's voice dripped with scorn. "How shameless can you be, trying to mooch off our private shopping session? Ms. Holloway, have some self-respect."

The boutique manager, anxious to appease Evelyn, quickly intervened. She turned to Sophia Blackwood and Vanessa with practiced professionalism. "Ladies, if you'd please proceed downstairs. Our associates will assist you momentarily."

Vanessa's expression darkened. Sophia looked positively livid - this public humiliation was a direct slap to her pride.

If this incident spread through Montecito's elite circles, Sophia's social standing would be irreparably damaged!

"Absolutely not!" Sophia declared, her voice trembling with rage. "I want to see exactly what Evelyn has selected. Money is no object - I'll purchase every single item she's chosen!"

Sophia was determined to flaunt her wealth and reclaim her dignity, especially before Evelyn.

Evelyn arched an elegant eyebrow, feigning surprise. "You're buying everything?"

"Every last piece!" Sophia sneered, tossing her hair arrogantly as she addressed the manager. "Remove them from my sight immediately!"

The manager struggled to maintain her professional smile, caught in an impossible situation. Ms. Blackwood's entitled behavior was becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Evelyn's lips curved into an amused smile as she addressed the manager. "Since Ms. Blackwood insists, please package all my selections for her."

The manager blinked in surprise at Evelyn's composed reaction before nodding obediently. "Of course, Ms. Sinclair."

Staff quickly gathered Evelyn's chosen items - an impressive collection of the season's most exclusive pieces. Evelyn turned back to Sophia with deliberate nonchalance. "You wouldn't suddenly find these too expensive and change your mind, would you?"

The manager paled slightly at the implication. If Ms. Blackwood reneged after this display, the boutique would suffer significant losses.

Sophia interpreted Evelyn's comment as a challenge. "Return them? I'd rather burn every piece than admit I can't afford them!" She lifted her chin defiantly, thinking: Who does this gold-digger think she is, pretending to be some heiress?

Evelyn calmly tapped her phone, playing back their exchange:

"Ms. Blackwood, you wouldn't suddenly find these too expensive and change your mind, would you?"

"Return them? I'd rather burn every piece than admit I can't afford them!"

Sophia's face drained of color. "What are you playing at?"

Evelyn smiled sweetly at the manager. "Consider this insurance. Should Ms. Blackwood have second thoughts, you can share her generous spirit with all her society friends."

Sophia flushed crimson with rage. "I'm a Blackwood heiress! Do you honestly think I can't handle a few designer pieces?" She sneered at Evelyn. "Not everyone lives paycheck to paycheck like you. I'll take everything!"

Evelyn chuckled as she sent the recording to the manager, who looked visibly relieved. Turning to Isabella, she sighed dramatically. "Shall we go? It appears Ms. Blackwood's generosity has left us with nothing to purchase today."

Isabella rose gracefully, swinging her purse. "How disappointing. I suppose we'll have to concede defeat." The two women descended the staircase with deliberate leisure.

The manager approached Sophia with the itemized list. "Ms. Blackwood, your total comes to $6.49 million. Would you like to review the breakdown?"

Sophia's world tilted violently. Her face froze, the color draining from her cheeks before flooding back in mortified crimson. "Excuse me?!"

She had anticipated a few hundred thousand, perhaps a million at most - painful but manageable. However, after losing the family heirloom emerald pipe, her grandfather had severely restricted her allowance. Her current funds couldn't possibly cover this exorbitant sum.

"Ms. Sinclair selected our most exclusive haute couture pieces," the manager explained tactfully. "As pre-release items not yet available in Montecito, we're unable to offer any discounts."

She studied Sophia with barely concealed pity. The bold heiress from moments ago now looked ready to collapse.

Vanessa frowned at Sophia's ashen complexion and whispered, "Perhaps we should call your brother? I can make the call if you'd prefer..."

Evelyn and Isabella, now at the boutique entrance, overheard the suggestion.

Evelyn's expression remained impassive, but Isabella snorted derisively. "Can't even afford a shopping spree yet puts on such airs?"

With a final smirk, Evelyn murmured, "Leave her to her humiliation."

This petty drama wasn't worth another moment of her attention.