Clara’s Pov
Tony’s furious voice boomed across the store.
“Ciara, how dare you bully Hailey again?”
I crossed my arms, unimpressed. “Bully her? Are you serious?”
He stepped closer, eyes blazing. “First, you attacked her in Las Vegas. Now, you’re doing it again. When will you
stop?”
Hailey sniffled, wiping nonexistent tears. “Tony, please… don’t be mad at Clara. I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”
I scoffed. “Cut the act, Hailey.”
Tony glared at me. “Why did you walk out of our marriage over a simple misunderstanding? You could’ve talked to me, but instead, you ran away like a coward.”
I clenched my fists. “A misunderstanding? You cheated on me, Tony. With her.”
He sighed dramatically. “That was nothing. I only gifted her. I told you her boyfriend broke up with her. But you? You let your emotions get the best of you. And now, look at you–alone and bitter.”
I laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. “And what? You expect me to come crawling back to you?”
Tony’s expression softened slightly, as if he truly believed he was being generous. “If you apologize to Hailey for the way you treated her at the hospital, I’ll forgive you. We can start over.”
I stared at him in disbelief before bursting into laughter. Hailey’s lips curled into a smug smile, acting as if she
had already won.
“Tony, don’t force her,” Hailey said sweetly. “I’m not upset. I’ve already forgiven Ciara.”
I turned to her, eyes cold. “I don’t need your forgiveness”
Tony exhaled in frustration. “Ciara, you’re lucky Hailey is such a kind and forgiving person.
I tilted my head, smiling faintly. “Lucky? I don’t care. The two of you are the ones who hurt me, and I’ll never forgive either of you.” My voice dropped lower. “By the time I’m done, you’ll be the ones begging for my forgiveness.” Tony’s jaw tightened. “You talk big for someone with nothing. You walked away from my wealth and power. Now you’re broke, yet here you are, pretending you belong in a place like this.”
I smirked. “Who says have nothing?”
I
He frowned. “Then what are you doing here?”
I shrugged. “Picking a dress. I have an elite party to attend tomorrow. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Hailey suddenly burst into laughter. “You? At an elite party?” She shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Ciara, don’t embarrass yourself. You need connections–money–to get into those places.”
I met her gaze, unimpressed. “Unlike you, I don’t need to chase after men for money.”
Her eyes widened in feigned hurt. “Tony, did you hear what she just said?”
Tony stepped forward, his expression darkening. “Ciara, that was unnecessary. Stop being so mean to Hailey
I rolled my eyes. “Get lost, Tony, I don’t acknowledge you anymore. Our marriage is over.”
Tony flinched at my words, as if realizing for the first time that I was truly done with him.
“You are nothing without me, Ciara, why won’t you stop being stubborn and come back, let’s fix things,” Tony
snapped at me.
I frowned and suddenly burst into laughter as I stared at Hailey
“Why are you so de
desperate to be with me, Tony? Isn’t Hailey enough for you again?” then I stared at Hailey and smirked, “Hailey, I wonder how you feel now knowing that your man is begging me to come back.”
I frowned and suddenly burst into laughter as I stared at Hailey.
“Why are you so desperate to be with me, Tony? Isn’t Hailey enough for you again?” then I stared at Hailey and smirked, “Hailey, I wonder how you feel now knowing that your man is begging me to come back.”
I saw the uneasy look that flickered across Hailey’s eyes but she scoffed and kept quiet.
Tony was quick to get defensive, “Stop talking silly things, Ciara. I only ask you to come back because you’re my wife. I don’t want you out here ruining my reputation by being with different men.”
I scoffed, “You don’t have a reputation for me to ruin,”
Ignoring them both, I picked out a dress and headed to the cashier. As I placed the dress on the counter, the cashier smiled politely. “That will be forty thousand dollars.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Hailey and Tony’s jaws drop.
“Forty thousand?” Hailey gasped. “There’s no way you have that kind of money!”
I smirked, pulling out my card and handing it over. “Watch and learn.”
The cashier swiped my card.
Then, the machine beeped.
I frowned.
The cashier looked up apologetically. “I’m sorry, Miss. Your card has been declined.”
