Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
Delia’s expression changed in an instant.
What was Serena playing at?
She didn’t have that kind of money! If Serena didn’t bail her out, what was she supposed to do about all these clothes?
The sales clerk looked from Serena to Delia-who had been acting so high and mighty just moments ago-before her smile faded a little and she addressed Delia. “Miss, will you be paying with cash or card?”
Delia’s face fell. “I didn’t bring any money. I just wanted you to cover it for me this time. I’ll pay you back later, okay?”
Serena didn’t budge. “Is that so? Then how about you start by paying me back for all the other times I ‘helped’ you out? If we add it all up, the total’s well over a million. But I’ll cut you a deal-just pay me back one million even.”
“One million?!” Delia nearly choked, her eyes wide.
Serena just smiled, amusement flickering in her gaze. “What’s wrong? Is that a problem?”
Delia was about to blurt out, “Why should I pay you back?” but bit her tongue at the last second.
She’d never intended to repay any of the money Serena had spent on her before. Besides, Serena had never asked for it-wasn’t that practically a gift? Why was she suddenly demanding repayment?
“You weren’t planning on paying me back, were you?” Serena narrowed her eyes, her voice suddenly chilly.
Immediately, the sales clerks began to look at Delia differently, their disdain all too obvious.
A minute ago she’d been throwing money around, telling her friends to pick whatever they wanted. Everyone assumed she was paying with her own cash.
Delia’s face burned. “It’s not that I don’t want to pay you back. I just can’t right now! Cover for me this time, and I’ll pay you back when I get home.”
Serena shot her a look. “Do I look like an idiot?”
Delia had never paid her back before-why would this time be any different? Delia was speechless.
Serena stretched out comfortably, all ease and confidence. “Sorry, but I just don’t trust you. You’ll have to pay for your own things this time.”
Immediately, the clerk turned to Delia with a polite smile, waiting for her to pay. Delia was so furious she could barely breathe.
She’d only dared to splurge like this because she assumed Serena would pick up the tab. Now, she was on the hook for nearly two hundred thousand dollars. How on earth was she supposed to pay for that?
“Miss, what will your payment method be?” the clerk prompted again.
A cold sweat broke out on Delia’s forehead, and her face drained of color.
Serena let out a soft, amused laugh.
Delia heard her and suddenly seemed to realize something. She whipped around, eyes blazing. “You did this on purpose!”
Serena just smiled, tilting her head to the side, her voice syrupy sweet. “Sorry, what was that? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Delia’s anger flared. “You absolutely did! You tricked me into cutting off the tag-“
“When did I ever trick you?” Serena replied, still smiling. “If you mean what Fiona and the clerk were discussing, that’s genuinely what I thought. I never said I’d pay for you. You got ahead of yourself, cut off the price tag, and now it’s somehow my fault?”
Delia opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was completely stumped.
The shop assistant kept her polite smile, but her tone was firm as she prompted, “Miss?”
Delia was so anxious she could feel sweat trickling down her back.
A hundred and forty-four thousand dollars-chump change for Serena, maybe, but for Delia, it was a staggering sum. There was no way she could pay it.
She shot Serena a venomous glare, then turned to her classmates, gritting her teeth. “I didn’t bring enough cash today. Let’s just split it evenly for now!”
The others’ expressions soured instantly. “Delia, didn’t you say you were treating us? Now you want us to pay?”
Delia frowned in annoyance. “I just forgot my wallet, okay? What’s the big deal about splitting it this once?”
Her friends exchanged uneasy glances, but none stepped forward. “Splitting it evenly”-easier said than done, especially after what just happened. Everyone remembered how many times Serena had “helped” Delia and had never seen a cent back.
Serena might not care about a million or two, but the rest of them sure couldn’t cough up tens of thousands.
After all, they were just ordinary girls trying to curry favor with Delia-none of them had that kind of money.
And besides-
“Even if we pitch in, all together we barely cover sixty grand. Your stuff alone is over eighty! How’s that fair?”
Delia stared at them in disbelief. “I’ve bought you things before, haven’t I? Now you can’t help me just this once?”
That shut them up, but none of them looked happy.
Serena watched the argument unfold, thoroughly entertained. If she had some popcorn, she would have started munching right then and there.
She vaguely remembered these girls-Delia’s little entourage, always hanging around for favors. Not that Delia was paying out of her own pocket, of course; the money usually came from Serena.
The way they’d confidently picked out items earlier said it all-they’d done this before.
Their bickering drew a crowd. People passing by couldn’t help but eavesdrop, and after catching a few lines, someone snickered, “Seriously? Shopping and can’t pay? What kind of nerve does it take to even walk in here? Don’t they know this whole floor only sells luxury brands?”
The derision and mirth in that voice made Delia’s cheeks burn with shame.
She glared at the true mastermind behind it all-
“Serena! You-“
Serena looked up from her phone, her voice clear and unhurried as she cut Delia off, “You’d better figure something out, fast. The clerk’s already calling the manager. If you don’t pay soon, you might just find yourself on social media tomorrow. Wonder what the headlines will say? ‘That Lockwood girl tries to act rich at a designer boutique-can’t even afford the bill.””
Delia’s complexion flickered between red and pale.
She shot a murderous look at her useless, tightfisted friends, then rushed off to call home.
“What?! A hundred thousand dollars?!” shrieked Donna Lockwood on the other end of the line.
Although her family ran a business, it was hardly a major enterprise-a million dollars was still a staggering sum for them.
“How could you spend that much? Do you even have that kind of money?!”
Delia replied indignantly, “It was all Serena’s fault! She tricked me into buying things, then bailed on paying!”
“Serena?” Donna’s face darkened. “Has she lost her mind? Where does she get the nerve? I’m calling your aunt right now!”
“Mom, just wire me the money first. I need it urgently-now!”
Noticing the store clerk glancing her way, as if worried she couldn’t afford the bill, Delia felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Muttering curses about Serena under her breath and fighting back the pain of parting with so much cash, Donna transferred the money to her daughter.
After paying, Delia stormed over to confront Serena, ready to unleash her fury only to be cut off.
“So, when are you planning to pay me back?”
“…What?!”