Chapter 26
“You… you seriously don’t know what to do?” Nancy winced, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. She’d cramped up before, but never like this. The pain was almost unbearable.
“Come here. I’ll show you.” Charlotte’s long lashes fluttered as she stepped closer, all innocent eyes and quiet obedience. She took Nancy’s hand just like she was told and gave it a sharp twist.
“Aaah!”
The snap of bone echoed through the air.
Charlotte twisted again. Another scream. Louder this time.
Tears welled in Nancy’s eyes as she shot Charlotte a death glare. “Let go! Charlotte, do you even know how to help someone?”
Charlotte let go, tucking her hands into her pockets, looking completely unbothered. “Nope. Not a clue.”
“You” Nancy clutched her now red and swollen hand, furious and at a loss for words. Idiot. All these years, Charlotte’s face just kept getting prettier, but her brain never caught up.
Finally, the noise died down. The saleswoman swooped over, ready to kick them out. “What is this, a soap opera? If you can’t afford anything, then get lost.”
Nancy’s eyes flicked to Charlotte’s calm, flawless face. Suddenly, a thought lit up her mind. She lifted her chin and called out, “Can’t afford it? Do you even know who this is? This is Charlotte, from the Main family.”
Charlotte Main? The saleswoman’s expression changed. Was this the same Charlotte who always came in with Elizabeth?
A chill ran down the saleswoman’s spine. Oh no. If that was true, why did she look so plain, dressed like she belonged on the street?
Nancy didn’t let up. “Bring out your best stuff. Let Charlotte pick whatever she wants.”
The saleswoman hesitated, watching Charlotte. Elizabeth was a VIP here. Offend Charlotte and you offend Elizabeth. That was trouble she couldn’t afford.
“Ms. Main, please, right this way.” The saleswoman straightened her back, quickly unhooked the velvet rope, and gestured for them to enter like she was welcoming royalty.
Charlotte stood still, but Nancy looped her arm through hers and dragged her toward the high-end racks.
Charlotte glanced at Nancy, catching the calculating glint in her eyes. Fragments of old memories flashed through Charlotte’s mind.
Back in seventh grade, Nancy and Olivia wanted new dresses, but their allowance wasn’t enough. They’d snuck money from home, bought three dresses and shoved one into Charlottes bag to make it look like she was in on it.
When the theft got discovered, Nancy and Olivia didn’t hesitate. They both pointed at Charlotte, saying she was the thief.
Olivia always played the sweet, obedient girl. The adults loved her. Steven didn’t even ask questions. He just assumed Charlotte was guilty and demanded she confess.
When she refused, he locked her in a dark room for a day and a night.
After that, the whole school heard
about it. No one wanted her around. They called her “thief Charlotte” behind her back, poured water
her chair, ruined her homework yanked her hair. Nancy eveno whispered threats that if Charlotte ever spoke up, some thug would mess up her face for good.
It took Charlotte a while to realize that some people are just mean to the core. Her mom always talked about kindness, but being nice never changed anyone. It didn’t protect her either.
“Wow, these 1-Kiss clothes are gorgeous. Every single piece is a masterpiece.” Nancy was too busy drooling over the racks of dresses to notice Charlotte’s silence. Even her aching hand was forgotten for the moment.
“Charlotte, what do you think of this one?” Nancy held a dress up against herself, twirling a little.
Charlotte glanced at her, but Nancy didn’t wait for an answer. “Forget it. What would a country bumpkin like you know about fashion anyway? She grabbed another dress face lighting up. “Now this is what call a dress. I have to try it on.”
Nancy rushed into the fitting room. She slipped into the dress, then snuck a peek at
the price tag. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
“One, two, three… seriously? Six zeros?”
It was insanely expensive, but it looked amazing.
Nancy spun in front of the mirror, not wanting to take it off. She didn’t have the
money, but Charlotte’s family did. And that idiot was always so easy to trick.