Chapter 19 I Can Afford Them
On Saturday, Jonathan didn’t have to work overtime and invited Estella to go shopping for a dress.
The two of them headed to the mall.
Estella had intended to buy a reasonably priced dress, but to her surprise, Jonathan took her straight to an upscale boutique.
Seeing the calm, confident expression on his face, Estella’s unease began to subside slightly.
Jonathan assisted her in choosing a black dress.
Estella entered the fitting room to change.
At that moment, Jonathan received a phone call and stepped outside to answer it.
After changing, Estella emerged from the fitting room but didn’t see Jonathan, so she decided to wait for him in the store.
Just then, Naomi and her close friend walked into the store.
When Naomi saw Estella, a strange smile spread across her face. What is this country bumpkin doing here?
She exchanged a look with her friend, both of them wearing sly grins, before Naomi approached Estella and lightly patted her shoulder.
“Estella, what are you doing here?”
Estella wasn’t particularly surprised to see her.
As the daughter of the Hartwell family, Naomi was always out eating, shopping, and living a lavish lifestyle, so it was no shock to find her in such a store.
“I’m here to buy a dress,” Esiella replied in a distant tone.
“Buying a dress?”
Naomi’s expression was filled with feigned astonishment.
The dresses Estella had bought in the past were all inexpensive.
She couldn’t possibly afford the high–end pieces here.
Moreover, Nathaniel had mentioned that after their divorce, he hadn’t given Estella a single cent.
Feigning sympathy, Naomi said, “Estella, things must be difficult for you now. I heard you’re still working. Is your salary enough to cover your living expenses?”
She then scrutinized Estella’s dress. “I quite like the dress on you. Why don’t you take it off and let me try it on?”
The saleswoman, standing to the side, looked nervously at Estella.
Estella raised an eyebrow. “Naomi, there’s a rule of first come, first served. I chose this dress first!”
Naomi pulled out her membership card with an air of superiority. “I’m a premium member here. I have the right to try on clothes before anyone else, right, miss?”
Naomi’s friend joined in, mocking Estella. “Exactly, Estella. If you’re so capable, you should get a membership card too.”
The saleswoman cast a pleading glance at Estella.
Unbothered, Estella replied, “Fine, I’ll take it off.”
She then returned to the fitting room to change.
Naomi, observing Estella’s silent frustration, felt a sense of satisfaction.
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Chapter 19 I Can Afford Them
Estella placed the dress down but didn’t leave. Instead, she continued browsing the racks.
Every time Estella picked out a dress, Naomi followed and snatched it up.
Confused, Estella asked, “Naomi, are you planning to buy all of these?”
Finished
Naomi lifted her chin arrogantly. “Are you worried I can’t afford them?”
She paused, her voice dripping with smugness. “Belle is taking me to a banquet hosted by her family and introducing me to some influential people. Of course, I need the finest clothes for such an occasion.”
She couldn’t resist taking a jab at Estella. “Only someone like Belle, from a top–tier family, could bring me to such exclusive events and help Nathaniel gain some connections. You, a country bumpkin, have never seen the world, anything to the Hartwell family. Nathaniel made the smartest decision by divorcing you.”
and
you
can’t offer
Estella gave Naomi a cool, indifferent glance.
She no longer cared about Nathaniel, and Naomi’s words didn’t affect her in the slightest.
Turning to the sales assistant, Estella said, “Since Ms. Naomi has already set her sights on these clothes, why don’t you hurry and check her out?”
The sales assistant immediately beamed at Naomi. “Ms. Naomi, please follow me.”
It was then that Naomi noticed she had picked out more than a dozen pieces of clothing.
This was a high–end boutique, and purchasing all these garments would cost a small fortune.
Her expression soured.
Estella, showing no sign of leaving, said slowly, “What’s wrong, Ms. Naomi? With your family’s wealth, I’m sure you can afford all of this, can’t you?”
Naomi didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Estella.
She straightened her back proudly, forced a calm expression, and said, “What a joke! It’s just a few clothes, of course I can afford them.”
She pulled out her credit card and handed it to the cashier.
The cashier swiped it, but it didn’t go through. Looking embarrassed, she said, “Ms. Naomi, this card doesn’t have enough credit.”
“How is that possible? This card has a monthly limit of 140,000 dollars,” Naomi gritted her teeth and said.
The cashier showed her the bill. “Ms. Naomi, the total for these clothes is 410,000 dollars. Would you like to use another card?”
Seeing Estella watching her, Naomi refused to let herself feel ashamed, despite the sting of spending this much money.
She shot a cold look at the cashier and said, “Wait a moment.”
Naomi walked to the corner and called Nathaniel.
Madeline wasn’t feeling well today and was getting an IV at the hospital.
Nathaniel had pushed back work to stay with her.
When he found out Naomi hadn’t visited her mother but was asking him for money instead, he was furious.
“Naomi, why are you so inconsiderate? Mom’s sick and you didn’t come to take care of her, but you’re out here wasting money?”
Naomi pouted when reprimanded, but for the sake of her pride, she couldn’t help but beg Nathaniel.
“Nathaniel, I just boasted in front of Estella. If I don’t pay this bill, I’ll disgrace our family! Don’t worry, as soon as I finish
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Chapter 19 I Can Afford Them
shopping, I’ll head straight to the hospital to take care of Mom.”
When Nathaniel heard Estella’s name, he froze for a moment.
Since their argument on Christmas Eve, he had been wanting to see Estella again.
When she was around, he found her annoying, but now that she wasn’t, he felt increasingly uncomfortable. wasn’t, he felt increasingly uncomfortable.
He had to admit, he missed her a little.
Only when Estella returned could his chaotic life return to normal.
“Where are you? I’ll come over right now.”
“You’re coming over, Nathaniel?” Naomi was surprised.
Is Nathaniel going to step in and scold Estella for me?
Finished
She immediately gave him the store name and urged, “Nathaniel, don’t forget to transfer the money! I need 400,000 dollars.”
Nathaniel hadn’t expected her to ask for so much money at once.
He answered coldly, then added, “This 400,000 dollars is considered an advance for your living expenses. Starting next month, I’ll reduce your credit card limit.”
Naomi let out a cry of despair, wanting to plead, but Nathaniel had already hung up.
Madeline knew Naomi was extravagant and only gave her 13,000 dollars a month.
If Nathaniel didn’t give her the money, Naomi would have to cut back for the next few months and wouldn’t be able to indulge in luxury goods anymore.
She felt a wave of resentment toward Estella.
But to save her reputation, she immediately paid the bill as soon as Nathaniel transferred the money.
Estella watched her, her expression calm, showing no sign of anger.
Naomi felt like her actions had landed with a dull thud, like punching cotton. It made her uneasy.
Just then, Jonathan entered and asked Estella, “Didn’t you like anything?”
Naomi looked at Jonathan, assuming he was just Estella’s toyboy.
She scoffed, “Estella, your boyfriend isn’t worth much. He hides whenever you’re shopping. A man who won’t let a woman spend money clearly doesn’t love her!”
Jonathan frowned at her words.
Estella didn’t want Jonathan to be upset, so she hooked her arm around his and started to walk away, saying, “Don’t pay attention to her. She’s just mentally challenged.”
Naomi could clearly hear what Estella said, and, fuming, she grabbed Estella to stop her from leaving.
“Estella, what did you just say? Say it again!”
Send Gifts
