Chapter 101: Shopping Wars

After everything that had happened the previous evening, Mindy and Ana decided to spend the day shopping. Eleanor insisted on joining them as well.

While getting ready, Eleanor noticed the small bandage hidden beneath Ana’s curls. She frowned. "Ana... what happened to your forehead?"

Ana scratched her cheek awkwardly before laughing. "Oh, that? I walked straight into a glass door." Eleanor blinked. "...You walked into a glass door?" Ana nodded solemnly. "I didn’t see it. The glass cracked, and one of the pieces hit my forehead."

The excuse sounded weak. Eleanor stared at her for several seconds before sighing. "Only you could manage something like that."

Ana laughed nervously. "Hehe..." Fortunately, Eleanor didn’t ask anything else.

The three girls soon arrived at Cracros Mall. It was one of the most luxurious shopping malls in the city, housing almost every international luxury brand. Ana and Mindy immediately disappeared into different boutiques.

Within minutes, both of them were inside fitting rooms trying on dresses. Eleanor, on the other hand, relaxed in the lounge area with a cup of coffee, waiting patiently.

Just then, three familiar figures entered the boutique. Margaret Ashridge. Sophia Collins. And Missy Hawthorne.

Margaret immediately noticed Eleanor. Unlike Ana, Eleanor was soon to become her sister-in-law. She had no choice but to remain respectful. "Sister-in-law,"

Margaret smiled politely. "You came shopping too?"

Eleanor nodded. "What about you?"

Margaret smiled. "Miss Hawthorne is leaving Cracros today. So I thought I’d show her around. She wanted to buy a few dresses."

Eleanor simply nodded. "Enjoy yourselves."

Missy’s mood had been terrible since yesterday. Her carefully planned scheme had failed completely.

She had intended to drug Layton and force herself into his life. Layton had once told her that the only reason he hadn’t divorced Mindy yet was because of his grandfather.

If she could create a scandal, Layton would have no choice but to take responsibility. Instead, Sebastian had ruined everything.

After returning to her hotel, she had smashed lamps, flower vases, and almost every decorative piece in the suite. Even Emily had scolded her mercilessly.

So when Margaret invited her shopping today, she couldn’t refuse.

Just then, Ana and Mindy stepped out wearing the dresses they had selected. Several other customers in the boutique glanced over, admiring the elegant designs.

Ana looked at Margaret and Missy together before grinning. "Birds of the same feather really do flock together."

A few nearby shoppers paused, sensing tension in the air. Some pretended to browse through racks while discreetly watching the exchange.

Margaret’s smile disappeared instantly. The moment she looked at Ana, jealousy filled her eyes. Ever since school, Ana had always been the prettier girl.

Even when she dressed like a tomboy, boys still surrounded her. The very boy Margaret once had a crush on had liked Ana instead. She had hated Ana ever since.

Her eyes swept over Ana’s champagne-colored dress. It hugged her figure perfectly. Her naturally curly hair bounced with every movement.

Margaret’s jealousy deepened. Sophia immediately sneered. "This dress suits you, Ana. It looks... rather slutty. People will definitely look at you, especially men."

A woman browsing nearby gasped softly at the crude comment. Her companion whispered, "How rude!" Several customers exchanged disapproving glances.

Before Ana could answer, Mindy spoke. "Really? I think she looks hot. Not everyone can pull off a dress like this."

She smiled coldly. "I guess it’s all about perception. Isn’t that right, Miss Collins?"

One young woman near the accessories section whispered to her friend, "She’s right. That girl in the champagne dress looks stunning." Her friend nodded in agreement.

Sophia’s face darkened.

Missy quickly stepped forward.

"Sister... she’s just giving her opinion. There was no need to insult her." Mindy completely ignored her.

Instead, she turned toward Eleanor. "We like these dresses." Missy’s expression stiffened. "Mindy! I’m talking to you. The least you could do is answer someone."

Mindy looked around in confusion.

"...Were you talking to me? I thought you called someone ’Sister.’ I’m not your sister. Am I?"

Ana almost burst into laughter.

Before Missy could explode, Margaret stepped forward gracefully. "Miss Wilson. I’ve heard a lot about you. I watched Bright Competition and Maxine Portfolio. You’re incredibly talented. I genuinely admire your designs."

Several customers perked up at the mention of the competitions. "Wait, is that Mindy Wilson?" one whispered excitedly. "The designer who won Bright Competition?" another asked, pulling out her phone to search.

Missy looked surprised. She hadn’t expected Margaret to praise Mindy. Margaret continued.

"But... you should be more careful about the company you keep. Someone as talented as you shouldn’t associate with people this unruly." She glanced at Ana deliberately.

The atmosphere in the boutique shifted. More customers were now openly watching.

Mindy’s smile disappeared. She looked Margaret straight in the eyes. "Miss Ashridge. You may not be very good at judging people’s character. But I am."

She slipped her arm around Ana’s shoulders. "She’s the best friend I could ever ask for. So perhaps you should worry about yourself. I know exactly who my friends are."

Ana’s eyes sparkled. She looked at Mindy like an excited puppy. "I’m going to cry." She whispered dramatically. Mindy laughed.

A few onlookers smiled at their genuine affection.

Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, Eleanor immediately stepped between them. "That’s enough."

She turned toward Margaret. "Enjoy your shopping." She then pulled Ana and Mindy away. The two girls returned to the fitting rooms to change back into their clothes before handing the selected dresses to the attendant for checkout.

The crowd of onlookers slowly dispersed, though many continued to watch from a distance, curious about what would happen next.

A few minutes later, when they reached the billing counter, they froze. Sophia, Margaret, and Missy were already standing there, holding the very dresses Mindy and Ana had selected.

The sales attendant looked completely helpless. "I’m very sorry, Miss Ashridge... but these dresses have already been selected by another customer. They’re only waiting to make the payment."

Several customers who had witnessed the earlier confrontation immediately gathered closer, sensing more drama.

"Are they seriously trying to steal their dresses?" one woman whispered indignantly. "That’s so petty," another muttered.

Sophia scoffed. "We’re ready to pay. So sell them to us."

Ana marched over. "Sophia! You literally saw me trying this dress! And now you’re buying it?" Sophia folded her arms.

"So what? We like them now."

Mindy calmly added, "We chose them first. We tried them first. And we’re buying them."

The store manager hurried over.

He smiled awkwardly. "Miss Ashridge... Miss Collins... Miss Hawthorne... Miss Bose and Miss Wilson selected these dresses first.

Our latest collection has many similar designs. I’m sure you’ll find something even better." Margaret crossed her arms. "We want these."

Eleanor finally spoke. "Enough, Margaret. You only want them because Ana and Mindy chose them. Stop making trouble."

Margaret immediately looked hurt. "So you’re taking their side? What about me?" She sniffled dramatically. "Don’t forget... you’re marrying my brother."

Eleanor frowned. "What does Theodore have to do with this? And you know I’m right."

Missy immediately joined in.

"Sister... why don’t you let us have these dresses?

We really like them. And we reached checkout first." Mindy looked at her. "Why would we? We selected them first. We’re buying them."

The manager nodded nervously. "Y-Yes... that’s our policy."

"Good for him," someone said. "At least he’s standing his ground." The crowd’s sympathy was clearly with Mindy and Ana.

Margaret’s patience snapped. "Do you even know who I am? Do you still want your job? You know this mall belongs to Ashridge Group, don’t you?"

The manager’s face turned pale. Eleanor sighed. She knew he had been placed in an impossible position.

Margaret immediately called Lucian.

Within seconds, the call connected. She sniffled pitifully. "Brother... I’m at Cracros Mall. The manager and the staff are bullying me..."

The manager nearly collapsed.

Sweat covered his forehead.

He turned toward Mindy. "Miss Wilson... could you please let Miss Ashridge have these dresses? I’m sure you’ll find something else."

Before anyone reacted, Mindy simply walked over, took Margaret’s phone, and spoke. "Mr. Ashridge. This is Mindy Wilson."

Everyone froze. The boutique fell completely silent. Even the crowd stopped murmuring, watching with bated breath.

"We’re currently at Cracros Mall.

Your sister is trying to snatch our dresses.

She’s bullying your staff. And making a scene in public."

She paused. "Is this how the Ashridge family behaves in Cracros?"

Margaret looked absolutely horrified. Even Eleanor struggled not to laugh.

Mindy continued calmly. "So... would you like to teach your sister some manners... or should I do it for you?"

The crowd gasped again. "She’s savage!" someone whispered admiringly. "I love her!" another exclaimed. Several young women in the crowd were clearly becoming fans.

Margaret exploded. "MINDY! Give me my phone! How dare you speak to my brother like that!"

On the other end, Lucian was equally stunned. He had been in the middle of an executive meeting.

When Margaret called, he had casually asked his assistant to put the phone on speaker. Every executive in the conference room heard every word Mindy said.

Everyone secretly waited to see Lucian lose his temper. Instead, Lucian calmly removed the phone from speaker mode.

He spoke in an unusually gentle voice. "Miss Wilson. Please return the phone to Margaret." The executives exchanged confused glances. That was far softer than expected.

Mindy smiled. Instead of passing her the phone, she deliberately turned the speaker mode on.

The crowd leaned in closer, straining to hear.

Margaret grabbed the phone. "Brother, do you see what she—" Lucian interrupted immediately. "Shut up."

The boutique fell silent. The crowd collectively held their breath.

"What exactly are you doing? Do you honestly think I don’t know what kind of person you are?

Stop picking fights with Miss Wilson.

Or should I cut your allowance?"

He paused. "No. Better yet... I’ll tell Grandpa. Let’s see how he handles you.

It won’t just be your allowance then. And don’t call me over such childish matters again. Behave yourself."

Click. The call ended.

Margaret stood frozen, her face burning with humiliation as dozens of eyes stared at her. Ana couldn’t hold it anymore.

She burst out laughing. Mindy smiled. "Looks like not everyone in your family is arrogant." Even Eleanor covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

The manager cautiously asked, "Miss Ashridge... do you still want these dresses?"

Margaret glared at him. "Shut up!" She stormed out, her face red with embarrassment.

Sophia hurried after her, equally humiliated.

Missy silently walked to another counter with the dresses she had chosen, trying to avoid the stares and whispers.

The cashier smiled politely. "Your card, Miss." Missy handed over her credit card. The attendant swiped it.

A moment later... "I’m sorry, Miss. The transaction was declined."

Several onlookers perked up again, sensing more drama.

Missy’s eyes widened.

"What? That’s impossible. Try again." The attendant did. Still declined.

Missy frowned before handing over another card. The attendant tried again. "I’m sorry... this one has also been declined."

Ana folded her arms. "Maybe you shouldn’t come shopping if you don’t have money."

Missy shot her a murderous glare before immediately calling Layton.

The call connected. "Layton! My cards aren’t working."

Layton answered coldly. "I blocked them."

Missy’s face turned pale. "...What? ...Why?" There was no answer. The call ended. She called again. No response.

The cashier smiled politely.

"Miss... would you still like to purchase these items?" With an ugly expression, Missy took out her personal card from her handbag and paid.

As she left, she glared at the three girls with undisguised hatred, acutely aware of the dozens of eyes watching her humiliating exit.

The moment she was gone, the crowd erupted in conversation. "That was the best drama I’ve seen in years!" "I’m definitely following Mindy Wilson now!"

Eleanor watched her leave before asking, "...What’s her problem?" Mindy smiled knowingly. "I think... someone just got cut off." Ana grinned. "And honestly? I think she deserved it."

The manager approached Mindy and Ana with visible relief. "Miss Wilson, Miss Bose... thank you for your understanding. Please, let me offer you a discount on your purchases today."

Mindy smiled. "That’s very kind of you. Thank you."