CHAPTER 18

“Ma'am, what I meant is that my boss, the owner of this boutique, has granted you free shopping today. This means you can pick as many items as possible without having to pay a dime”. The cashier explained, beaming with a smile.

“Who's this boss of yours?” I asked with furrowed brows.

“Julian Sterling, your brother-in-law”. She replied.

“You know what, I will not be taking any of these items home. It's either you allow me to pay for them or I return them”. I said matter of factly.

“No ma'am, please don't do that, you will be putting my job on the line”. The cashier replied with a pitiful voice.

I heaved a sigh and stared at the lady intensely. Of course, I wouldn't do anything that would make her lose her job because I understand what it means to make money.

Suddenly, as I was racking my brains for the next thing to do, a large crowd started to gather around me. I was scared to my marrow; the boutique securities tried to scare away the crowd, but it didn't work. They kept chanting “Mrs. Adrian,” “wife of a bad billionaire,” “Mrs. Sterling, your husband is an asshole,” and other abusive words my ears couldn't record.

Fortunately for me, Adrian's bouncers came to my rescue and led me safely in the car. I heaved a sigh of relief as I gasped for breath.

“Why did they behave in that manner?” I asked, looking at the bouncer sitting in the back seat with me.

“I think someone put them up to it”. He replied, still looking forward.

“Why would anyone do that?” I asked again.

“You never can tell. Rivalries, haters, and wicked people are everywhere; they will always take advantage of the least opportunity to humiliate you”. He explained.

I leaned back into the car seat and took a deep breath, I was still trying to recover from the shock of the incident. I thanked my stars that I wasn't attacked or assaulted by the crowd; it would have been disastrous. But on second thought, I realized it would have been a blessing in disguise: a chance to go back to the hospital. I smiled at the thought.

We were already in front of Adrian's gate and made efforts to drive inside. I found it uncomfortable to call any of Adrian's property mine because I knew I didn't belong there and my stay in his house was temporary. I knew I had a home, even if it was ruined and rendered into something that wasn't fitting to be called a home. It will be well someday.

Meanwhile, I alighted from the car and grabbed my items from the boot refusing help from the workers. I quickly ran upstairs into my room and shut the door behind me immediately. I had an urgent call to make. I dialed the number and held the phone close to my ear, waiting for the person to pick up.

“Hello dear, I wasn't expecting your call; what a pleasant surprise”. Julian sang into the phone with one breath.

“Why the hell did you pay for my fucking items without my permission?” I yelled at the top of my voice.

For a moment, I paused to listen to myself speak, the boldness that accompanied my authoritative words. I am no doubt a brave woman on the inside, but it baffles me how Adrian and Samuel manipulated my helplessness and portrayed me as timid and docile.

A vibration from my speaker reminded me that I was on a call, a serious one at that.

“When did it become a crime to be nice to my sister-in-law?” He asked, smirking.

I remained silent trying to figure out the best response to give him.

“Meanwhile, I'm sorry for the unpleasant encounter with the crowd earlier today; people are always rough, you know.” He said trying to feign being emotional.

My brows furrowed instantly, I could feel a wave of sarcasm in his voice.

“How did you know about that?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It happened in my premises remember, besides nothing is hidden under the sun”. He replied, shrugging.

“I am going to ask you another question, and I want an honest reply if you still have an iota of dignity left in you”. I said firmly.

“Anything for you, dear,” Julian replied.

I took a deep breath, trying to overlook the fact that he was getting on my nerves by calling me “dear”.

“Did you have a hand in the unpleasant crowd incident today”. I asked with a firm voice.

“Maybe”. He replied, chuckling.

“Don't mess with me”. I shouted.

“Dear, I would advise you not to get yourself all worked up; your darling husband should understand better.” He replied and hung up.

I was dumbfounded for some seconds, trying to wrap my head around the words that came out of his mouth. The words of Adrian's bouncer in the car on our way back from the boutique came alive in my head. I thought Julian was Adrian's relative or cousin precisely; why would he do a thing like that?

However, when Adrian came home, I found myself standing before him while he scrolled through his phone visibly annoyed. He kept switching glances between me and his phone screen simultaneously, making me nervous. He has stepped into the home unannounced and unusual, he wore this indescribable facial look that got everyone wondering what the problem was.

“Is this true?”. He asked, showing his phone screen. It was a social media platform with pictures of me struggling with the roaring crowd; it bore a bold headline: “Billionaire Adrian's wife faces public abuse”. The news had already spread.

I gulped hard avoiding Adrian's persistent stare. What else did he expect me to say?

“Yes, it's true”. I affirmed.

“How did it happen?” He asked, placing the phone on the table with his gaze fixed on my face.

I was confused about where to start my narration from. Do I start with the free shopping treat from Julian or the incident itself?