Upon hearing this, Mia's heart raced—this was precisely why she had come to Bern City.She calmly responded, "It's not necessary at the moment. I've arranged for a family doctor to tend to her. Some rest should do the trick."Mia pondered whether it would be too conspicuous to act now.Perhaps it would be wiser to lay the groundwork for a few days beforehand.After ending the call, Mia let out a sigh of relief and cast a glance back at Laura resting on the hospital bed.Unable to resist, she sent a message to Nicholas: "Is the reishi mushroom still available?"It seemed she might need to procure another stalk of reishi mushroom.As Mia settled into the car, her assistant Peyton Mosby, seated in the passenger seat, relayed some concerning news, "Ms. Mia, the systems of the Barrett Group crashed abruptly today."There are whispers of a potential hacking breach. However, the official statement from the Barrett Group attributes it to a system malfunction, without acknowledging any
"Shelly, Ms. March has a good relationship with Vior. She frequently shops here with her sister Aubrey. We might not stand a chance if we compete with her for the latest dress.""Hmph, why should I be afraid? Today, not only will I prevail, but I'll also ensure that the bitch won't dare to set foot in Vior again," Shelly retorted.With determination in her stride, Shelly hastened toward the Vior store, eager to publicly embarrass Blair.With Monalize's VIP membership card in hand, Shelly had the authority to reserve the entire store and remove unwanted individuals.The mere thought of this scenario filled Shelly with anticipation. She made a mental note to share the experience on social media later.Observing the spectacle from a distance, Mia couldn't help but smirk. Beside her, Peyton passed over a tub of popcorn—the perfect snack for such a dramatic display.With a triumphant air, Shelly confidently entered the Vior store, her chin held high as she surveyed her surroundings. S
Upon hearing this, Shelly immediately felt angry and embarrassed. "Why do you need to verify my card? Your store manager knows I'm coming today. Just call her directly," she hissed.Irinna, not wanting to upset Shelly, turned around and made the phone call.Meanwhile, Blair mocked Shelly, saying, "Shelly, don't you possess a VIP membership card? Why not just present it? It's unfair to take it out on the staff.""It's obvious you don't have a VIP membership card. You're just trying to act important. Maybe it's a good thing the store manager isn't here. If she were, she'd expose your lies, and that would be even more embarrassing," Caroline chimed in.Fuming with embarrassment, Shelly shot Irinna a glare. "Have you finished making the call? Get your manager here immediately!"Irinna set her phone down and addressed Shelly, saying, "I'm sorry, Ms. Barrett, but I couldn't get in touch with Ms. Gianna. Would you mind waiting for a moment?""Get these two women out of here for me, righ
Shelly's face lit up with a triumphant expression. "See that, Blair? How's that for a reality check? Now, both of you, leave!""I used to think you were impressive, but it turns out you're just leeching off someone else's VIP membership card. You might as well change your name to Miss Mooch-a-lot. Let's go!" Blair mocked.After Blair changed out of her dress, she turned and walked away.Standing in place, Shelly grinned smugly as she quipped, "Well, if you're so fond of piggybacking, why not get your own VIP membership card like Aubrey's? Then you can piggyback all you want."Next to Shelly, her sidekick Jennifer Clarke added, "Exactly. Blair has been mooching off Aubrey's card all this while. She has no right to say anything.""Yes, these days, it seems like almost everyone has an older sister, right?"After expressing her frustrations, Shelly nestled closely to Mia."Monalize, you've been so nice to me. I've always looked up to those with older siblings. Blair has been showing
Observing Shelly's appalling behavior, Luna realized the necessity of taking action; she couldn't afford to remain passive any longer.Glancing at her son, Asher, Luna knew that the current situation couldn't persist. Even if she disregarded her own well-being, she had to consider Asher's future.Luna swiftly dialed a number, her tone shifting as she spoke, "Mrs. Barrett, there's something I'm hesitant to disclose. It concerns Tim. He's brought back a woman from Xanier Island."On the other end of the line, Sharon remained composed. "I'm aware of this. The woman appears to be a young lady from a wealthy family in Nord City, and she and Tim seem compatible. You're familiar with Tim's romantic affairs; they're beyond my control."At the mention of "compatible", Luna's expression turned cold. Without hesitation, she remarked, "I understand, but that woman bears a striking resemblance to Mia.""What?" Sharon exclaimed, instantly abandoning her beauty regimen.Sitting upright, Sharon
This arrangement would bring Asher even closer to the Barrett family.Luna's scheme had been advancing seamlessly until her unexpected encounter with Monalize during her trip to Xanier Island, which threw everything into disarray.However, she wasn't about to give up easily.After concluding the call, Sharon swiftly glanced at Shelly's post, confirming the selfie and its caption.With a disdainful snort, Sharon remarked, "Future in-law? I have no clue about her background, yet she has the audacity to try and cozy up to Tim."Sitting beside Sharon, her sister Veronica Hopkins cautiously inquired, "Sharon, what's going on?""Veronica, Luna just called me and mentioned that Tim brought a woman back from Xanier Island. Apparently, she's not just a gold-digger but also looks remarkably similar to Mia. Why do I always seem to come across echoes of Mia?""Sharon, I trust Tim to be smart enough not to fall for a gold digger," Veronica said."You don't understand. Tim was completely inf
Shelly's eyes gleamed with anticipation. She knew Mia would surely ask her about the Barrett family's preferences.Considering Mia's desire to wed into the Barrett family, earning Sharon's approval was undoubtedly important.Without hesitation, Shelly replied, "Monalize, you have nothing to worry about. With your captivating beauty, remarkable family background, and your generous nature, Aunt Sharon is sure to take a liking to you."After all, Sharon had always shown a preference for daughters from affluent families as potential daughters-in-law.As long as there was a match in social status, there shouldn't be any significant obstacles.A hint of sarcasm flickered in Mia's eyes. It seemed her ex-mother-in-law was also somewhat superficial. Well, that at least made her easier to handle.Mia continued, "But with Luna in the equation, I still have some reservations. After all, she has been by Mr. Barrett's side for so many years.""Hey, Monalize, didn't I mention before? Tim has n
Mia discerned the underlying message in Sharon's words. It was evident that Sharon wanted to assert dominance over her, insinuating that Mia shouldn't entertain any romantic notions with Tim.With a cold expression, Mia stood up abruptly. "Since Mrs. Barrett doesn't seem to like me very much, I'll excuse myself."With that, she retrieved her designer handbag and departed, unwilling to tolerate even a hint of injustice.Shelly hurriedly approached Mia, saying, "Monalize, please don't be upset. That's just Aunt Sharon's personality. She's simply reminding me; it has nothing to do with you."With a dignified demeanor, Sharon commented, "Monalize, it seems like you have quite a fiery temper, getting upset over just a few words. That kind of attitude might not be the best fit for Tim.""Exactly," Veronica interjected. "Considering my nephew Timothy's status as the heir to a prominent family, it's essential for his future wife to embody grace and elegance. Above all, she must show utmos