Chapter 22 Retail Therapy
This woman! Is she trying to get herself killed with that sharp tongue? Ethan felt his anger surge so intensely that even his teeth ached from clenching them.
He didn’t want to argue with Stella any further. If he did, he might just die from sheer frustration.
With fury boiling in his chest, Ethan slammed his foot on the gas and drove off.
Stella glanced at the luxury shopping mall across the street, pulled out her phone, and dialed Kimmy. “Push the meeting back by two hours.”
“Got it, boss,”
Hanging up, Stella marched straight into the luxury mall. For the next two hours, she went on a shopping spree–buying from the biggest brands, picking out the most expensive items, and swiping her card for everything extravagant.
Meanwhile, Ethan had just arrived at the hospital when his phone started buzzing–once, twice, and then again. Each time, it
was a transaction alert.
He opened the messages and skimmed through them. Each purchase was in the range of a few hundred thousand dollars.
Scoffing, he let out a sarcastic laugh. “And she says she doesn’t care? Yeah, right
She had barely gotten her hands on the card before going on a spree, spending recklessly on jewelry, designer goods, and
cosmetics.
She always acts so proud but now? The moment she realized the Reed family cut her off, she panicked?
Jason approached. “Sir.”
Ethan asked,
“Did
you return her car?”
“Yes,” Jason confirmed with a nod.
As Ethan continued walking toward Lillian’s hospital room, a thought crossed his mind, and he gave Jason a command. “She’s looking for a job. Inform all companies–she’s not to be hired.
Jason hesitated for a moment, stunned. Is he really forbidding Ms. Dawson from getting employed?
“Ms. Dawson still refuses to go through with the wedding?” Jason asked.
Jason’s words made Ethan’s expression darken even further. He didn’t want to admit it, but Stella had already taken the initiative to have Tessa announce the wedding cancellation yesterday. Technically… that means I got dumped.
The thought of her arrogance made his teeth ache even more. With a cold snort, he spat out, “She’ll change her mind.”
One week. That was all it would take for her to face reality. Without the Reed family or him, Stella wouldn’t survive in Rivermount.
When Ethan entered Lillian’s hospital room, Susan was sitting beside her. Seeing him, she immediately stepped forward with concern in her eyes. “Ethan, is Dr. Rianne coming back?”
Ethan took a deep breath. “I’m working on it. Don’t worry.”
Susan sighed. His response made it clear–it hadn’t been resolved yet.
Actually, I just remembered–Dr. Rianne is Stella’s best friend. Do you think Rianne leaving the country has something to do with her?” Susan mused aloud.
Chapter 22 Retail Therapy
Finished
Lillian’s eyes filled with grievance as she gazed at Ethan. The look in her eyes only fueled Ethan’s frustration toward Stella.
Especially considering Lillian’s fragile condition–he couldn’t let Stella continue causing trouble.
His phone continued buzzing. The notifications didn’t stop.
Ethan barely received this many transaction alerts in a month, yet now they were rolling in one after another. He glanced at his phone again, expecting something different. Instead… it was still Stella’s shopping spree.
The earlier transactions ranged from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand dollars. Now, she had nearly blown through a million dollars.
What the heck is she buying? How can someone be this materialistic?
“Ethan? Ethan?” Lillian called softly.
“Hm? What is it?” He turned his attention back to her.
(a
Lillian’s voice was filled with sorrow. “I was asking… is it true that Dr. Rianne is
really
Stella’s best friend?”
Ethan nodded. “Yeah, she is.”
The moment they heard confirmation, Lillian and Susan exchanged a look.
Susan’s breathing grew unsteady. Then… then Dr. Rianne leaving must be Stella’s doing! There’s no other explanation! How could she be so cruel?”
As soon as Susan realized Rianne was Stella’s friend, she became convinced that Stella was behind it. Lillian’s eyes welled up with tears.
Her voice trembled as she said, “So she still believes I was behind that incident. Otherwise, why would she treat me like this?”
The mention of that incident darkened both Ethan and Susan’s expressions instantly. Just as Ethan was about to respond, his phone buzzed twice more in his hand.
Another glance—and, of course, it was yet another purchase alert. This woman… She had already spent close to 1 million and 370 thousand dollars.
Meanwhile, Stella was seated inside a high–end jewelry store.
The sales associate took one look at the shopping bags surrounding her–all from the most expensive brands in the entire mall. Recognizing a big spender, their attitude became downright servile.
“Ms. Dawson, this just arrived–our newest exclusive piece. There’s only one in all of Rivermount. Would you like to try it
Stella waved a hand dismissively. “Just wrap it up.”
“Of course! And how about this one-
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