Chapter 3
Three days after opening, Rachel's Café was packed to the brim—not a single empty seat in sight.
Everyone was dying to see how the "dumped heiress" was surviving after getting left at the altar.
There I was, rocking a plain cotton dress behind the counter, brewing coffee like I couldn't care less about all the gossip and stares flying my way.
Suddenly, a stir broke out on the street as a red sports car screeched to a stop right in front of the café.
The door popped open, and the first thing I saw was Jessica's flawlessly made-up face.
"Rachel, long time no see!" she called out with a playful laugh, stepping out of the car with four bodyguards in tow.
I set down my coffee cup and stared at her, expressionless. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Ms. Reed?"
Jessica glanced around at the packed café, and for a moment, jealousy flickered in her eyes.
She pulled a bright wedding invitation from her bag and raised her voice so everyone could hear. "Samuel and I are getting married in three days. I came all this way just to deliver your invitation."
Everyone in the café perked up, some even setting down their coffee just to catch the show.
I looked at the flashy gold invitation in her hand, drew in a slow breath, and replied coolly, "How thoughtful of you, Ms. Reed..."
"Whoops!" Jessica exclaimed, putting on a show as she ripped the invitation to pieces for everyone to see.
"I almost forgot—you're the one who got dumped. You're nothing but bad luck, and I'm not letting you bring your bad juju anywhere near my wedding," she said, smirking.
The shredded paper drifted down like butterflies, and the entire café erupted in laughter.
I clenched my fists so tight my nails bit into my skin. "Ms. Reed, if you're here for coffee, you're welcome. But if you're just here to cause trouble, you can get out."
Jessica snorted, her smile turning nasty. "Still think you're some big-shot Hughes heiress? Your old man disowned you—everyone's talking about it! Now you're just a café girl, and you still dare to put on airs in front of me?"
She snapped her fingers. "You! Teach her a lesson! Make sure she knows her place!"
The four bodyguards charged at me like a pack of hungry wolves, pinning me to the ground in one rough move.
My forehead banged against the sharp edge of the counter, and blood gushed out instantly.
"Let me go!" I fought back with everything I had, but they just kept me pinned, not giving me an inch.
Jessica loomed over me, her eyes shining with cruel satisfaction.
"Tear her clothes off! Let everyone see what the once‑mighty Hughes heiress is really worth now!" Jessica snarled, her voice laced with venom.
With a loud rip, my collar was torn open, leaving my skin exposed for all to see.
The men watching started catcalling and whistling, but not a single one stepped up to help.
I shut my eyes in hopelessness, and all those humiliations from my last life came flooding back, drowning me all over again.
Suddenly, a voice roared like thunder, "Stop!"
The bodyguards pinning me down started screaming in agony.
The pressure pinning me down vanished in an instant. I opened my eyes to see a shadow moving through the crowd like a phantom, swift and silent.
With every step he took, the thugs collapsed to the floor, crying out in agony.
Jessica backed away, panic flashing in her eyes. "Who... who are you? How dare you mess with Quinn Group?"
The man stood under the lights with his back to me, his ragged clothes rustling in the air.
As he slowly turned around, I gasped—it was the blind guy from the street!
His eyes were blank and unfocused, but somehow, he was staring straight at Jessica, like he could see her perfectly.
Jessica hid her lips behind her designer purse, her eyes glinting with mockery. "Wow, Rachel, scraping the bottom of the barrel now, huh? Couldn't land Samuel, so you're slumming it with some filthy street rat?"
The crowd erupted in laughter.
My fingers shook with fury. "Jessica, quit spreading rumors about me!"
"Me? Spreading rumors?" Jessica chuckled, sweeping her gaze over the crowd. "With this homeless guy jumping to protect you like that, who'd actually believe you two aren't involved?"
She barely finished her sentence when a slap rang out so loud that everyone froze. The homeless guy had shot forward and landed a heavy slap right across Jessica's face!