Chapter 3 · She Wanted Me To Crawl, I Made Her Video Go Viral

I withdrew my hand and stared at Emily. "An explanation? What explanation do you want?"

I kept moving closer, forcing her to retreat until she stumbled right into Andrew's arms.

Andrew instinctively pulled her close, giving me a wary look.

Andrew narrowed his eyes at me. "Victoria, what are you up to?"

I paused, a smile playing on my lips.

I replied, "I just want to give you a heads-up, Ms. Lane.

"Some things aren't yours to take. Even if you manage to grab them, you'd better make sure you live long enough to enjoy them."

Emily's face froze.

Margaret shrieked, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "How dare you threaten Emily! Who do you think you are?"

She was about to rush at me again, ready to hit me.

But this time, Andrew blocked her.

He wasn't doing it for me but trying to save his own dignity.

He said, "Mom, let it go. Don't bother with her."

He pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet and tossed it at my feet.

He said disdainfully, "This will cover your living expenses for a few days.

"Once you've thought it through, come to the Grant family's old mansion and sign the papers.

"But don't test my patience."

With that, he wrapped his arm around the shaken Emily and walked off with Margaret.

*****

That night, there was a socialite charity dinner.

With my cards frozen, I needed cash to get by. I had to reclaim a keepsake of my late mother that I'd consigned for auction there.

It was my eighteenth birthday present, a string of precious pearl necklace, which was priceless.

I changed into a fresh outfit and headed out bare-faced.

When I reached the entrance, I bumped into Andrew and Emily.

They were surrounded by a crowd, everyone fawning over them like they were the stars of the dinner.

Emily spotted me right away. She latched onto Andrew's arm and strutted over in her heels.

"What are you doing here?" She gave me a slow once-over, her gaze dripping with disdain. "Oh. I almost forgot. You're broke now. Are you here to pawn something?"

Emily covered her mouth and giggled, just loud enough for everyone nearby to catch it.

"Andrew, see? I told you some things are worthless. She even wants to pawn some rubbish off," Emily said.

Andrew's face was a little stiff, but he didn't say a word to stop her.

Soft laughter and whispers spread through the crowd.

I ignored her and headed straight for the front desk.

But Emily wasn't about to let it go and trailed after me.

She said, "Victoria, don't rush to leave. I heard you even sold that limited-edition bag I gave you. You should've told me earlier, and I could have given you more. There's no need to sell that one."

Just as she finished speaking, a waiter made a show of "losing his balance," and a full glass of red wine was dumped all over my white gown.

Emily let out an exaggerated gasp.

She shouted, "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. That dress must've cost you a pretty penny, huh?"

I stared at the vivid red stain splashed on my chest, and then at the waiter. He lowered his head and avoided my gaze.

Finally, my gaze settled on Emily's smug face.

I smiled and turned to the manager. "I'm Victoria Shaw, a Royal-level VIP here."

The manager paused for a moment and then immediately bowed with respect.

He said, "Good evening, Ms. Shaw."

"Now I'm going to exercise my membership rights," I said.

I fixed my gaze on Andrew and Emily, making sure they heard every word.

I continued, "Revoke Mr. Andrew Grant and his family's lifetime memberships here.

"Do it. Right now."

The manager's expression shifted. He looked over at Andrew, showing embarrassment.

The Grant family's lifetime membership here was something Andrew's father had gone to great lengths to secure in the day. That was a true status symbol.

Andrew's face darkened instantly, like a storm brewing.

He snapped, "Victoria, you wouldn't dare!"

"Just watch," I shot back.

I pulled out my membership card.

"Or I can call your boss." I turned to the manager.

The manager didn't dare hesitate any longer and grabbed his walkie-talkie right away.

"Revoke Mr. Andrew Grant and his family's lifetime memberships," he ordered.

Emily's smile froze.

Andrew was shaking with rage. His pride was everything to him, and what I did was like slapping him in front of everyone.

I took back my mother's necklace, didn't even bother to look back at them, and walked out.

This was only the start.

Chapter 3

I withdrew my hand and stared at Emily. "An explanation? What explanation do you want?"

I kept moving closer, forcing her to retreat until she stumbled right into Andrew's arms.

Andrew instinctively pulled her close, giving me a wary look.

Andrew narrowed his eyes at me. "Victoria, what are you up to?"

I paused, a smile playing on my lips.

I replied, "I just want to give you a heads-up, Ms. Lane.

"Some things aren't yours to take. Even if you manage to grab them, you'd better make sure you live long enough to enjoy them."

Emily's face froze.

Margaret shrieked, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "How dare you threaten Emily! Who do you think you are?"

She was about to rush at me again, ready to hit me.

But this time, Andrew blocked her.

He wasn't doing it for me but trying to save his own dignity.

He said, "Mom, let it go. Don't bother with her."

He pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet and tossed it at my feet.

He said disdainfully, "This will cover your living expenses for a few days.

"Once you've thought it through, come to the Grant family's old mansion and sign the papers.

"But don't test my patience."

With that, he wrapped his arm around the shaken Emily and walked off with Margaret.

*****

That night, there was a socialite charity dinner.

With my cards frozen, I needed cash to get by. I had to reclaim a keepsake of my late mother that I'd consigned for auction there.

It was my eighteenth birthday present, a string of precious pearl necklace, which was priceless.

I changed into a fresh outfit and headed out bare-faced.

When I reached the entrance, I bumped into Andrew and Emily.

They were surrounded by a crowd, everyone fawning over them like they were the stars of the dinner.

Emily spotted me right away. She latched onto Andrew's arm and strutted over in her heels.

"What are you doing here?" She gave me a slow once-over, her gaze dripping with disdain. "Oh. I almost forgot. You're broke now. Are you here to pawn something?"

Emily covered her mouth and giggled, just loud enough for everyone nearby to catch it.

"Andrew, see? I told you some things are worthless. She even wants to pawn some rubbish off," Emily said.

Andrew's face was a little stiff, but he didn't say a word to stop her.

Soft laughter and whispers spread through the crowd.

I ignored her and headed straight for the front desk.

But Emily wasn't about to let it go and trailed after me.

She said, "Victoria, don't rush to leave. I heard you even sold that limited-edition bag I gave you. You should've told me earlier, and I could have given you more. There's no need to sell that one."

Just as she finished speaking, a waiter made a show of "losing his balance," and a full glass of red wine was dumped all over my white gown.

Emily let out an exaggerated gasp.

She shouted, "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. That dress must've cost you a pretty penny, huh?"

I stared at the vivid red stain splashed on my chest, and then at the waiter. He lowered his head and avoided my gaze.

Finally, my gaze settled on Emily's smug face.

I smiled and turned to the manager. "I'm Victoria Shaw, a Royal-level VIP here."

The manager paused for a moment and then immediately bowed with respect.

He said, "Good evening, Ms. Shaw."

"Now I'm going to exercise my membership rights," I said.

I fixed my gaze on Andrew and Emily, making sure they heard every word.

I continued, "Revoke Mr. Andrew Grant and his family's lifetime memberships here.

"Do it. Right now."

The manager's expression shifted. He looked over at Andrew, showing embarrassment.

The Grant family's lifetime membership here was something Andrew's father had gone to great lengths to secure in the day. That was a true status symbol.

Andrew's face darkened instantly, like a storm brewing.

He snapped, "Victoria, you wouldn't dare!"

"Just watch," I shot back.

I pulled out my membership card.

"Or I can call your boss." I turned to the manager.

The manager didn't dare hesitate any longer and grabbed his walkie-talkie right away.

"Revoke Mr. Andrew Grant and his family's lifetime memberships," he ordered.

Emily's smile froze.

Andrew was shaking with rage. His pride was everything to him, and what I did was like slapping him in front of everyone.

I took back my mother's necklace, didn't even bother to look back at them, and walked out.

This was only the start.