Chapter 3

Rylee and Wyatt had a great time all day, and finally parted ways in the afternoon, with Wyatt driving off, a look of satisfaction on his face. Rylee shed her flattering and coquettish demeanor, assuming a cold expression instead.

Holding her card, she headed straight for the largest jewelry store in the city—Phoenix. Learning of her location, I couldn’t help but smirk. I was a top-tier VIP member at Phoenix. The store policy guaranteed that any item I fancied would be delivered directly to my home, and I had the privilege of first purchase rights.

I immediately contacted a security firm and hired two top-notch bodyguards. They were quick; by the time I arrived at the entrance of the jewelry store, the bodyguards were already there waiting for me.

"Ms. Hull!" they greeted me with a bow. I quickly patted their shoulders.

"No need for formalities; come inside with me," I said, leading them into the store.

The jewelry store was two-storied. Upon entering, I glanced around but didn’t spot Rylee on the ground floor. The manager saw me and quickly gathered the sales staff to greet me. I gestured for them to disperse, but the manager continued to hover, asking all sorts of questions.

"I’ll have a look around first," I said as I headed towards the stairs. The more exclusive items were on the second floor.

Sure enough, as soon as I stepped onto the second floor, a familiar figure caught my eye.

"That ruby ring looks nice, bring it out for me to see," I heard her say.

It was Rylee. She was holding the ruby ring, a look of satisfaction on her face.

"Swipe the card; I’ll take this," she told the sales clerk, who respectfully took her card and swiped it through the POS machine.

"Sorry, you don't have sufficient balance," a mechanical voice announced. In an instant, Rylee’s fair skin flushed from her neck to her scalp.

"How can this be! How much is this ruby ring?" she exclaimed, her face a portrait of embarrassment.

"260,970 dollars, madam," the clerk replied respectfully, handing back the card and then standing quietly to the side.

"Since she can’t afford it, wrap up the ruby ring for me," I quickly intervened, seizing the opportunity.

Upon hearing this, Rylee's face turned dark, and she spun around abruptly, her eyes widening in shock when she saw me.

"Lajoi! You again, you wretch! Who says I can't afford it! Swipe the card!"

She pulled out another card from her bag and handed it to the cashier; however, the account balance was still insufficient.

"How is that possible!"

"Your machine must be broken! This is Wyatt's card! How could there possibly be less than $260,000 in his account!"

Rylee staggered back two steps, her entire body stiffening.

I smiled slightly, knowing that this month's dividends had not yet been distributed. Given Wyatt's and her extravagant spending habits, it wasn’t surprising that there wasn’t enough balance.

"Madam, I'm sorry, but our machines do not malfunction. Maybe you could try another card?"

The store manager approached Rylee from behind me, asking gently.

"Impossible, Wyatt is a shareholder of Group A, he's never short of money!"

Rylee's face darkened further as she glared at the manager fiercely.

"Oh? Manager, what if it really is a problem with our store's machine?"

At that moment, a woman with a shapely figure and a pretty face walked out from the other side, wearing the store's uniform with a badge that read "Assistant Manager."

"Mira Russell, our machines do not malfunction!" said the store manager, frowning deeply and giving her eye signals.

"Manager, Mrs. Wilhelmina is a VIP customer of our store. Is this how you treat VIP clients?" Mira continued, her praise for Rylee and disdain for the manager increasing.

Upon earing this, Rylee's face lit up with arrogance, looking at me disdainfully, "You wretch! You cannot buy items here even if you have enough money!"

"Rylee, can't you ever talk properly?" I said calmly, a commanding presence pressing towards Rylee.

However, Mira suddenly rushed towards me, slapping me across the face.

"How dare you speak to Mrs. Wilhelmina like that! What status do you have to talk back!"

"Just for that, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of Mrs. Wilhelmina right now!"