?<strong>Chapter 106:</strong>


    Reba was about to argue when her attention shifted to the figure approaching from behind. Adrian wasing their way. Tears sprang to her eyes, and the words she had prepared were suddenly stifled.


    “Joelle, I never meant to get between you and Adie. Could you please stop making things difficult for me?”


    Joelle narrowed her eyes and sensed a shift in Reba’s demeanor. Turning around, she confirmed her suspicions.


    “What happened?” Adrian’s voice wasced with low, simmering anger, as if he was ready to step in and defend Reba.


    Luckily, Joelle wasn’t on her own today. Having Katherine by her side spared her from being ridiculed. Katherine responded sharply, “Adrian, this is a women’s argument. I suggest you stay out of it.”


    Adrian stopped in his tracks and fixed Katherine with a heavy, imposing gaze. “Do you always solve problems by causing a scene for everyone to see?”


    Joelle didn’t look at him and instead let out a sarcasticugh. “You’ve already humiliated me enough. What’s a little more?”


    Adrian red at her, his lips pressed into a tight line. “Go back home now.”


    Just then, the saleswoman eagerly stepped forward. “Sir, here’s what happened: I was helping Miss Lloyd when these twodies came up and started insulting her. Miss Lloyd didn’t want to make a scene, but they just wouldn’t let it go.”


    With the saleswoman’s exnation and Reba’s quiet sobbing, the situation seemed to lean heavily in Reba’s favor. Seizing the opportunity, Reba spoke up. “Adie, it’s not as bad as it seems. Maybe Joelle is just in a bad mood after losing her baby.”


    Had Reba not brought up the baby, Joelle might have been able to push the painful memory aside. But once Reba mentioned it, all Joelle could think about was how Adrian had coerced her into terminating the pregnancy. It was clear that Reba was aware of this and was intentionally striking at her most vulnerable spot. Joelle’s response was a cold, silent fury, but Katherine wasn’t as restrained.


    “How dare you twist the truth? Did Adrian give you the audacity to behave this way?”


    g?lnσν????s, the heart of storytelling


    Reba hid behind Adrian. “Adie, Joelle’s friend is really aggressive. I’m scared.”


    Adrian’s expression hardened, and he spoke with restrained anger. “Katherine, out of respect for my wife, I’m letting this go. Don’t test your luck.”


    Joelle then stepped in front of Katherine and locked her gaze on Adrian. “Respect for me? Did you even think about me when you unted your affair with her? Adrian, if you make this difficult for Katherine, I’ll make sure Reba never has a moment’s peace.”


    Adrian had been showing more patience with Joelletely, especially after her recent miscarriage and her distress. However, his tolerance was wearing thin, and he didn’t like her publicly making a scene.


    “What do you want?” Adrian’s voice carried a warning tone, signaling Joelle to back off before the situation escted.


    A cold smile crept over Joelle’s lips. She scanned the store, and her eyes finallynded on the saleswoman. “Your name is Gerda McCoy, correct?”


    Realizing Joelle had seen her name tag, Gerda instinctively reached to cover it, but it was already toote. “Yes, that’s me. What about it?” Gerda responded, trying to maintain herposure. She hoped Reba would support her after all she’d said.


    “I need your help. Could you please retrieve all of Reba Lloyd’s purchase records from your store over the past few years?”


    Reba’s expression changed subtly at the request. Baffled, Gerda scoffed, “And why would I do that? This is a customer’s private information. I can’t just disclose it.”


    Unfazed, Joelle drew a card from her purse—a ck diamond card from the mall, one of only two in existence. Bobby Kelly, the mall manager, had gifted Adrian and Joelle each a card as a wedding present, granting them unlimited spending privileges at this mall.


    As Joelle disyed the card, Reba’s eyes widened in recognition. She had only ever seen such a card in Adrian’s possession. This mall was a haven for the upper-middle ss; one had to spend nearly half a million dors for membership eligibility.


    Now, Joelle too held a ck diamond card, sparking a surge of jealousy in Reba. Had she married Adrian, that prestigious card would have been hers. The existence of this card was known to very few. It remained a mystery to outsiders, though unmistakable to employees.


    Realizing her oversight, Gerda took a second look at Joelle, recognizing her status as one of the mall’s most esteemed patrons. She felt embarrassed for not recognizing a VIP earlier. Joelle extended the card towards Gerda. “I’ll take the skincare set Reba was examining.”


    “Right away, ma’am!” Gerda now understood the full weight of the situation. For her, it didn’t matter whether it was the wife or the mistress; an affair or true love. Her priority was meeting her sales targets, and she was ready to serve whoever helped her achieve that.


    Just as she reached out to ept the card with both hands, Joelle withdrew it. Gerda looked up to see Joelle’s knowing smile. “Now, may I have a look at Reba’s purchase records?”


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