?<strong>Chapter 1446:</strong>


    The woman, irritated by his cocky demeanor, let out a mockingugh.


    “Unbelievable! You lot are beyond hope!”


    “She’s paying up, and you still throw insults? Just who do you think you are?” he snapped back.


    With a sneer, the woman retorted, “This purse is valued at 2.7 million dors. You promised to settle it, didn’t you? Let’s get this over with so I can get out of this sickening ce.”


    “What? 2.7 billion for that tacky purse? You’re clearly trying to pull one over on us,” Theo’s boyfriend scoffed, convinced the purse was a counterfeit and using her of a swindle.


    But Thea, who grew up surrounded by luxury, knew all too well that the purse was genuine. Recognizing its authenticity filled her with dread.


    Her recent fallout with Felicia had shed her monthly allowance from avish hundred thousand to a mere fifty thousand. Even pooling her savings from previous years, she barely scraped together just over a million—not nearly enough to cover the steep cost.


    Though Felicia had left her ten million in cash, it was out of reach for now.


    Realizing the purse was out of her budget, Thea understood she’d need to make an ufortable call to her family. And if Felicia got wind of this, would she even spare her the fifty thousand?


    Caught in a whirl of worry and indecision, Thea’s silence spoke volumes. Her boyfriend, mistaking her quiet for defiance, felt his pride sting. Ovee with anger, he shoved Thea to the floor and began his assault with a fury that shocked the bystanders.


    “You selfish witch! Refusing to help me out? I’ll teach you a thing or two!” His outrage echoed through the diner, turning heads.


    Unable to watch any longer, Elyse snapped, “Lay off her! Do you really think you’re the only one here with guts?” Driven by a surge of protectiveness, she grabbed a wine bottle and swung it hard against the man’s head. The impact brought an instant, eerie silence as his rampage came to a sudden halt.


    Elyse didn’t even nce at the man as she helped a sobbing Thea to her feet, gently draping her coat over Thea’s shoulders.


    With Elyse’sforting presence, Thea found a semnce of security, her body shaking as she took refuge behind her.


    The man, feeling the back of his head and seeing blood on his fingers, red at Elyse. “You split my head open. Fork over three million, or we’re not done here.”


    Elyseughed. “Three million? That’s convenient—just enough to settle your supposed debt and leave you with a tidy profit. Quite the entrepreneur, aren’t you?”


    Undeterred, the man shot back, “me yourself for stepping in. Enough talk—give me the money, or we’re here all night.”


    Elyse turned to the woman, asking wryly, “I seem to have stumbled upon a scammer. Should we call the police?”


    Caught off guard, the woman hesitated but then snapped back, “I’ve got someone who wrecked my purse and won’t pay. I’m calling the cops.”


    Both women dialed the police, sending Theo’s boyfriend into a panic. “Forget the money—I’m okay, it’s just a scratch. Let’s forget all this,” he blurted out in desperation.


    Then, turning to Thea, he said, “And forget about the Maserati. Just pull together whatever you have and pay for the purse!”


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