Skip to content
Novel Catalog
The air in the boutique grew tense as Carol, Sheryl’s mother, raised her hand, an intimidating silence falling over the room. Everyone held their breath, unsure of what was about to happen. Audrey, still furious, braced herself for whatever action Carol was about to take. But, to everyone’s surprise, Carol’s slap never came.
Instead, Carol’s hand hovered in the air for a moment before she dropped it by her side, visibly restrained. The tension in the room was palpable, but Carol’s face was unreadable. She turned to her daughter with a stern expression, clearly not pleased with the situation.
“Sheryl,” Carol said coldly, her voice cutting through the silence, “You’ve embarrassed yourself enough. Stop acting like a spoiled child.”
Sheryl, stunned and speechless, looked up at her mother, her face reddening with a mixture of anger and shame. She hadn’t expected her mother to rebuke her, especially not in front of so many people. Carol’s gaze turned to Audrey, then to Catherine, as if measuring the two of them.
Catherine, standing tall and composed, had a faint smile tugging at her lips, but her eyes remained icy and distant. Audrey, who had been breathing heavily from her tirade, now looked down at the Black Card in her hand with a sense of satisfaction. It wasn’t the confrontation she had hoped for, but it was enough to shut Sheryl up.
The service assistant, who had been watching the scene unfold with wide eyes, quickly regained her composure and nervously approached Catherine.
“Miss Swann, I’ll have everything prepared for you,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, but her tone was respectful.
Audrey, still simmering with anger, shot one last glare at Sheryl before turning to Catherine. “Let’s go, Kathy. We’ve got shopping to do.”
As they made their way toward the exit, Audrey couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of pride. Not only had she stood up for Catherine, but she had also put Sheryl in her place. There was something about defending her sister that made her feel invincible, even in the face of wealth and power.
Sheryl, meanwhile, fumed silently. Her pride had taken a massive hit, and she would not forget this humiliation easily. The Burtons were a powerful family, and she was certain this wasn’t the last time she would cross paths with Audrey and Catherine.
But for now, the two sisters walked out of the boutique, their bond stronger than ever, with the luxury of the moment lingering around them.
The sudden movement from Carol caught everyone off guard. Audrey’s eyes widened in disbelief as she saw Carol’s hand raised, and for a split second, time seemed to freeze in the shop. The tension in the air was palpable, and even Sheryl looked uncertain, her previous confidence faltering slightly as she realized her mother was about to intervene.
But just as Carol’s hand was about to come down, a sharp voice cut through the room, freezing everyone in their tracks.
“Enough,” came Catherine’s voice, calm but filled with an undeniable authority.
All eyes turned toward her as she stood up from the sofa, her posture straightening with an imposing grace. The atmosphere shifted. Audrey, still fuming with anger, glanced at her sister with a mix of admiration and surprise, but Catherine’s gaze was now fixed firmly on Carol, who hesitated mid-motion.
Catherine’s presence was overwhelming—cold, controlled, and unwavering. Her gaze met Carol’s, and there was a brief silence as if the world had held its breath. Then, Catherine spoke again, her voice low but firm.
“If you think raising your hand will intimidate me, you’re mistaken.”
The words hung in the air, making Carol pause, her hand lowering slowly. The force of Catherine’s calm confidence had the same impact as a physical blow. Sheryl, still reeling from Audrey’s verbal attack, took a step back, her earlier bravado shattered.
Catherine turned to the service assistant, her voice smooth as she spoke with authority. “Please, proceed with the transaction. Everything here is on me.” She handed over the black card once again.
The service assistant, though still slightly taken aback by the sudden tension, nodded quickly and moved to process the payment, her hands trembling just slightly as she swiped the card. Audrey watched in awe, her earlier anger fading into a sense of pride and relief. Catherine had handled the situation effortlessly, and in that moment, Audrey realized just how much power her sister truly held.
Sheryl, still trying to recover from the sting of Audrey’s words, shot a venomous glare at Catherine. “You can’t fool anyone with that card,” she sneered, but there was a noticeable lack of confidence in her tone now.
Catherine’s lips barely curled into a smile, but it was enough to show that she was no longer interested in sparring with someone so beneath her. She turned away from Sheryl and looked back at Audrey. “Let’s go. I’m done here.”
Audrey, still flustered from the earlier exchange, smiled widely, her admiration for her sister growing. “You’re amazing, Kathy,” she said, her voice filled with awe. She couldn’t wait to tell her followers about this encounter later—Catherine had truly shown her strength today.
With everything wrapped up, the two of them walked toward the exit, leaving a flustered and silenced Sheryl and her mother standing in the background, helpless and defeated. The scene in the shop slowly returned to normal, but the tension lingered long after Catherine and Audrey had left.
Outside, as they walked to their car, Audrey couldn’t stop smiling at her sister. “You were incredible back there, Kathy. I’m so glad you’re on my side.”
Catherine glanced at her, her expression still unreadable, but her lips curved into a faint smile. “Just don’t get used to it. I’m not here to fight battles for you.”
Audrey laughed, undeterred. “Well, I’m not complaining. You make the perfect backup, though.”
As they drove away, Catherine’s mind wandered again, this time to Erik and her plans. Despite the momentary distraction, she knew there was still much to do. But for now, she was content to enjoy the quiet camaraderie with Audrey, even if only for a brief moment.