Chapter 7
Solana was ready to split after snagging what she came for, but as she turned to go, Hana let out a smug “Well, look at that!”
Solana whipped around to see Hana waving a pricey perfume bottle she’d pulled from Averie’s bag.
Hana grinned like she’d just won the lottery. “Miss Webb, this yours, right?” she said, fishing for a high–five.
Solana blinked, totally lost. “Say what?”
Hana’s grin flipped to a scowl. “Oh, come on! I know Miss Spencer’s a guest, but you don’t have to cover for her. The boss keeps yapping about her being some friend’s kid, but I saw through her bargain–bin vibe from the jump.
“This perfume? No way she’s got the cash for it. I smelled it the second I walked in and knew something was shady!”
The perfume wasn’t Solana’s, but she pegged it instantly–Dior J’adore L’Or, a couple grand easy. No big deal for a Webb heiress like her, but for Averie, who wasn’t even officially a Webb yet? That was straight–up fantasy money.
Bottom line: Averie couldn’t afford it, period.
Averie’s face went white as a sheet. She snatched the perfume from Hana, voice shaking. “That’s mine! I’m not a thief! Quit talking crap!”
“Yours? Oh, and these too, I bet?” Hana smirked, yanking out a stash of lipsticks.
Every tube was high–end, designer stuff. One might not cost a fortune, but a whole collection? Way out of Averie’s league.
Averie was about to lose it, tears streaming as she snapped, “Give them back!”
“Take your trash!” Hana tossed the lipsticks onto the floor like they were junk.
Averie gasped and dove to grab them. Those lipsticks were her babies–some were limited editions. Messing with them was like a knife to her heart.
Hana ignored Averie’s meltdown and kept digging, but came up empty.
Pissed, she stood up. “Don’t worry, Miss Webb. I’m telling Mr. and Mrs. Webb. They’ll sort this out. Let’s see this thief try to Stay in our house now!”
Just then, a car rolled up outside.
“That’s Mr. and Mrs. Webb!” Hana said, stomping out with purpose.
Averie clutched her lipsticks, trembling. She was almost sure she was the Webbs‘ real daughter, but they hadn’t claimed her yet.
She’d seen stories–parents reuniting with their bio kid but still spoiling the foster daughter they raised, sometimes even picking her over the real one.
‘And Solana? Way too perfect, she thought. ‘No. Not happening!’
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Chapter 7
The lipsticks slipped from her arms, scattering across the floor. Averie bolted out the door.
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Solana watched the chaos, a sly grin creeping up. ‘Oh, right. This mess is straight out of the playbook. Guess I’ll kick back and enjoy the fireworks.‘
Hana was already dishing dirt at the door, all puffed up. “Mr. and Mrs. Webb, that Averie girl’s got some guts! Solana’s nice enough to show her around, and she’s sneaking stuff behind her back!”
The Webbs‘ jaws dropped.
Gloria blinked, floored. “No way… for real?”
“For real!” Hana was spitting mad. “Caught her stuffing fancy perfumes and lipsticks in her bag–busted her cold! Mrs. Webb, you should’ve seen her face, guilty as hell!”
Gloria shot Robert a look, half–convinced. Averie wasn’t their kid, after all–not raised under their roof.
“No!” Averie tore down the stairs, tears flying. “I didn’t steal! Those are my things!”
Hana smirked, giving her the side–eye. “You think I’ve been with the Webbs forever for nothing? I know their crowd–way
out of your league. Look at you in those bargain–bin clothes. You’re telling me you can afford that?”
Averie’s cheeks burned, especially when she saw doubt in the Webbs‘ eyes. Her sobs got louder.
Robert frowned. “What’s the deal?”
Averie’s shoulders shook. “They’re… gifts from a guy friend. I didn’t say anything ‘cause he’s got a thing for me. I swear I’m not into him! I kept saying no, but he pushed, so I… took the stuff.”
The Webbs exhaled, tension easing.
Gloria pulled her into a hug, cooing, “Oh, honey, it’s fine. You’re a knockout—boys chasing you is par for the course! Back in my day, I had ‘em lined up out the door!”
Averie sniffled, flashing a weak grin. “Guess I got your charm, Miss Webb.”
That hit Gloria right in the heart. ‘This girl, my spitting image–how could she not?‘
Hana wasn’t having it. “Mrs. Webb, you can’t just buy her story!”
Robert’s voice went ice–cold. “If Averie took Solana’s stuff, let’s ask Solana.” He glanced at Solana in the doorway. “Well?”
All eyes locked on Solana. Averie bit her lip so hard it might’ve bled, pure panic in her stare.
Solana met Averie’s teary eyes with a cool shrug. They didn’t know where her stash came from, but she did.
Averie, dirt–poor but obsessed with keeping up, had racked up sketchy loans–online scams, shady lenders–to fuel her vanity.
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14:37 Wed, 30 Jul G
Chapter 7
If her small–town folks wouldn’t notice, she’d have gone even wilder.
Solana only pieced it together when Hana dug through Averie’s bag earlier. In her old life, when the loan sharks came, Averie had lured Solana to a trap at the Serenity Hotel, setting her up to be assaulted.
When Solana tried to report it, the footage made it look like she’d gone willingly. Robert, humiliated, didn’t buy her story- beat her, locked her up, and cut her off from home.
Today was the 27th. Five days until the paternity test dropped–day after next, to be exact.
Solana, itching to bail, suddenly wasn’t in a rush.
“Solana!” Robert barked. “Answer me!”
Solana flinched, mumbling, “Those aren’t mine.”
Robert nodded, smug. ‘My kid, a thief? No way.’
Hana’s jaw hit the floor.
Gloria tore into her, then dragged a sniffling Averie upstairs to comfort her. Robert followed.
Hana fumed, teeth gritted. “Mr. and Mrs. webb are totally playing favorites with Averie! It’s BS, Miss Webb. You’re getting shafted, and you only covered for her to keep the peace.”
Solana glanced at Hana, hiding a smirk. ‘Give it a few days, and you’ll be on their side.‘
This time, she wasn’t scared of a damn thing.
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14:37 Wed, 30 Jul GO
Chapter 8
