Chapter 5
Evalina whipped around, voice rising. “What gives?”
Olive stood there, all high–and–mighty, looking down her nose at Evalina.
The clerk, spotting Olive, went full sycophant mode. “Mrs. Hayes, solo shopping day?”
Olive flashed a phony grin. “This girl’s a pro scammer, a total nobody. Where’d she swipe all this stuff? Don’t get played.” The clerk’s face soured, zeroing in on Evalina. “Oh, I knew it! You’re not going anywhere. I’m calling the police.”
Evalina’s face fell. “Just because she says it’s fake doesn’t make it so. You got eyes. Anyone can check. These are all legit.”
The clerk sneered, “This is Mrs. Hayes we’re talking to! You know Hugo Hayes, right? He’s loaded. I saw them shopping together the other day. Why would I trust a broke nobody like you over her?”
Olive folded her arms, looking smugger than ever.
Evalina’s teeth were grinding as she grabbed her stuff, ready to make a hasty exit. But Olive’s hand popped up again, stopping her in her tracks.
“Evalina, I heard you’re just some cheap replacement Hugo dug up. You’re way below my league. No wonder he’s dumping you now that I’m back,” she gloated, strutting around Evalina like she was some prize on display, her smile dripping with disdain.
Evalina’s heart felt like it got punched, but she kept that tough grin on. She knew she got beat by this girl, but she wasn’t gonna let her see her sweat or crumble.
Olive kept pushing her luck. “Also heard your family’s flat broke, and Hugo’s tossed you to the curb… Tough luck, huh? No wonder you’re selling fancy clothes now.”
Evalina finally lost her mind, whipping around to face Olive. “You’ve got great timing. I’ve had three years of this guy and I’m done. He’s all yours now.”
Olive’s pretty face turned ugly. “You-”
Eyeing the crumpled mess that was Olive’s fake front, Evalina leaned in, her smile wicked. “What, you thought I married him for the pillow talk?”
She chuckled, “But seriously, you didn’t teach him squat back then. He learned the ropes with me. I’m way better at this than you. You’ve felt the results of my ‘tutoring, right? Happy with them?”
Olive was fuming inside, her face red as a tomato. She couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Hugo has been with Evalina for three years. Has he really been with her the whole time?‘
Evalina’s lips curled up in a satisfied smirk.
Right then, Olive’s hand flew to her stomach, and she winced. “Ouch, this really hurts,” she groaned.
Hugo was right there, quick as a flash. Evalina didn’t even have time to blink before he gave her a rough push. She went down hard, her knee slamming into the floor.
Evalina looked up, her hair a mess, and saw Hugo’s arm around Olive, his face all worried–like.
“You good?” he asked Olive.
“Just stomach cramps,” Olive said, her eyes all watery. She was a far cry from the smug lady she’d been a minute ago.
Hugo then gave Evalina a cold stare. “Evalina, you’re looking for trouble,” he said.
