Estelle raised an eyebrow. "Outsider? Who are you talking about?"
Thea York cast a helpless look at Old Mr. Yeats. "Estelle, there’s no need to play dumb... Sir, I’m truly sorry. Estelle and I had a little unpleasantness earlier, and she’s still mad at me. Please don’t mind her."
Old Mr. Yeats clicked his tongue. Having grown accustomed to Claire’s lack of brains, encountering such a classic, two-faced manipulator made him sigh with emotion. It had been years since anyone had tried to play the innocent victim in front of him, and he almost felt nostalgic for it.
Thea sighed. "Estelle... this elderly gentleman is a customer, after all. Could you at least give me a little respect in front of him? We won’t intrude for long. We just want to look at some bags."
Estelle cast a meaningful glance at Old Mr. Yeats, who was quietly sitting in his chair. Then, she nodded to the sales associate. "Alright, go get them."
The associate didn’t delay. Two minutes later, all the new arrivals were brought out—four styles in total, with two colors for each style, making eight bags.
These were luxury items. While not exaggeratedly priced at tens of millions, they still commanded seven-figure price tags.
Laura Jennings’s eyes instantly lit up. Unable to tear herself away from a single one, she immediately ordered, "Wrap them all up! Thea, see if there are any you like."
Thea picked out three as well.
For the eleven bags in total, Ms. Jennings waved her hand grandly. "Have them delivered to the Sloan family’s villa."
Then, as if she had completely forgotten that these items cost money, she linked arms with Thea and headed for the door.
The sales associate panicked. "Mrs. Sloan, will you be paying by check or card?"
Ms. Jennings’s brow furrowed sharply. "What did you just say?!"
The associate jumped in fright. "You... you haven’t paid yet."
Ms. Jennings had never even considered paying. Gracing Estelle’s store with her presence was already giving the girl face!
"What a joke! I am—"
"Ms. Jennings is the esteemed Mrs. Sloan; how could she possibly default on a debt? Her eight bags total 7.5 million, and Miss York’s three bags are 3.1 million. Deliver them to the Sloan and York residences, respectively," Estelle instructed her staff, cutting her off. She paused for a moment before turning back to the women. "I presume you two forgot your cards at home. That’s fine; I can send someone to collect the payment directly from your doors."
Ms. Jennings nearly choked on her own breath. Was Estelle out of her mind? Was she seriously trying to charge her?!
Thea’s eyes welled with tears, looking deeply distressed. "Estelle, what is the meaning of this? It’s one thing to ask me for money, but how could you possibly charge Mrs. Sloan?"
Estelle’s smile deepened. "Hmm? I’m afraid I don’t follow. Are you saying Ms. Jennings doesn’t have to pay for the things she buys?"
Thea bit her lower lip, trembling like a delicate, fragile flower in the wind.
"Estelle, you know that’s not what I meant, yet you’re deliberately misinterpreting my words. You and I aren’t related, so it’s perfectly reasonable for me to pay. But Ms. Laura is Nathaniel’s biological mother. You should be calling her ’Mom’ too.
"Let me ask you, if a family member fancies a few bags from your store, should they really have to pay? Estelle, you shouldn’t be so stingy."
Estelle laughed. She looked meaningfully at Thea, then let out a slow, deliberate sigh.
"Well, as the saying goes, even blood brothers must settle their accounts clearly, let alone Ms. Jennings... However, Miss York does have a point. If I were the sole owner of this boutique, giving them away wouldn’t be an issue. But in reality, the shareholders behind Star Group also include the Kendrick family. Ms. Jennings, are you implying you want to rob us in broad daylight?"
Ms. Jennings’s face turned ugly. What on earth did Estelle mean?! Her taking a liking to this store’s bags was Estelle’s honor!
How dare she ask for money? A wave of indignant resentment surged in her heart. Why did Estelle have to run her mouth?! How dared such a lowly woman challenge her? She truly had no idea what Theodore saw in Estelle. The girl couldn’t even part with a few bags—how did she have the audacity to think she could be her daughter-in-law? A proper daughter-in-law should be willing to die for her!
Exasperated and furious, Ms. Jennings snapped. "I just want a few bags, and you won’t even allow that? Who do you think you are! I like them, and I’m not paying. What are you going to do about it!
"I’ve never seen a daughter-in-law like you! I ask you for a few bags and you hem and haw, acting so petty, and now you’re even chasing me for money. You shameless little wretch, you’ve got a lot of nerve! Thea, let’s go!"
Thea’s eyes turned red. "Estelle, you’re really going too far today. It’s not that Ms. Laura can’t afford it, but with you being so aggressive, how is she supposed to save face?"
With that, Thea chased after Ms. Jennings and fled the store.
The sales associates looked at each other in dismay, unsure of how their boss planned to handle the situation. Old Mr. Yeats watched his granddaughter with keen interest. If Eleanor were still alive, she probably would have directly...
Before Old Mr. Yeats could finish reminiscing, Estelle had already pulled out her phone and dialed a number.
"Chairman Sloan, Ms. Jennings took eight bags from my store but refuses to pay. She claims that this is just how the Sloans operate. So, I’m calling to ask if this is an actual rule of the Sloan family or just a lie from Ms. Jennings. If it’s a rule, I’ll pay a visit to the Sloan Group later to get some clarity. If it’s a lie, I’ll be calling the police.
"Oh, right. Ms. Jennings has been getting quite close to Theodore Lancaster recently, hasn’t she? When I visit the Sloan Group, I wouldn’t mind asking everyone what exactly is going on there."
Ethan Sloan choked on his own breath. "...What do you want!"
This was the most critical period for Theodore’s succession to the Sloan Group. If Estelle went around spouting nonsense, it would be an absolute disaster.
Estelle spoke breezily, "Eight bags for 7.5 million, plus Thea’s three bags for 3.1 million, brings the total to 10.63 million. Let’s just round that up and say 10.65 million."
Ethan was utterly baffled. Who on earth rounds numbers up like that?!
Estelle’s tone grew colder. "Is Chairman Sloan unwilling? I’ll call the police then. Oh, and I’ve also contacted some reporters—"
"I’ll have my assistant transfer the money to you!" Ethan roared, immediately hanging up the phone.
Estelle was highly satisfied. The tactic had worked perfectly, and she made a mental note to use it again next time.
Old Mr. Yeats was speechless. He thought, "Hmm, not bad. She’s exactly like Eleanor. It’s confirmed—this is definitely Eleanor’s daughter!"
Meanwhile, Ms. Jennings had barely stepped out of the boutique when Ethan called, cursing her out viciously and demanding that she cover the cost herself. The Sloans weren’t short on money, but they weren’t about to let her spend it like water. Didn’t she know the family wasn’t doing as well as they used to?!
Back in the store, Estelle had handled the situation effortlessly and raked in over ten million. She couldn’t be more pleased. As Old Mr. Yeats finished his cup of tea, she walked over. "Sir, have you made your selection?"
"Do those two from earlier always come here to cause trouble for you?" he asked.
Unsurprised by the old man’s curiosity, Estelle nodded. "Yes."
Old Mr. Yeats frowned. "In that case, you should deal with them as soon as possible—"
"I respectfully call them my personal ATMs. Every time they visit, they boost my sales." Estelle wore a meaningful, half-smiling expression. She glanced at the text message on her phone confirming the ten-million deposit. "Plus, Chairman Sloan is highly efficient when it comes to paying up. I’m very satisfied."
Old Mr. Yeats coughed awkwardly. "...Ahem, I think I’ll go back to picking out a gift for my granddaughter."
Estelle beamed. "Sure thing, Old Mr. Yeats."
Old Mr. Yeats froze.
He wondered, "Wait a minute, when did I expose my identity?"