Dumping Him for His Uncle (Natasha and Zachary)

"What?" Nicole's voice shot up several octaves, making people nearby frown in irritation.

But given her current social standing, no one dared to say anything.

She stomped across the store in her heels and confronted Natasha, her voice sharp and entitled. "You're the one who wasn't careful and got it dirty. Why should I be the one to pay for it?"

Natasha felt her patience snap at the sound of Nicole's shrill voice. "Nicole, can you stop being so childish? You grabbed it and stomped on it in front of everyone.

"The surveillance footage can prove that. Are you seriously going to pull a stunt like this in public?"

Honestly, Natasha wasn't even surprised anymore. With Olivia as her role model, Nicole's pulling stunts like this felt almost routine. If anything, she was just waiting to see how much lower she would go.

"You-" Nicole was left speechless, glaring at her in disbelief.noveldrama

"You've always wanted everything I had. So fine, I'm done with Matthew. You can have him. But if you keep messing with the rest of my life, don't expect me to just sit back and take it."

Natasha stayed composed, but her words struck with precision. Nicole was left with nothing but silence and frustration.

Natasha picked out another scarf and handed it to Diana. "I'm going to the restroom. Please wrap this up for me."

The group of girls tagging along with Nicole looked like they were about to interfere again but were silenced with just a glance from Natasha. They immediately backed off.

When Natasha returned from the restroom, she fully expected Nicole to pull something else. But to her surprise, Nicole only glanced at her without saying a word.

After paying, Natasha stepped out of the boutique with her shopping bag in hand -only to be met with the sudden shriek of a security alarm and Nicole's dramatic voice yelling, "There she is! Stop that thief!"

Natasha looked completely bewildered. She had paid for the scarf, yet somehow, she was being treated like a thief.

Lara rushed over at the sound. "I'm sorry, miss. The alarm went off. Could you please cooperate while we do a quick check?"

Anyone who could afford a 30 thousand dollar scarf wasn't usually the type to steal.

Natasha slipped her hands into her pockets, her expression calm and detached as she said, "No need to check."

She pulled the scarf from her pocket and flung it in Nicole's face.

"Natasha, are you out of your mind? You steal and then try to blame me?" Nicole shrieked, though there was a barely concealed thrill in her voice.

"I don't know how you managed to slip it into my pocket, but this wasn't my doing," Natasha said, already turning to leave.

But three girls blocked her path, arms crossed, smug grins on their faces.

"Oh, please. You stole it, and now you're trying to pretend it wasn't your doing?"

Nicole turned to Lara with a sneer. "She's broke. Probably makes two, maybe three thousand dollars working some dead-end job.

"God knows how long she had to save just to afford that scarf. If your store starts letting thieves like her walk free, don't be surprised when you're swarmed with more of them."

"You're right, miss," Lara replied with a polite smile.

Then she turned to Natasha and said, "Miss, please come with us to the station."

Natasha frowned slightly. She hadn't been anywhere near Nicole the entire time— except for that brief moment when she went to the restroom.

"I already said I didn't steal it. If you don't believe me, check the surveillance

footage. Let's see whose hands that scarf ended up in last."

She wasn't going to take the blame for something she didn't do.

As a crowd began to gather outside the store, Nicole's excitement only grew. "Hey, everyone! Come take a look.

"This woman tried to steal, and now she's pretending to be innocent. Can you believe the audacity?"

The clueless onlookers, fueled by Nicole's instigation, began whispering and pointing at Natasha.

"Ms. Bradley, I've already called the police. Since you're refusing to come with us, I'll have to wait here with you until they arrive."

She gave a subtle signal to the sales assistants, and two quietly fell into step behind Natasha as if she might try to bolt at any moment.