Chapter 10 – A Day To Remember!!
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“She’s made the best decision of her life,” Xander said coolly.
As Jacob was dragged out, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction. For the first time in years, I was in control, and it felt incredible.
Xander turned to me, his expression softening. “You okay?”
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Better than okay.”
“Good,” he said, offering me his arm. “Because this is just the beginning.”
He brought out a bottle of wine and two glasses. He popped it and I giggled as he poured it into our glasses before handing me one.
“Cheers to our success,” he said to me.
I laughed and clinked glasses with him, “Cheers.”
Jacob’s face–flushed, confused, and utterly humiliated–played over in my mind like a highlight reel. I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep inside.
“You really know how to make an entrance,” I said, turning to Xander.
He grinned, adjusting his tie. “I aim to please. That was satisfying, wasn’t it?”
“More than I expected, I admitted. “He deserved every second of it.”
“Well,” Xander said, leaning back in his seat, “the day isn’t over yet. I think it’s time to celebrate properly.“}
“Celebrate?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Shopping,” he said casually.
“Shopping?” I echoed, surprised. “You do realize I’m not exactly in the mood to max out my credit cards, right?”
Xander chuckled. “Rose, do you think I’d let you pay?”
“Xander-“S
“Relax,” he interrupted, a playful smirk on his lips. “Trust me on this. It’s on me. Besides, I know just the place.“}
Curiosity piqued, I agreed, and soon we arrived at an enormous mall that looked more like a palace than a shopping center. The glass façade glittered in the sunlight, and the sheer size of the place left me speechless.
“Welcome to Regal Plaza,” Xander announced as we stepped inside.
“This is… impressive,” I said, my gaze sweeping over the luxurious interior.
“It should be,” Xander replied nonchalantly. “I own it.”
I turned to him, my mouth falling open. “You own this?“!!
“Why do you sound so surprised?” he asked, feigning offense.
“Because it’s massive! How many things do you own, Xander?“>
He smirked. “Enough. Now go wild. Pick anything you want.”
“Xander, I don’t need anything,” I protested.
“This isn’t about need,” he said, his tone softening. “It’s about you enjoying yourself. No arguments.“}
I sighed, but the thought of indulging for once was tempting. “Fine,” I said, giving in.
“Good.” He checked his watch, his expression shifting slightly. “I have to take care of something urgent outside, but I’ll meet you here in an hour. Sounds good?”
“Sure,” I said, still a little overwhelmed.“]
With that, Xander left, and I began wandering through the store. The racks were filled with designer clothes–silks, satins, and fabrics I could barely name. For a moment, I felt conflicted but then I remembered Xander’s words. Go wild.”
I began browsing, my fingers grazing the smooth material of a sapphire dress that caught my eye. It was beautiful–elegant and simple, just my style. I held it up to examine it further when a familiar voice pierced the air.
“Well, well. Look who decided to show her face here.”
I turned slowly, dread pooling in my stomach. Jenna stood a few feet away, her arms crossed and a mocking smile plastered on her face. “What are you doing here?” she sneered, her eyes scanning me with thinly veiled disdain. “This place is a little… out of your league, isn’t it?“%
I bit back the urge to snap at her. “It’s none of your business, Jenna.”
“Oh, but it is,” she said, stepping closer. “I mean, let’s be real, Rose. How are you even affording this? Didn’t you leave Jacob? Or did you come crawling back already?”
Her words stung, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. “I don’t owe you any explanations,” I said coolly.}}
Jenna laughed, the sound sharp and grating. “You’re delusional if you think you belong here. Do you know how much that dress costs? It’s probably more than what you made in a year and now without Jacob how do you want to afford it?”
I felt my grip tighten on the hanger, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Why don’t you go bother someone else, Jenna?“!!
“Oh, I’m just getting started,” she said, her smile widening.
tignored her and selected all the dresses I wanted and walked up to the receptionist.
oter 10–A Day To Remember
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“Hello, I’ll take these,” I said to the receptionist.
“No!” Jenna’s sharp voice interrupted me
