Chapter 5 Tania Got Reprimanded
1038 Words
Theodora shook her head.
The manager sighed in relief. "Honestly, everyone else looks so much better in those clothes. And after all you've done for her, she's still so rude to you. She has no idea you're the one making all this possible for her!"
The manager felt deeply indignant for her.
Theodora smiled faintly. "I don't need to put up with it anymore."
She left the store, planning to grab a quick bite nearby before heading home.
To her surprise, Laura and Tania were still hanging around.
Laura, still seething after being kicked out, was venting her frustration by shopping. Several high-society women had already messaged her, asking if she'd had a falling out with Floria.
Some even inquired whether Theodora was Floria herself, wondering why the manager was so attentive towards her otherwise.
Laura was about to lose it.
There was no way Theodora could be Floria!
"She quickly typed a reply.
Laura: Theodora isn't Floria. She's run away from home and is being supported by some man. She's not my daughter anymore."
Just as she hit send, she spotted Theodora heading for a restaurant. Enraged, Laura marched over and slapped her across the face.
"You ungrateful brat!" Laura yelled.
But just as Laura swung her hand towards Theodora, Theodora precisely grabbed her wrist, as though she could anticipate what was happening behind her back.
However, instead of Laura's hand, she felt a slightly cool, strong hand.
Theodora turned in surprise and saw Winston holding Laura's hand firmly.
Laura froze.
She quickly retracted her hand, suddenly much more polite. "Mr. Domingo, what a coincidence! Fancy running into you here!"
Winston's assistant handed him a wet wipe, which he used to clean his hand before tossing it into the trash. His sharp, chiseled features and cold demeanor made his disapproval clear as he spoke, "Quite the coincidence, isn't it? Seeing you slap someone in public like that."
Laura's face turned red with embarrassment. Tania, meanwhile, was stunned.
Was this really the heir to the Domingo family?
He looked so much better than Theodora's fiancé!
At 27, Winston had the air of someone much older. His perfectly tailored black suit only accentuated his tall, athletic build, making him seem like a model.
The poised and self-assured way he carried himself made Tania's heart skip a beat.
She had thought Lance was impressive, but now she saw how out of his league Lance really was.
"You might not know the full story, but Theodora is the one who had us kicked out of the store, which is why my mom was so upset," Tania said, adopting a soft, innocent tone. "How could Theodora treat her like that?"
Theodora felt disgusted by Tania's act. She was always good at twisting things to her advantage. No wonder the Belbin family had been so easily deceived by her.
"Why would she kick you out?" Winston asked, his voice icy.
Tania stammered, but within a second, Winston pieced everything together. He scoffed, his tone dripping with mockery, making both Laura and Tania feel uncomfortable.
Before Laura could make up a story, Winston continued, "You do realize that hitting her like that is also a slap in the face to my family, right?"
The Domingo family and the Belbin family had long been tied by an arranged marriage—though the engagement was supposed to switch from Theodora to Tania, it hadn't been formalized yet.
Hearing Winston's words, Laura tensed up immediately.
"Mr. Domingo, I didn't mean it that way," Laura quickly apologized, though her voice was reluctant. "I just didn't realize the impact of my actions."
Theodora hadn't expected Winston, someone she barely knew, to speak up for her, but she knew he was only doing it to protect the Domingo family's reputation.
Laura, looking flustered, grabbed Tania and quickly walked away.
Winston glanced at Theodora. "The jacket you gave me last time, I had it dry-cleaned. I'll return it to you soon."
Winston gave a small smile. "Save my number. Let's talk on WhatsApp."
His assistant looked bewildered.
'Is Mr. Domingo really that concerned about that jacket? Isn't he supposed to have a thing about cleanliness?'
They exchanged numbers, and Theodora went to a different restaurant to have a quiet meal. She felt a little better afterward.
When she got home, there was another message from someone who just wouldn't leave her alone.
Tania: Theodora, Mom knows about you and that manager now. Don't make any more mistakes. We're waiting for you to come back!
Theodora smirked and immediately deleted and blocked Tania.
Tania tried to send more messages, but when she saw the "Blocked" notification, her face darkened. She turned to Laura with a pitiful expression. "Mom, did I upset Theodora? She blocked me."
"Forget about her. She's getting more and more out of control," Laura snapped coldly. "Freeze her accounts."
Tim, the butler, spoke up, "Her card is left at home."
"What?" Laura asked, surprised.
The butler handed her a card. Over the years, the Belbin family had only given Tania one card, and she had left it behind when she left.
Laura didn't hide her discomfort. "She said the card contained money for the years we've supported her. But that had to be a lie. We've spent at least a million on her, and now she's pretending like she gave us that? Since she's gone, the card is yours, Tania. Use it and see how much is left."
Laura handed Tania the card. Tania took it, but there was a flicker of disdain in her eyes. Theodora couldn't possibly have much money—certainly not enough to buy a decent bag.
The next day was Monday.
Theodora was heading to school.
She was on her way when a familiar voice called out to her.
"Theodora!"
It was Tania.
Tania looked overly concerned. "Theodora, where have you been? We've all been worried sick. I've been messaging you, but you haven't replied. Please don't do anything stupid. Relying on men is just a temporary solution—we're the ones who are really your family."
The crowd at the school gate had begun to take notice.
"Whoa, seriously? Theodora looks so sweet and innocent, but she's already shacking up with some guy?"
- Writer
