Chapter 4 The One Behind Aimee

Laurence and Rylie spun around at the same time. The moment they realized who was standing behind them, their faces went pale.

"Aimee?" said Laurence, his voice full of disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

Rylie could not stop staring at the dress Aimee wore, or the jade bracelet that caught the light on her wrist. Jealousy twisted inside her. Why did Aimee get to look so polished? How did someone fresh out of prison end up looking more put-together than she ever could?

With her teeth pressing into her lower lip, Rylie blinked fast to squeeze out a few tears. She forced her voice to sound wounded. "Aimee... Laurence went to the prison to take you home himself. Why did you refuse to go back? Are you still upset with me? If it helps, you can scold me, slap me, or do anything you want to vent your anger. I won't fight back."

Tears welled up in Rylie's eyes, her words trembling as if even speaking was too much. She looked so fragile, like the slightest push would send her to the floor.

Aimee met her gaze, lips curled into a half-smile that held nothing but scorn.

Upset with Rylie?

That word was far too gentle.

Hatred was much closer to the truth.

Rylie's very presence made Aimee's skin crawl. The urge to wipe that false sweetness off her face was almost overwhelming.

But Aimee was no longer as naive as she had been in her previous life. She wouldn't allow anyone to push her around. With steady hands, she straightened her sleeve and addressed them with an almost playful tone. "Home, you say?" She let out a soft laugh. "You must be joking. I have no family left in this world. There's no place I can call home."

Laurence's expression darkened, and he exclaimed, "Aimee! What nonsense are you spouting?"

Instead of reacting, Aimee turned her back on him and faced the sales associate behind the counter. "I'd like to purchase this dress."

Vicki didn't hesitate. She slid a black credit card across the counter and added, "Put it on this."

Although Rylie kept her face mournful, a dangerous glint appeared in her eyes. Clinging to Laurence's arm, she whispered, "Laurence, let's just let her have it if that's what she wants."

Laurence scoffed, "And why should I? What's she done to deserve it?" He turned on his heel to face the sales associate, scorn dripping from his words. "I'll pay twice the price for that dress. Let's see her try to outbid me."

The sales associate shifted uncomfortably. "Sir, I-"

Without missing a beat, Aimee arched a brow. "Five million dollars."

Gasps and startled murmurs swept through the store.

Aimee's outrageous offer sent shockwaves through the room. The dress that was barely worth half a million had just jumped to a price tag ten times higher.

Rylie went pale in an instant. Her fists balled up so tight that her knuckles whitened and her nails dug into her skin.

There was no way Aimee had that kind of money, right? It seemed impossible.

Laurence, though momentarily stunned, quickly masked his surprise with a scoff. "Stop playing games, Aimee. Tell me, where did you magically get five million dollars?"

Vicki responded with a cool, effortless smile, "This is the Reid Group's black card. There's no limit. Go ahead and charge the amount."

At the mention of Reid Group, everyone in the shop froze.

The name struck a chord, silencing the room.

Rylie's gaze sharpened, pupils shrinking in disbelief as she struggled to process what just happened. Had Aimee really found a way to tie herself to Andreas?

Watching Rylie's expression twist with confusion and displeasure, Aimee took her time walking over. The hint of a smile tugged at her lips as she paused in front of Rylie and calmly lifted her hand.

Smack! The sound of her palm connecting with Rylie's cheek rang out, sharp and clear. Rylie stumbled back, clutching her face, tears spilling down her cheeks as she stammered, "Aimee..."

"Didn't you say I could slap you?" Aimee glanced at Rylie with a look of feigned innocence. "Why are you acting surprised now?"

Laurence lost his temper and charged toward her. "Aimee! You've crossed the line!"

Prepared for his outburst, Aimee dodged to the side. In a swift move, she twisted his arm behind his back and drove the heel of her shoe hard into his knee. He crashed against a glass display, the case shuddering before a few rare handbags toppled to the floor.

With her fingers gripping his hair, Aimee leaned in close. "Try to lay a hand on me again and see what happens. You'll regret it."

Laurence squirmed in her hold, completely at her mercy. "Let go! You're out of your mind!"

"Humph." With a dismissive snort, Aimee released him and gave her hand a shake before looking over at Vicki. "My hand's aching now. Could you grab me some ointment?"

Vicki wasted no time digging through her bag. She pulled out a bottle of Lumen Creme and gently applied it to Aimee's hand.

Only the most privileged families ever laid hands on that brand - one tiny bottle cost a fortune.

Rylie stared, barely able to contain her jealousy as she watched Aimee use something so expensive as if it were ordinary lotion.

God was so unfair!

How could someone like Aimee end up living this kind of life?

Struggling to keep her resentment hidden, Rylie blinked away her tears and turned to Laurence. "Laurence, please, Aimee didn't mean any harm. Don't be angry with her..."

Laurence's whole body shook with fury as he jabbed a finger at Aimee. "You're nothing but an ill-mannered brat!"

Aimee's laughter rang out, sharp and cold. "Ill-mannered? What else would you expect from someone left behind by her own family and tossed into the countryside?" She fixed him with a cold stare. "And the Bennett family - are you really the ones who should be lecturing anyone about manners?"

Words failed Laurence. He stood frozen while the sales associate carefully presented the dress to Aimee, treating her with nothing but respect. "Miss, your purchase is ready."

Rylie, seeing there was nothing left for them here, took Laurence's arm and hurried him out of the store.

As they passed by, Laurence opened his mouth as if to fire off another insult, but one look at Aimee's steely expression made him think twice.

Yet his anger simmered all the way home, refusing to leave him.

Rylie's thoughts kept circling back to Aimee's calm, confident face. Her nails dug into her palms as she struggled to contain her resentment.

The entire business world knew that Andreas never gave women the time of day. No matter how many debutantes and heiresses tried, not one had managed to catch his attention.

And then there was Aimee - a nobody from a rural town. What could she possibly have done to win over someone like Andreas?

Vicki, too - even if she really worked for the Reid Group - no one actually knew who she was serving.

Rylie knew that Andreas wasn't the only son in the Reid family. There was also his brother Kayce Reid, a man notorious for his reckless lifestyle and scandalous habits.

It must be him!

A smirk tugged at her lips as she muttered, "Well, look at that. A bitch and a dandy. Honestly, they deserve each other."

With every passing thought, Rylie's certainty grew. Clearly, Aimee was showing off because she had Kayce standing behind her.

Her resentment hardened into a silent vow. "You won't get away with this, Aimee. I'll make sure everyone remembers who the true Bennett daughter is."