Chapter 381
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Third Person’s POV
The manager was offering Gloria a way to save face. If she agreed, the jewelry could be stored under the pretense of consignment, allowing her to retain some dignity.
Gloria visibly relaxed, her iron–grey eyes losing some tension, and she smiled gratefully, tears still welling
But this smile looked kind of pitiful. Even her pheromones became softer.
Before she could speak, Sabrina pouted and left shallow silver–grey claw marks on the jewelry box. “No need for consignment. I’m taking this back to the pack today. You can send someone to our place for payment.”
The sulfuric pheromones turned sharp again, carrying an air of unquestionable stubbornness.
The manager looked at Sabrina and said with a smile, “Ma’am, that’s perfectly acceptable. We have many. more ruby hairpiece designs in our collection. Would you like to see a few more options?”
Sabrina glanced up to see a shop assistant entering with a silver tray.
She immediately recognized that the jewelry on the tray was nowhere near the caliber of what she was holding–it must have been brought up from the first or second floor.
She instantly clutched the jewelry box to her chest. “No, this is the one I want.”
Rosemary was clearly growing annoyed. “Why bother looking at more? We’ve made our choice. What’s the issue here? We’ll go back with your assistant to get a check. Enough with the chatter.”
The manager, experienced in dealing with all sorts of customers, knew this wasn’t an ordinary case of a mother and daughter shopping for jewelry.
The elderly lady didn’t seem old enough to control the family finances. Typically, she would be the one authorizing such a purchase.
Yet the younger lady appeared on the verge of tears, clearly struggling to cover the cost.
It seemed they were pressuring her into buying it.
In a high–end store like the Golden Jewelry Store, where the younger lady was hesitant to lose face, she was enduring her tears and feeling helpless.
As the situation threatened to stall, a lady in simple attire emerged from a private room.
With a gentle presence and soft voice, she asked, “Manager, wasn’t this ruby hairpiece reserved for me? Why is it being sold to someone else?”
Everyone looked up, and Gloria’s face drained of color.
They recognized the lady–Lynette, whose uncle was Dudley from the Royal Constabulary.
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She had married Marsh, who had sacrificed alongside Eugene.
After Marsh’s death, Lynette stayed in the Hornbeam Pack and adopted a son.
Lynette had intended to help Gloria out of kindness.
Unaware of the public’s comparison between the two women following Gloria’s return to the Ironclaw Pack, Lynette, still grieving her husband’s loss, hadn’t realized the external gossip.
She stepped in, thinking fellow sufferers deserved mutual support, but her intervention backfired.
Gloria immediately lifted her head and said, “The attendant didn’t mention it was reserved for you. If Sabrina wants it, then she shall have it. Manager, please send an attendant with me to the pack to collect the check.”
Lynette and the manager were taken aback.
Meeting Gloria’s gaze, Lynette saw coldness and a hint of resentment in her eyes.
After a pause, she said softly, “Very well, I’ll choose another set,” and hurried back to the private room she’d been in, disappearing behind the beaded curtain.
Paisley was stunned. Had Gloria lost her mind?
The lady had meant to help, yet Gloria lashed out.
Was there some grudge between them?
Yet the lady seemed utterly harmless, with a kind–hearted expression and a look of compassion towards
Gloria.
As Gloria straightened her back and escorted Rosemary and Sabrina downstairs, Paisley returned to the private room. Leaning on the display case, she asked the shopkeeper, “Do you know who that lady is?”
The shopkeeper, though not having seen her, likely recognized the voice as most third–floor customers were regulars.
He replied with a smile, “Ma’am, that was Lynette from the Hornbeam Pack. She’s a very kind–hearted lady, and her husband, General Marsh, is highly respected and missed by the public.”
The phrase “respected and missed” revealed much.
Both had lost their husbands in battle, making them kindred spirits. Lynette had only wanted to help Gloria, but her attempt had been rebuffed, leaving her embarrassed.
Adelaide, upon hearing Lynette’s identity, understood the situation but didn’t elaborate further.
Instead, she asked Zelda which pieces she’d chosen and mentioned buying another gift for the somewhat naive Priscilla, who hadn’t been brought along today and was likely upset.
The reason for excluding Priscilla was her past involvement in the Golden Jewelry Store with Wanda, where designs were copied from others. She didn’t want Priscilla to feel ashamed or awkward.
Once the pink diamond headpiece design was finalized and several other pieces selected, Zelda hugged
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Adelaide and proclaimed her adoration.
The shopkeeper, observing them, couldn’t help but smile unlike the carlier tension between Sabrina and Gloria, Adelaide and Zelda exemplified genuine closeness and harmony.