?Chapter 156:


    Valerie’s shoulders slumped as she stood there, silently twisting her hands in distress.


    The senior sales assistant’s message was loud and clear. Valerie felt for the customer because she understood their struggle. She wasn’t well-off either.


    Valerie understood the implication but couldn’t afford to fight back. With her parents’ health declining and her father facing serious problems, this job meant everything to her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she nced at Christina.


    For a moment, their eyes met, but Valerie quickly looked away, ashamed of her own cowardice.


    Christina, however, wasn’t about to let it slide. Turning to the senior sales assistant, she said firmly, “I’d like to speak to your manager. Let’s see if your manager shares your snobbish demeanor.”


    The senior sales assistant bristled. “Excuse me? Just so you know, clearing the store is something we do for premium clients. Why are you insulting me? You reallyck manners.”


    Katie eyed Christina like she was some kind of joke. “Why don’t you use the money you conned out of my brother to buy yourself VIP status?” she said with a mocking smile. She covered her mouth, her mockery evident. “Then, when security tosses you out, you can scream, ‘I’m a VIP!’ Just imagine it.”


    Thea burst outughing. She added, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “Some people are just meant to serve, yet they still dream of bing rich and morous. It’s honestly pathetic.”


    Christina didn’t flinch. She kept her cool, refusing to waste breath defending herself. Her expression remained calm as she stated, “I’m not leaving until I speak with the manager. I want to hear their opinion on this.”


    The senior sales assistant stared at Christina, both annoyed and surprised, realizing that despite Christina’s good looks, she was stubborn and unyielding. “Do you really want to be dragged out of here?” she snapped, her frustration mounting.


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    Christina replied, steady and unwavering, “In any case, I’m not leaving without speaking to the manager.”


    “Fine,” the senior sales assistant growled. “If you’re so desperate to cause a scene, then don’t me me for what happens next!” She reached for her phone to call for security.


    But just then, a man’s voice rang out from near the entrance, deep,posed, andmanding enough to make everyone pause.


    “Who’s causing a scene in here?” A man in his thirties stepped through the entrance, his eyes narrowing as he took in the situation.


    “Mr. Palmer!” the senior sales assistant called out quickly, pointing at Christina and Chloe. “These two women have been creating a disturbance in the store.”


    ude Palmer, the store manager, turned his gaze toward Christina and Chloe, his eyes probing their appearance with the practiced scrutiny of someone used to judging on sight. Nothing about their outfits screamed luxurybels, but the fabric, the cut, the quiet elegance—it hinted at quality. They didn’t exactly radiate wealth, but they weren’tmon either. Clients like them were wild cards: with a little finesse, they might just be long-term VIPs. But first, he needed to understand the situation. What exactly had gone wrong?


    “It’s not as serious as it seems. They just had a disagreement with a premium customer. An apology should smooth things over.” Valerie stepped forward before the tension could escte, her voice a bit shaky. She had wrestled with her thoughts for a while before finally speaking up in ude’s presence, only to feel deted and somewhat regretful for her impulsiveness.


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