<h4>Chapter 308: Chapter 308 Hands Off, It’s Mine</h4>


    ‘Sorry, this is the only one left. Some of our designs onlye in a handful of pieces, they’re limited edition. This bracelet happens to be the veryst one. If you really want it, I can have another shipped from a different branch,’ the sales assistant exined.


    ‘I want this one,’ Pink Hair said with a touch of arrogance.


    I flicked a nce at Genevieve, who shot me a look full of mockery. She’d clearly put her friend up to this.


    My bad mood, which had started at breakfast, sank even lower.


    I hadn’t even wanted to buy the bracelet, only to take a look at it. But now, there was no way I was leaving without it, if only to wipe the smug look off a certain someone’s face.


    ‘Excuse me, I saw this first. There’s such a thing as firste, first served, isn’t there?’ I reached out, meaning to take it back.


    Pink Hair clenched the bracelet tight in her fist, refusing to let go. ‘Hmph. There’s never been anything I wanted that I couldn’t get.’


    ‘And there’s never been anything I set my eyes on that I’d hand over to someone else. I’m having it,’ I said coolly, then turned to the sales assistant. ‘Please wrap it up for me.’


    ‘Of course.’ The assistant nodded, then gave Pink Hair an apologetic smile. ‘I’m sorry, miss, but this piece has already been sold. If you’d like, I can call another branch and have one sent over. It’ll only take a few hours. Or if you leave your address, we can deliver it straight to your door.’


    ‘I said I want this one. I’m not letting it go,’ Pink Hair shot back, clutching the bracelet tighter.


    The assistant nced at me as if about to mediate, but I cut in before she could speak. ‘Not happening. Once I’ve chosen something, it’s mine. No one takes it from me.’


    At that point, Genevieve finally wandered over. ‘Mirabelle, isn’t it? What a coincidence.’


    I gave her a frosty look. ‘It’s Mrs Laurent to you.’


    ‘Vivi, isn’t this bracelet gorgeous? The colour looks perfect on you. It’d be wasted on someone else. I’m giving this to you,’ Pink Hair said smugly, cutting me a sidelong nce.


    Something in her tone told me she wasn’t just talking about jewellery.


    Stealing what’s mine to give to Genevieve?


    ‘In case you missed basic etiquette at nursery, not everything is yours to snatch. I saw this bracelet first. Firste, first served. It’s mine,’ I said, then turned back to the sales assistant. ‘Sort it out. This bracelet is mine.’


    The poor assistant looked helpless, her brows knitted tight as she nced between us, clearly unsure what to do.


    ‘Firste, first served?’ Genevieve’s voice rose, her face hardening. ‘Don’t make meugh. I’ve known Ash since we were children. And who are you? Some nobody who popped up halfway through. You think you understand what firste, first served means?’


    ‘So what if you knew him first? He doesn’t love you. He didn’t marry you. What use is that?’ I smiled, eyes glittering with triumph.


    Genevieve’s teeth ground together, her fists clenched. ‘That bracelet is mine. And so is Ashton. One day, I’ll take him from you.’


    ‘Really? I’d love to see how you manage it. You couldn’t get him to marry you when he was single. Now that he’s my husband, I can’t wait to see how you n to steal him away.’


    Genevieve’s eyes shed. ‘Just watch. I’ll make sure you see it with your own eyes. If I can snatch this bracelet, I can snatch Ashton too.’ She turned to Pink Hair. ‘Go on, pay for it.’


    ‘Don’t you dare.’ I fixed the sales assistant with a cold stare. ‘I saw that bracelet first. It’s mine. If you sell it to her, you’ll deal with the consequences.’


    Genevieve gave a short, mockingugh. ‘I’d love to see you stop me. Let’s see how you n to snatch it back from me.’ She then snapped at the sales assistant, ‘Well? What are you waiting for? Ring it up.’


    ‘I’m so sorry, but...’ the assistant hesitated.


    ‘Save it,’ Genevieve cut her off. ‘You’ll see soon enough.’


    She pulled out her phone, made a call, and when she hung up, her lips curled in triumph. She looked me up and down with contempt. ‘I’ve called in a favour. The owner of this shop is on his way. If I want, he’ll hand this bracelet to me as a gift, never mind selling it. And you? I know all about you. A dead convict for a father, a penniless mother. What have you got to fight me with? What can you possibly use topete with me?’


    ‘You’re right. My family can’tpete with yours. But I’ve got Ashton.’ I smiled sweetly and pulled out my phone. Right in front of Genevieve, I dialled his number and used my sweetest voice. ‘Hi, Ash. I’m at the mall, thinking of buying a bracelet, and I need you here.’


    ‘Where are you? I’ll be right there.’


    ‘I’ll send you my location.’ I looked at Genevieve with open delight.


    Petty, yes. But I’d been itching for a way to vent, and she’d walked right into it.


    For a moment, she looked almost rattled, as if she couldn’t quite believe Ashton would actuallye.


    ‘Ten minutes. I’m on my way,’ Ashton said, and hung up.


    I sent him my location. His reply came back at once: [Got it].


    I tilted my head, smiling at Genevieve with wide-eyed innocence. ‘See, Genevieve? You’re not the only one with connections.’


    She scoffed. ‘Do you honestly think he’lle running? He runs a massivepany. He’s probably in a meeting right now. Do you really believe he’ll drop everything, leave a room full of executives, just to sort out a little shopping spat for you?’


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!