Suddenly feeling bored, Vanessa decided to go out. Walden Wells had no time for her, but he had given her a credit card to shop with. He hadn''t specified the limit, but she certainly wasn''t going to let it go to waste.


    Vanessa called Laverne to have her private car brought around. The two of them headed to the most high-end shopping mall in the city center.


    On the way, Laverne confirmed that the limited-edition handbag Vanessa had her eye on had just been released.


    A determined glint appeared in Vanessa''s eyes. After getting out of the car, they went straight to the luxury boutique.


    Striding into the store on her high heels, Vanessa immediately spotted the handbag disyed in the most prominent location. Her eyes lit up. Just then, she heard footsteps approaching from behind and whipped her head around, knowing that many others would be after this bag.


    When Vanessa saw who it was, her eyes widened in surprise before she broke into her signature smile. "Long time no see, Serena."


    Serena was with a female friend who had once had afternoon tea with Vanessa. Unaware of the deteriorated rtionship between the two, she waved politely. "Miss Shannon, long time no see!"


    Serena''s gaze, however, was fixed on the handbag. "I''ll take this bag," she said to the sales associate. "Please wrap it up for me. It''s a gift."


    "Of course, Miss Goodwin," the associate replied enthusiastically.


    "Wait," Vanessa immediately intervened. "I was here first and I saw it first."


    Serena turned to face her, her eyes narrowing. "Sorry, but I''m getting this bag."


    Her friend looked on in surprise as the two women vied for the bag. She tugged on Serena''s sleeve. "Serena, you and Miss Shannon, you two—"


    "I''ll exinter," Serena said to her friend before turning her re back to Vanessa. "This is a gift for Ellie. I''m not letting you have it."


    Vanessa''s expression instantly soured, then twisted into a mocking sneer. "For Eleanor? My, you''ve certainly learned how to suck up to her, haven''t you?"


    "I was blind before," Serena said coldly. "But now I see things very clearly, including who actually deserves my brother."


    Vanessa secretly gritted her teeth. She turned to the sales associate. "I''ll pay double."


    The associate shook her head politely. "I''m sorry, Miss Shannon, but Miss Goodwin is one of our brand''s VVIP clients and has priority purchasing rights. This bag can only be sold to Miss Goodwin first."


    "Wrap it up for me," Serena told the associate, then turned to Vanessa with a triumphant smile. "I told you, you can''tpete with me."


    Vanessa scoffed mockingly. "Serena, I truly envy your birthright. You get to throw your weight around everywhere thanks to your brother. It''s a shame that besides spending money, what else can you do?"


    Though Serena''s personality had changed recently, her sharp tongue was still intact. "Vanessa, you''re not qualified to lecture me. If all your dirty file secrets were exposed, would you be any better off than me?"


    Vanessa''s face paled for a moment, but she quickly lifted her chin. "Then expose them! Let everyone know thart Vanessa, was made famous by your brother''s support. And while you''re at it, tell them I''m his woman, too."


    "Don''t be so shameless. My brother never even touched you," Serena spat.


    "And how would you know?"


    Vanessa deliberately flicked her hair back, a seductive smile ying on her lips. Your brother spent my birthday with me in Fairhaven W spent the entire night together in a hotel."  s?novels


    Serena''s face turned white with rage. "You''re lying."