Oh Fake 153
Chapter 153
Chapter 153
Valerie’s face instantly turned livid. Anxiety and tension made her squeeze the bag in her hand tightly, so hard that she almost broke her newly done
French manicure.
This bag was never a gift from Clayton. Instead, it was a luxury she’d bought with her credit card. Worse, next week was the final deadline for her crea card repayment, so she still had to think of an excuse to ask Clayton for money.
Cheryl couldn’t stand seeing her daughter wronged and retorted loudly, “Clayton is so good to my girl. He gave her a gift worth 300 thousand dollars when they got engaged and promised another 300 thousand dollars for the wedding. Your jealousy is ruining your beauty.”
Audrey sat on a high stool, leisurely signaling the clerk she didn’t like any of these emerald jewelry pieces, then said calmly, “if Clayton’s mother knew he spent six hundred thousand dollars to marry a useless woman, she’d probably come after you,”
“I’m not afraid of her,” Cheryl raised her voice and said unreasonably. “John was saved by my husband, so the entire Patel family should be grateful to us and be nice to my daughter.”
Seeing her mother about to lose control, Valerie quickly held Cheryl’s shoulders and forced a smile, saying, “Ms. Henderson, you care so much about Clayton. Could you still want to remarry him?”
Given these words, the two clerks and the few customers instantly understood the relationship between the three. Audrey was Valerie’s husband’s ex- wife, and Cheryl was Valerie’s mother.
Before, Cheryl had looked at Audrey with envy, but once she realized Audrey was Clayton’s ex–wife, she became instantly vigilant and snapped, “Don’t even think about it.”
Audrey slowly spun the emerald bracelet on her wrist, smiling elegantly. “I’ve been thriving since leaving that jerk and met a man more worth cherishing.”
She furrowed her brows, pretending to be confused. “Ms. Patterson, could it be you think Clayton isn’t as good as you imagined, and now that you’ve snatched him, you want to dump him? Well, don’t push him onto me. I’m not a garbage dump.”
Valerie gritted her teeth, barely stopping herself from losing her temper in public. She’d thought Clayton’s law firm had its place in Ironhaven not only because of his talent but also because the politically powerful John and Wyatt had protected him.
As long as John had power, Clayton’s firm could keep making money. But befor
Valerie could
marry Clayton, John was fired from his position.
Shortly after she married Clayton, his firm was inexplicably shut down. He couldn’t even practice law anymore and was sued.
Valerie had thought driving Audrey away would let her enjoy the Patel family’s wealthy life, but she never expected them to be so poor. Now that Audrey had exposed her motives, Valerie was furious but still had to save face.
“I’d never abandon Clayton. We’ve known each other since childhood and are deeply in love,” Valerie explained with a stiff smile.
“I’m here choosing jewelry because Clayton wants to give me a grand wedding. I even suggested he send you an invitation, but he said your status wasn’t suitable for attending, so…” she said.
Audrey laughed softly and signaled the clerk to bring new jewelry–she didn’t like these. The clerk’s eyes lit up and quickly brought over a higher–grade set of emerald ornaments.
As Audrey browsed casually, she said to herself, “met Mrs. Patel at the hospital today. She said Clayton’s in the hospital, but you haven’t visited or sent him any nutrients, so he’s still sick.”
“That old bitch,” Cheryl snapped, ready to curse Lillian, but Valerie pulled her back again.
Valerie tried to look magnanimous, forcing a smile as she said to her mother, “Clayton told me not to visit him because he was worried about me.”
“You know Lillian is mean to people. When you were Clayton’s wife, she must have given you a hard time, right?” she added.
Chapter 153
Audrey didn’t respond. Pointing to a brooch in the tray, she said, “This is interesting.”
“You have great taste,” the clerk said warmly. “This is our boss‘ collection. The lilies on it have a beautiful meaning and are scheduled for this year’s auction. It’s the best price right now.”
“Lucky me,” Audrey smiled at the clerk.
The clerk nodded with a smile. Everyone in the store knew this sales talk the real auction weren’t displayed for sale here.
Audrey said, “Well–” Valerie cut her off, tilting her head defiantly, “I’ll take this brooch.”
“Are you sure you can afford it?” Audrey retracted her hand and looked Valerie up and down.
Valerie hated being stared at like that and snapped, “Of
Even if I don’t have enough, Clayton will buy it for me.”
She turned to the clerk. “How much is it?”
The clerk looked at Audrey, who gestured to serve Valerie first. The clerk then smiled and explained the emerald brooch’s origin and quality before saying, “It’s worth 300 thousand dollars.”
Valerie regretted it. Cheryl had already lost tens of thousands of the 300 thousand dollars Clayton gave her gambling. Her credit card was maxed out, and she didn’t know if she could get a temporary limit increase.
Seeing Valerie hesitate, the clerk turned back to Audrey. “Would you like to see closer?”
“Only 300 thousand dollars?” Audrey’s tone brightened. “With this quality and craftsmanship, it’d sell for at least six hundred thousand dollars at auction.”
“You’re an expert,” the clerk flattered Audrey to make the sale.
Their firm tones tempted Valerie again. If she raised the money to buy the emerald brooch, she could profit from the auction and keep the money as her
own.
“I didn’t say I don’t want it,” Valerie said, snatching the brooch as Audrey put it down. “I saw it first, Ms. Henderson. You wouldn’t steal someone else’s desire, would you?”
Audrey was clearly annoyed. She crossed her legs and tilted her head. “Fine. But if you
Cheryl gestured for Valerie to put down the brooch, pulling her aside to whisper, “That
t pay, don’t blame me for taking it back.”
tiny bit of emerald in the brooch is worth 300 thousand dollars?”
“Mom, you don’t get it. Emeralds aren’t priced by size–by color and quality,” Valerie said. Seeing Audrey’s obvious fondness for the brooch, she grew more determined. “Let’s buy it now. When we sell it at auction, we’ll make hundreds of thousands in profit.”
Cheryl had no knowledge of emeralds but still felt it was a bad deal. “We don’t have that kind of money,” she said.
“I’ll find a way to raise it. After selling the brooch, you can hold the 300 thousand dollars, and I’ll keep the profit,” Valerie said.
Cheryl hesitated. She knew how recklessly her daughter spent money.
Valerie opened loan apps on her phone. Due to her recent spending, the lenders had offered her high loans. She managed to borrow over a hundred thousand dollars through two apps.
