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Chapter_219
Bonnie knew Winona’s style all too well and wanted to avoid any confrontation. She turned around, planning to quickly change back into her clothes and quietly leave. But just as she began to walk away, Winona, almost as if she could read Bonnie’s mind, smirked. Though her belly wasn’t showing much yet, she still stood there, holding her waist like she was proud of something.
Just as Bonnie was about to slip into the fitting room, Winona called out in a haughty voice, “Well, well, it isn’t Bonnie! What a coincidence. I didn’t expect to see you here. That dress looks great on you, but honestly, the prices here are a bit out of reach for poor students like you, don’t you think? Did you even ask about the price before trying it on?”
Winona let out a fake laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. “Or are you one of those people who just try things on without any intention of buying?”
Her eyes gleamed with mockery as she glared at Bonnie. In her mind, Bonnie and Yvette were cut from the same cloth. Since she hadn’t had the chance to deal with Bonnie since leaving school, this was the perfect opportunity to humiliate her and settle some old scores. Ever since the library incident, Bonnie had been a thorn in Winona’s side—Bonnie had seen her embarrassed in the library and Winona had never forgotten it.
Bonnie’s hands trembled, her chest heaving with a mix of surprise and frustration. She hadn’t expected Winona to be so harsh.
Taking a deep breath, she turned around and stepped forward. “Winona, whether I try on clothes or buy them is my business. What does that have to do with you?”
Winona wasn’t fazed in the slightest. She deliberately stroked her barely-there baby bump and gave Bonnie a condescending smile. “Oh, Bonnie, I didn’t mean anything by it. Look how upset you’re getting! I just wasn’t clear enough. If you can’t afford it, I can buy it for you. It’s really no trouble for me. Just a small gesture. You don’t need to struggle over it. I’m being kind, but you’ve misunderstood me.”
By now, the other esteemed guests in the store had started to notice the situation. Some recognized Yulia and Winona and whispered among themselves.
Yulia, sensing things were escalating, stood up and grabbed Winona’s hand. She tried to intervene, concerned about how things were unfolding in public. She had a pretty good idea of why Winona was picking on Bonnie, and it wasn’t hard to figure out. What else could it be but petty jealousy?
“Winona, that’s enough,” Yulia said firmly, her voice tinged with impatience. “It’s just trying on clothes. It’s not a big deal. Let it go.”
Then, turning to Bonnie, Yulia added gently, “Miss, how about this: I’ll buy the dress for you as a gift.”
Winona sneered, clearly unimpressed. She rolled her eyes at her mother-in-law’s attempt to play the “good guy.” But really, how different was she from Winona? Both of them loved using their money to belittle others—especially Bonnie.
Winona smirked, rubbing her belly as she joined in, “That’s right, Bonnie. Yulia’s right. We’ll buy this dress for you. Consider it a gift from the Carter family.”
Bonnie instantly recognized Yulia’s manipulative tone. No wonder they were family. They truly were cut from the same cloth—humiliating people with their wealth seemed to be a family trait.
Clenching her fists, Bonnie stood tall, her voice steady and unwavering. “No thanks. I can buy what I like on my own. Just because I can’t afford it right now doesn’t mean I won’t be able to in the future. You can keep your condescending pity.”
Winona’s smile grew wider, enjoying Bonnie’s frustration. She turned to the salesgirl, her voice dripping with superiority.
“Did you hear that? This girl can’t afford the dress. Hurry up and make her take it off before she dirties it. How will other customers wear it after that? What kind of riff-raff do you let into your store anyway? Next time, be more careful. Some girls have no money in their pockets. Letting people like that in will ruin your store’s reputation. If I see this again, I won’t be coming back.”
One of the salesgirls, the one with the pointed face, immediately jumped in, eager to please. “Yes, ma’am, we’ll tighten up our management. We won’t let people like that again. Rest assured, Mrs. Carter.”
Winona nodded in satisfaction as the salesgirl flattered her. The girl’s eagerness to please only made Winona feel more powerful.
“I’ll take everything I’ve picked out,” Winona said condescendingly. “And you can add it to your performance for today.”
The pointed-faced salesgirl never expected that a few flattering words would earn her such a big commission. Rich ladies and madams were easy to fool—they always craved sweet talk and adoration. Now, convinced she had latched onto the right people, the salesgirl redoubled her efforts, throwing compliments around like they cost nothing. She glanced at Bonnie, her expression turning dismissive, as though Bonnie were the enemy.
Seeing Bonnie’s eyes redden with anger, Winona’s smugness only grew.
Yulia, standing to the side, remained silent. In her mind, she had already given Bonnie a way out, but Bonnie had refused it. To Yulia, Winona was right—people like them were born privileged, already ahead of everyone else.
Fuming, Bonnie turned on her heel, ignoring Winona’s snide remarks and the salesgirls’ condescending glares. She returned to the fitting room, carefully removed the dress, and hung it back up. Bonnie handed it to a shorter salesgirl, who still treated her with some respect, and said politely, “Thank you.”
The salesgirl had been quite pleasant when she was serving Bonnie just moments ago.
Bonnie walked out of the fitting room with her head held high and her chest out, determined not to let them see her falter. As she passed Winona, she stopped for a moment, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear.
“I rely on myself. What I can or can’t buy is my own business. Don’t be so shameless and act like you have the right to judge me. You’re just using the Carter family’s name to throw your weight around. Without them, you’d be nothing but a sad little nobody.”
Winona was momentarily stunned. Her face registered anger. She had always thought Bonnie was just a pushover—someone easy to trample on. Who would have thought she’d talk back like this? Where had this sudden courage come from?
Seething, Winona reached out and yanked Bonnie by the arm. Under everyone’s shocked gaze, she raised her hand and slapped Bonnie hard across the face.
Bonnie didn’t even have time to react. She never imagined Winona would slap her, especially in public. The sharp sting of the slap left Bonnie’s cheek burning and swelling almost instantly. She lifted her head, trembling, but didn’t strike back. Winona was pregnant, and Bonnie couldn’t bring herself to retaliate. If she did, the baby could be hurt—and no matter what, the child was innocent.
Even Yulia was taken aback. She quickly stepped between them, shielding Winona’s belly with her body, her eyes warily fixed on Bonnie.
But Winona wasn’t done. Seeing Yulia’s concern only made her bolder. She glared at Bonnie, shaking out her stinging hand.
“Wow, your skin is really thick. My hand hurts from slapping you,” Winona sneered.
Yulia turned and hissed at her, “Winona, shut up!” But Winona didn’t care. The days when Yulia could boss her around were long gone. Robert wasn’t as devoted to her as before, and Winona felt no need to obey.
She knew Yulia’s Achilles’ heel was the baby she was carrying. So, she suddenly clutched her belly and feigned pain.
“Mom… Mom, my stomach hurts,” she groaned dramatically, pretending to be in discomfort.
Yulia’s face turned pale. “What’s happening? Did you overdo it just now and hurt the baby? Hurry, let’s get you to the hospital! If anything happens to my precious grandson, I won’t let you off!”
Winona shot a triumphant look at Bonnie, as if saying, See what happens when you mess with me?
The onlookers exchanged glances, their expressions full of pity for Bonnie. This was the cruel reality of society—where the strong prey on the weak. What could a girl like Bonnie, without money or power, do when faced with such bullying? Nothing but endure.
