Chapter 39 CHAPTER 39

Chapter 39 CHAPTER 39
The Cut Off
“Excuse me, watch where you’re…” Chloe’s sharp voice cut through the luxury store like a blade, but it faltered mid sentence.
Standing in front of her, frozen in the middle of the wide marble aisle, was Tessa. Beside her, Ayisha held two shopping bags, her eyes narrowing instantly like a cat spotting prey.
The three women locked gazes, the air around them tightening, thick with hostility.
“Tessa,” Chloe sneered, recovering quickly, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “What an… unexpected surprise. Out here spending my money again, I see.”
Tessa’s back straightened, her eyes steady, no tremble in her voice. “Not a surprise at all, Chloe. We were bound to meet sooner or later. But don’t worry,” her lips curved slightly, sharp as glass, “next time we meet will be in court.”
Ayisha smirked proudly, folding her arms.
Chloe blinked, caught off guard by Tessa’s calm fire. Her laughter rang out, forced, loud, echoing across the boutique. “Court? Please. You’ve been crying ‘justice’ since you reappeared, but you don’t have the courage. All you do is play the victim. Poor abandoned Tessa with her sob story.”
Tessa didn’t flinch. She simply stared, her voice low but cutting. “You tried to kill one of my children. My little girl nearly drowned under your care. You think I’ll forgive that? You think I’ll let you walk away?”
The words landed like blows. Chloe’s smile faltered, her painted fingers tightening around her purse.
Tessa’s chin lifted. “No more crying. No more mercy. From here on, Chloe, it’s tit for tat.”
Ayisha grabbed Tessa’s arm lightly, her lips parting. “Wait—are you serious? I thought you were closing the case, Tessa. What changed?”
Tessa’s eyes glistened, but her voice was steady, iron beneath silk. “What changed? I saw my daughter’s body pulled out of the water. I saw her almost lifeless in Ares’ arms. I’ll never forget that image. Chloe tried to destroy me through my children. And I can’t forgive. I won’t. This isn’t about me anymore. It’s about them.”
Ayisha’s jaw dropped slightly. For a moment, even she was taken aback by the sheer force in Tessa’s tone. “Well damn,” she muttered under her breath, impressed. “That’s the woman I’ve been waiting for.”
Chloe scoffed. “I am sure you don’t even know their names, you can’t even tell which is which.”
The women turned away from Chloe, gliding toward another section of the store. Chloe stood stiff, her face burning under the weight of humiliation. Shoppers had begun to notice, whispering behind hands, pretending to browse racks of couture gowns while their eyes devoured the unfolding drama.

Tessa and Ayisha drifted through the high end jewelry section, speaking in low voices as attendants hovered nervously around them. Tessa’s confidence radiated, a quiet power Ayisha hadn’t seen before.
Meanwhile, Chloe stormed toward the opposite aisle, her heels clacking furiously against the marble. If Tessa wanted a show, Chloe would give her one.
She waved over three attendants at once, her voice loud enough for Tessa to hear. “I’ll take that, and that, and that one too. Wrap up everything in this collection. Oh—and those limited edition purses. All four.”
The attendants scrambled to obey, piling boxes and bags into a growing mountain of excess. Chloe tossed her hair back, smirking across the store at Tessa. “Some of us can afford more than court fees.”
Ayisha rolled her eyes dramatically. “Look at her,” she muttered. “Spending like she’s auditioning for bankruptcy.”
Tessa said nothing, only continued browsing. But the faintest smile curved her lips.

At the counter, Chloe presented her platinum card with a flourish, leaning over the polished glass like a queen waiting to be served.
The cashier, a young woman with trembling hands, swiped it once. Frowned. Swiped again.
“I—I’m so sorry, ma’am. It’s… declined.”
Chloe’s head jerked up. “What did you say?”
The cashier flushed crimson. “Declined, ma’am.”
Murmurs rippled through the store. Two women at the perfume display exchanged glances, their whispers buzzing.
Chloe’s pulse thundered in her ears. “Run it again,” she snapped. “You must have done something wrong.”
The card was swiped again. Same result.
Declined.
Chloe snatched it back, her chest heaving. With shaky fingers, she dialed Ares, pressing the phone to her ear as silence fell around her.
He picked up on the second ring.
“Ares,” Chloe hissed, forcing a sweet tone. “There’s a problem with the card. The bank must have made a mistake. They’re embarrassing me here…”
“No mistake.” Ares’ voice was flat, cold. “I cut off your privileges.”
The words crashed over her like ice water. “What?”
“You neglected my children. One of them almost died because of you. You don’t get to shop, Chloe. You don’t get to play rich wife while my daughter lies in a hospital bed. Not anymore.”
“Ares!” Chloe’s voice cracked, desperation leaking through. “You can’t do this to me. People are watching…”
“Good.” His tone sharpened, steel in every syllable. “Let them watch. Maybe then you’ll understand what humiliation feels like.”
The line went dead.
Chloe lowered the phone slowly, her hand trembling. The eyes of the entire boutique were on her now. Heat crawled up her neck, into her face. She tried to summon a laugh, a careless shrug, but her lips wouldn’t obey.
And then like a dagger, the sound of Ayisha’s voice sliced through the silence.
“Aww, poor Chloe. Can’t even pay for her little shopping spree?”
The store erupted in muffled chuckles.
Tessa stepped forward, her eyes locked on Chloe’s. Her voice was quiet, but it carried. “Allow me.”
She handed her card to the cashier without breaking eye contact. “Put everything on this. Every last item.”
Chloe’s eyes widened in horror. “You wouldn’t dare…”
“Oh, I dare,” Ayisha cut in gleefully, watching as the cashier swiped Tessa’s card. This time, the machine beeped approval. The mountain of luxury goods was instantly bagged and tagged, ready for delivery.
Tessa smiled faintly, her tone polite, almost mocking. “Thank you. Please have them delivered to my address.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the cashier stammered, bowing quickly.
Chloe’s mouth fell open. “That’s mine! Those are my things! I chose them…”
Ayisha laughed so hard she doubled over. “Correction: you touched them. But since you can’t afford them anymore, they’re ours now. Congratulations, Chloe, you just window shopped for us.”
Chloe’s face burned crimson, her nails digging into her palms. “You thieves…”
“No,” Tessa interrupted calmly, her gaze sharp as glass. “Not thieves. Just women who pay their way. Something you clearly can’t do without Ares’ leash.”
The boutique rang with whispers, muffled laughter, the quiet click of phones recording the entire scene. Chloe’s humiliation was complete.
Tessa and Ayisha turned gracefully, their shopping bags in tow, leaving Chloe rooted to the spot like a crumbling statue.

Outside, Ayisha could hardly contain herself. She clutched Tessa’s arm, laughing until tears sparkled in her eyes. “Tessa, I swear you just snatched her wig, her purse, her lousy mouth…everything! Did you see her face? I thought she was going to faint right there.”
Tessa exhaled slowly, her heart still pounding, but her lips curved into a small smile. “She needed to see what it feels like. She’s not untouchable anymore.”
Ayisha squeezed her arm proudly. “Girl, you’re a whole different person. That new fire? I love it. This war is ours now.”
Tessa’s gaze shifted toward the boutique doors, where Chloe still stood in shock, clutching her empty purse. Her voice hardened. “This is just the beginning. She tried to destroy me through my children. I won’t stop until she understands what that costs.”
Ayisha nodded fiercely. “Then let’s finish her.”
Together, the two women walked into the sunlight, their shadows stretching long behind them.
Back inside the boutique, Chloe finally sank into a chair, her hands shaking, her face pale beneath layers of makeup. For the first time, she felt it—real fear.