Deanna suddenly understood something when she heard those words. She ignored Leticia and glanced at the surveillance camera above her head, then turned to the store clerk and said, "I want to check your surveillance footage."
If Leticia hadn't said what she did, Deanna might have thought she accidentally tore the dress while trying it on. But Leticia's words, combined with the fact that she handed her the dress, made it very suspicious.
As it turned out, Deanna's suspicions were correct. When Leticia heard that Deanna wanted to check the surveillance footage, she became nervous.
"What do you mean? Do you think I'm framing you?"
"We'll know after we check the footage," Deanna replied coldly. She then instructed the clerk, "Call your manager. I want to see the surveillance footage."
Leticia panicked and shouted at the clerk, "Don't you dare!"
The clerk was in a difficult position; she didn't want to offend Leticia, a big customer. Just as the three of them were at a standoff, Hassan, who had been silent all this time, spoke up, "Do as Miss Jones says."
Leticia exploded with anger. She glared at Hassan and scolded, "Hassan, whose side are you on? Are you really interested in this lowly woman?"
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, a crisp slap echoed through the room. Leticia clutched her slapped face in disbelief and glared at Deanna with eyes full of rage.
"You dare hit me?"
"Since the Walsh family can't teach Miss Walsh to respect others, I had to do it myself," Deanna said coldly.
Leticia was furious and lunged at Deanna, screaming, "You bitch, I'll never let this go!"
But before she could reach Deanna, Hassan blocked her.
"Leticia, have you had enough?" Hassan scolded with a stern face.
However, Leticia was consumed by anger and had lost her senses. She kicked and punched at Hassan, shouting, "Get out of my way, or I'll hit you too!"
Hassan was livid. If he didn't have a rule against hitting women, he would have slapped Leticia himself. Instead, he forcefully pushed her away and said darkly, "If you keep this up, I'll send you back home right now and have Uncle lock you up until you learn some manners."
Leticia finally calmed down upon hearing this. She glared at the two of them with hatred and spat out, "I won't let you get away with this!"
With that, she stormed out of the store. Deanna watched her disappear and frowned. She then looked at Hassan and hesitated, "Shouldn't you go after her?"
"No need," Hassan replied without hesitation. He then apologized to Deanna, "My cousin has been spoiled by my uncle and aunt. I hope Miss Jones doesn't take what happened to heart. When we get back, I'll make sure my uncle and aunt discipline her properly."
Deanna's expression remained indifferent. "It's fine. I slapped her back; we're even."
Though she said that, Leticia's actions had disgusted her. Hassan noticed her displeasure and tried to make amends.
"The dress was ruined by my cousin. Let me compensate for it. Miss Jones can pick another dress as a gift from me."
"No need," Deanna instinctively refused.
But Hassan insisted and had the clerk pick out a new outfit for her. With no other choice, Deanna thanked him and accepted.
Later, the two of them left the brand store. The earlier incident had dampened Deanna's mood for shopping, so she suggested they head back.
Hassan noticed this and didn't push further. On the way back, he tried to engage in conversation with the silent woman beside him.
"Why so quiet? What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing, just daydreaming," Deanna replied softly with a slight smile.
Hassan nodded and continued, "May I ask what Miss Jones likes to do in her free time?"
"Me?" Deanna repeated in surprise. After thinking for a few seconds, she shook her head with a laugh. "I don't seem to have any particular hobbies. When I have patients, I treat them. When I'm free, I check on my medicinal plants or research new prescriptions."
She paused and looked at Hassan with a gentle smile. "Mr. Hassan might find that quite boring."
"Well, it might be boring for me, but I can see that you love what you're doing. Otherwise, you wouldn't personally tend to your medicinal plants," Hassan replied thoughtfully.
His response surprised Deanna.