Chapter 114
"Elara." Cynthia snapped quietly, "Mind your manners."
After stopping Elara's misconduct, Cynthia turned around and glanced at the store manager with a half-smile: "You must be new here, am I right?"
The store manager was indeed new—the previous manager that Cynthia knew had been transferred back to headquarters three months ago.
The new manager thought about it and decided to play it safe: "Ma'am, please wait a moment. I'll go check the VIP list right away."
As the store manager turned to leave, Elara couldn't help but give Cynthia a thumbs up: "Mom, you're amazing! You could tell at a glance that the manager is new."
"But so what if she's new? How dare she overlook the Forbes Family—I'm definitely going to teach her a lesson later."
Cynthia nodded in agreement: "We should definitely teach them a lesson and let them know the Forbes are not to be messed with."
While Cynthia and Elara were busy chatting quietly, the store manager had already hurried back: "Ma'am, I'm sorry, but the Forbes Family is indeed not on the list."
Elara, who had expected the manager to obediently bring the bag out after checking, was immediately furious: "Did you even check properly? How could the Forbes Family not be on it?"
Hearing "the Forbes Family," some customers who knew of them couldn't help but gasp: "It's actually the Forbes Family? They're one of the top families in River City!"
"In that case, maybe the manager really did make a mistake."
"Let's wait and see. After all, this is a major international brand with deep connections."
At that point, Cynthia also put on a stern face: "Why don't you go check again?"
But this time, the store manager's attitude was strict and her voice firm: "Ma'am, I checked very carefully. The Forbes Family is definitely not on the list."
Cynthia almost lost her temper on the spot, her chest tightening with rage.
But in the end, she managed to hold back: "The Forbes Family isn't on it? Then what about Charlotte?"
Before Cynthia could even finish speaking, the store manager's eyes lit up: "Ms. Spencer!"
In an instant, the manager rushed forward and bowed deeply: "Ms. Spencer, you're finally here."
Charlotte had made plans with the store to arrive at eleven that morning, she showed up at the entrance right on time, not a minute early or late.
As soon as she entered the store, all eyes were instantly drawn to her.
"Who is this woman? She's so beautiful—could she be a celebrity?"
"Very likely. Didn't you see the manager personally go to greet her?"
"The manager called her Ms. Spencer. Could she be the Charlotte they were just talking about? The questions rolled out endlessly."
Charlotte stole all the attention the moment she showed up, and Elara, who had been enjoying being the center of attention, turned furious.
She lifted her chin, and strode to Charlotte, holding her head high: "Charlotte."
She expected Charlotte to come over cowering immediately she heard her voice, but to her surprise, Charlotte didn't even spare a glance at her and just kept talking to the store manager.
"Are you the store manager? I'm here to pick up a bag."
The store manager immediately led Charlotte to the VIP seating area: "Ms. Spencer, please rest for a moment. I'll bring the bag right away."
Elara could no longer accept how Charlotte had ignored her, she stomped her feet in anger and was about to rush forward to confront her:
"Charlotte, how dare you disrespect me? I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"
When Cynthia, who had been silent, stopped her: "Calm down. She's probably afraid we'll blame her for what happened at the kindergarten competition last time, so she doesn't dare come over."
"But didn't you see she's asking the manager to bring out a bag? Elara scoffed impatiently. "In that case, let's just sit back and wait."
After analyzing the situation, Cynthia didn't bother to confront Charlotte and just sat down on a nearby sofa in a poised manner.
But Elara wasn't happy: "Mom, why does she get to sit in the VIP area while we have to sit here?"
Cynthia gave her a scornful look: "Isn't sitting anywhere the same? The key is, in the end, she'll still have to do as we say."
Elara finally understood and she eased up a bit: "Mom, you're right."
The store manager was quick. In no time, she brought two large bags to Charlotte.
"Ms. Spencer, here are the bags you requested. Please take them."
Charlotte took a quick look, and after confirming everything was just the way she wanted it to be, she nodded politely to the manager: "Thank you."
The store manager then quietly whispered to Charlotte: "Ms. Spencer, those two ladies over there say they know you."
Following the manager's gaze, Charlotte finally noticed Cynthia and Elara.
But she immediately looked away. After all, Philip was still waiting for her at Jenna's store, and she had no time to waste on Cynthia's drama.
"Don't worry about them."
Charlotte picked up the bags and headed out.
Cynthia and Elara were sitting with their legs crossed, waiting for Charlotte to bring the bags over to please them, but instead Charlotte just walked out?
Elara stood up abruptly and rushed forward to block Charlotte's path: "Charlotte, are you blind? Didn't you see me and Mom sitting over there?"
Cynthia strutted to where Charlotte and Elara stood.
She rolled her eyes at Charlotte and reached out to grab the bags from her hands: "Just give me the bags directly, so you don't have to make another trip back."
Charlotte held the bags tightly, refusing to let go. After Cynthia pulled twice without success, she got angry: "Charlotte, what's wrong with you? Let go right now."
Elara chimed in from the sidelines: "Charlotte, Mom is willing to accept your things—that's an honor for you."
Looking at Cynthia and Elara's greedy faces, Charlotte let out a cold snort.
In the past, she would have obeyed without question and been eager to offer everything with both hands.
Unfortunately, she was no longer the weak Charlotte they knew.
Charlotte pulled hard, yanking the bags back while quickly stepping back to put enough distance between herself and Cynthia: "Mrs. Forbes, are you trying to rob me in public?"
The crowd immediately erupted.
The store manager rushed forward with the staff and stood in front of Charlotte: "Ms. Spencer, we're here. You don't need to be afraid."
The wealthy woman who had just paid a deposit clicked her tongue: "I thought they were such important people, but they're just trying to steal someone's bags."
"Exactly, so shameless."
"Dressed so elegantly, but this is what they're really like."
Cynthia had never been criticized and humiliated like this before. She was so angry she almost fainted on the spot: "You're all talking nonsense!"
She pointed at Charlotte with her whole body trembling: "She's my daughter-in-law! If she has nice things, shouldn't she give them to me first?"
Elara also started shouting: "Everyone listen to me! She really is my sister-in-law. Just because she had a little fight with my brother, she's taking it out on me and my mom!"
Then she pointed at the store manager and yelled: "You! Go check again—wasn't the address where you used to deliver bags to Charlotte 11 Cloud Peak Lane? That's my family's address."
"Every year, every season in the past, my mom and I would receive limited edition new bags delivered by your store."