Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Chapter 8
Third Person POV
Zelda hesitated. She looked around like she was checking if anyone could hear them. "She's just very different from us. She doesn't understand how things work in our world. Mom has been trying so hard to help her adjust, but Scarlett just doesn't appreciate anything we do for her."
"That's so ungrateful," Madison said. "Your mom took her back in after all those years. She should be thanking you guys every single day."
"I know," Zelda said. She sighed. "But instead she just causes problems. She refuses to wear the designer clothes I offer her. She won't accept my help with anything. She acts like she's too good for our family."
"Wait, where is she now?" Ashley asked. "Is she at home?"
Zelda's face changed. Just for a second, there was something cold in her eyes. But then it was gone. "Actually, Scarlett moved out. She's not living with us anymore."
"What? Why?"
"It's complicated," Zelda said. Her voice dropped lower. "She's been acting really wild lately. Going out at all hours. Coming home late. We didn't know where she was going or who she was seeing."
"Oh my God," Sophie whispered.
"And then last week we found out she's pregnant," Zelda continued. She looked down at the floor. Like she was embarrassed. "She won't tell us who the father is. She doesn't have a boyfriend. She just showed up one day and announced she was pregnant and then she left."
Madison's mouth fell open. "Are you serious?"
"I wish I wasn't," Zelda said. "Mom is heartbroken. Dad is furious. My brothers don't even want to talk about it. It's been horrible for the whole family."
The three girls stared at Zelda. They looked shocked.
"That's insane," Ashley finally said. "How can she be pregnant if she doesn't have a boyfriend? Do you think she was, like, hooking up with random guys or something?"
"I don't want to assume anything," Zelda said quickly. "But she's been very secretive about everything. And now she's moved out and we have no idea how she's supporting herself or where she's getting money from."
"Oh my God, look over there," Madison suddenly said. She grabbed Zelda's arm and pointed across the floor.
All four girls turned to look.
Scarlett was standing near the entrance to a boutique. She was looking at a dress on a mannequin. She wore simple jeans and a plain shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
"Is that her?" Sophie whispered.
"Oh my God, it is," Madison said. "What is she doing here? I thought you said she moved out. Does she have money now?"
Zelda's face went hard. The sweet expression disappeared. "I have no idea how she's affording to shop on the luxury floor."
"Wait, there's a guy with her," Ashley said. She squinted. "Do you see him? Near the window?"
They all looked.
A man in an expensive dark suit was standing a few feet away from Scarlett. They couldn't see his face clearly. He had his back turned to them. But they could see he was tall. Broad shoulders. The suit looked custom-made.
"Is that her boyfriend?" Sophie asked.
"No way," Madison said. She laughed. "Look at him. That's not a boyfriend. That's a sugar daddy."
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, use your brain," Madison said. "Look at the way she's dressed. Cheap clothes. No jewelry. Then look at him. That suit probably costs more than my car. And he's way older than her. I can tell just from how he stands. No college guy stands like that."
"You really think she's with some old guy for money?" Ashley asked. Her voice was disgusted.
"What else would it be?" Madison said. She crossed her arms. "You said yourself she has no money. No job. No boyfriend. But suddenly she's shopping on the luxury floor with some rich older man? Obviously he's paying for everything."
Zelda watched Scarlett across the floor. Her hands were clenched into fists. "I can't believe she would do something like this. This is so embarrassing for our family."
"Wait, look!" Sophie grabbed Madison's arm. "He's giving her something. Is that a credit card?"
They all leaned forward to see better.
Damon was pulling out his wallet. He took out a black credit card and handed it to Scarlett. They were too far away to hear what they were saying to each other. But they saw Scarlett take the card and put it in her pocket.
"Oh my God," Madison said. Her voice was flat. "That's disgusting. She really is some kind of kept woman."
"I'm going to be sick," Ashley said. "How desperate do you have to be to sleep with some old man for his credit card?"
"He's probably, like, forty years old," Sophie added. "Maybe older. That's so gross."
Zelda bit her lip. She looked upset. But her eyes were bright with something else. Something that looked like satisfaction. "I knew she was having problems but I didn't think it was this bad. How did she end up like this?"
"Because she's trash," Madison said simply. She looked at Zelda. "You grew up with good values. You have self-respect. But she grew up God knows where doing God knows what. This is probably normal for her."
The man in the suit pulled out his phone. He answered a call. They saw him say something to Scarlett. Then he turned and walked away. Toward the elevators on the other side of the floor.
Scarlett stood there alone. She looked at the dress on the mannequin for another moment. Then she walked into the boutique.
"She's by herself now," Madison said. She turned to look at Zelda. "You know what? I'm done listening to stories about how she treats you like garbage at home. I'm done hearing about how she makes your mom cry. This time we caught her in the act."
"What do you mean?" Zelda asked. Her voice was quiet.
"We should go over there," Madison said. "We should confront her. Ask her what the hell she thinks she's doing. See if she can come up with some excuse for why she's here with some random old man who just gave her his credit card."
"I don't know," Zelda said. She looked uncertain. "If we make a scene, it might be embarrassing for her."
"Good," Madison said. "She should be embarrassed. Young women who sell themselves for designer handbags should be embarrassed."
"Madison's right," Ashley said. She looked angry now. "This is disgusting. She's literally prostituting herself. And she's your sister. Don't you think someone should tell her this is wrong?"
"I mean, if she's already pregnant, maybe the damage is done," Sophie said. She made a face. "God, I wonder if that guy is the father. How desperate do you have to be to pay for sex with someone who's already knocked up?"
Zelda put her hand over her mouth. "Please don't talk about her like that. She's still my sister."
"She's the one who chose to act like this," Madison said. "We're just calling it what it is. Come on. Let's go talk to her."
"I don't want to start a fight," Zelda said. She looked worried. "What if she gets upset?"
"Then she gets upset," Madison said. She started walking toward the boutique. "I don't care. Someone needs to tell her the truth. She can't just embarrass your family like this and think no one will say anything."
Ashley and Sophie followed Madison. Zelda hesitated for just a moment. Then she walked after them. Her face looked concerned. But anyone watching closely would have seen the small smile at the corner of her mouth.
They crossed the floor. Heading straight for the boutique where Scarlett had just gone inside.