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Reborn for revenge-my husband is mine - Chapter 14


Chapter 14

I'm Richard Lancaster, CEO of Lancaster Industries

The sudden sound of a stranger calling her name made Sigourney uncomfortable. She frowned, replying with a question.
"Who are you? Do we know each other?"
Richard looked at her, his tone patient as he explained.
"We don't, not really. But we've met before. I'm Richard Lancaster, CEO of Lancaster Industries."
He introduced himself, but Sigourney merely nodded, indifferent. Her eyes narrowed as she regarded him.
"If we're strangers, there's no need for a lengthy introduction."
"As for the collision, I'll cover all the repair costs. You don't need to worry about a thing," she said.
"Just be more careful behind the wheel next time."
With a casual shrug, Sigourney turned back to her car and drove off without another word.
What she didn't know-
was that even after her car had disappeared down the road,
Richard was still watching.
The corners of his mouth curled into a familiar, sardonic smile.
"How amusing. The foolish Sigourney from before seems to have grown sharper."
...
A few days later,
It was clear that Mark intended to ignore the swirling rumors about Savannah's misconduct, but the public was not so easily appeased.
The gossip continued to spread like wildfire across the media, shaking public confidence in the corporation.
After all, with a family so riddled with chaos and deceit,
how could any of their projects be deemed trustworthy?
And the answer
was a resounding no.
The corporation's stock price had been plummeting for an entire week, leaving Mark, its beleaguered CEO, increasingly overwhelmed and exhausted.
Several key projects under negotiation were suddenly put on indefinite hold, as partners grew wary, understandably unsettled by the swirling rumors.
So, on a sweltering morning, with the sun beating down mercilessly and the weather far from pleasant, Sigourney was summoned to Mark's office in the middle of her work.
"Is it that urgent? I'm really busy," she said with a shrug to Mark's secretary.
The woman's face clearly reflected her shock. She shook her head, almost apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Director. But I truly don't know what the CEO wants to discuss with you."
"He just said... it's important."
She looked at Sigourney with a hint of desperation.
"Could you spare a few minutes to meet with him, please?"
Sigourney nodded. She had no desire to make things harder for the secretary.
Besides, from the look on her face and the current climate, Sigourney could already guess what Mark wanted to talk about.
"You've seen how the rumors are affecting the corporation, haven't you?"
"Why haven't you proposed any solutions yet?"
"Usually, in a PR crisis like this, you're the one who comes up with something fast."
The moment she stepped into the office, Mark slammed his hand on the desk, his voice sharp and commanding as he barked out a question.
His face was stern, his posture radiating authority.
But to Sigourney, the whole display was nothing short of amusing.
Savannah caused this mess, and now she was supposed to clean it up?
Did they really think she was that stupid?
Not to mention-Mark seriously knows that most of the company's past PR crises had been handled by her.
She'd given so much of herself to this place. If they valued her so much, why hadn't they promoted her already?
All bark, no action. That's what he was.
Sigourney cursed him silently in her head, but her face remained calm and composed, even gentle.
"You know perfectly well that what Savannah did was wrong. And besides, the evidence of her trying to seduce Theodore is already all over the internet. What exactly do you expect me to 'fix'?"
She met Mark's gaze head-on, the corners of her lips curving into a cold, knowing smile.
"This crisis was caused by Savannah, and she should be the one making a public statement and finding a way to repair the damage."
"Why are you pushing this onto me?"
Her words landed like a blow. Mark's expression faltered, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face.
He clearly hadn't expected Sigourney to turn the tables on him like that.
"Sigourney, after all, Savannah is your sister. Is there really a need to make things so difficult for her? We're all family-must everything be so black and white?"
Mark attempted to wield the familiar weapon of familial affection to manipulate her, but Sigourney merely let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"Half-sister, Dad. And let's not forget-she's the daughter of your second wife, not the woman who gave birth to me. So tell me, how exactly am I supposed to clean up the mess she made?"
The more she spoke, the more the fire in her chest flared. She was done playing nice. Her voice sharpened as she pressed on:
"And more than that, she tried to seduce my husband, Dad. She stooped that low. The fact that I haven't retaliated or destroyed her reputation yet is already more mercy than she deserves."
"You expect me to deal with the consequences of her vile behavior?"
Her tone rose, fierce and unyielding.
Mark, visibly drained, rubbed his temples in exasperation. "Fine. What is it that you want?"
He had no energy left for arguments-he just needed to resolve the fallout.
Sigourney met his gaze, her voice calm but firm, each word weighted like a gavel strike.
"Strip Savannah of all rights within the Nichols family. Every privilege she currently holds-gone."
"And tell the public she has been duly punished. From this day forward, the Nichols family has no ties to Savannah."
She declared her terms with unwavering clarity. Mark's face turned ashen.
Of course, he had considered this possibility before-but he'd always pushed it aside, unwilling to strip Savannah of any privilege.
But Sigourney wasn't about to give him that option.
She shrugged, eyes indifferent as they rested on Mark.
"I'm not clever, so that's the only solution I could come up with. If you're smarter, figure out a better one."
Her words dripped with quiet threat.
"But think carefully, Dad. You can choose the corporation... or Savannah. Not both."
She folded her arms, watching the torment flicker across his face.
Truth be told, she felt no triumph. Only bitter amusement.
Her own father, as nothing more than a disgusting, contemptible coward.
So hopelessly biased in favor of his second wife and her daughter... it was almost laughable.
"Alright."
"Then so be it."
It was hard to tell how long it took before Mark finally spoke.
His voice was low, strained-this was clearly a painful decision. His face had gone pale, and a heavy reluctance hung in his expression. He sighed repeatedly, massaging his temples exhaustedly.
Sigourney simply nodded.
"Good. Then I'll go take care of the rest, Dad."
She turned on her heel, ready to leave. But just as her hand touched the door, a thought struck her.
She paused, turned back, and offered a seemingly kind reminder.
"Oh, one more thing-I figured I should let you know."
"If Savannah's been stripped of her status, then make sure she stays far away from the Nichols estate. I don't want her bothering my mother anymore."
"And stop funding her as well. Otherwise, if word gets out... the company may suffer yet another blow."
Her tone was composed, almost gentle-but each word landed like a stone, draining the color from Mark's face even further.
But she didn't care. 
She had said what needed to be said.
And with that, Sigourney turned and walked out of his office without so much as a backward glance.
The moment she stepped out of the room, the corner of Sigourney’s lips curled into a triumphant smile.
Savannah’s days of ease and indulgence—
They were over.










Chapter 15:

At least, now they're pretending to love each other

On a beautiful sunny day, Theodore brought Sigourney back to the Wang estate to visit his grandfather-the man who had been the most eager to push for their marriage.
The two had reached an agreement beforehand, so Sigourney's demeanor could be considered rather agreeable.
She even took the initiative to link her arm with Theodore's, offering a gentle smile and greeting the maids warmly, leaving them visibly stunned.
Even the usually composed butler, Mr. Park, was so surprised he stammered,
"Master Theodore, Miss Nichols... Master Tom is waiting for you in the garden."
Sigourney gave a soft smile instead of thanks and followed Park's lead.
When she caught sight of the kind, a familiar figure seated in the garden, sipping tea under the sun, her steps quickened.
Together with Theodore, she walked up to Tom and offered a graceful smile.
"Good morning, Grandfather. You still look as healthy and spirited as the last time we met," she said sincerely, her tone soft and genuine.
Tom was clearly pleased. He invited them to sit and personally poured tea for Sigourney first.
"It's been a while," he remarked, amused. 
"I heard the news about Savannah being stripped of her place in the Nichols family. Was that your doing?"
Tom knew full well what Sigourney was capable of-there was no need to beat around the bush.
Seated, Sigourney subtly leaned closer to Theodore, resting against his shoulder as she smiled even more sweetly.
"What else could it be, really? Of course, it was me,"
Sigourney replied with a sweet smile.
"But I did it with Theodore's help. He supported me a great deal-I'm truly grateful."
She leaned even closer to Theodore, their posture almost intimate, as though they were deeply in love. Tom noticed the gesture, and a look of satisfaction spread across his kind features.
"Seems like the relationship between you and Theodore has improved quite a bit, hasn't it?"
It certainly had-far more than before.
In the past, whenever they visited Tom, Sigourney and Theodore would sit at opposite ends of the room, their gazes colder than those of strangers.
Most of the conversation had been between Sigourney and Tom, while Theodore always found some excuse to slip away.
Thinking back to those foolish days, Sigourney let out a sheepish chuckle.
"We're better now. Back then, I was just being stupid-thinking a marriage of convenience was nothing more than a prison, and that I had to chase after real love."
She tilted her head and gazed at Theodore, fluttering her lashes with practiced affection.
"But now I've come to realize-Theodore is real love. He's the one I've been searching for all along-my destined soulmate."
She said it with a smile, the words so ridiculously romantic that she shivered slightly from embarrassment.
But Tom was absolutely delighted, beaming at the declaration and repeatedly saying how wonderful it was.
He chatted with Sigourney for a while longer before finally sending the two of them off to rest in their room.
"Master, it seems Miss Nichols and the young master have grown quite close lately. You can finally be at ease,"
Butler Park said cheerfully as the couple walked away.
Tom merely shook his head with a knowing smile.
"It's all an act. They're just trying to fool me."
Park blinked in surprise.
"That can't be... I saw how affectionate they were with each other-"
he added uncertainly, but Tom just chuckled again.
"I am still Theodore's grandfather, and I've watched Sigourney grow up. I know their personalities better than anyone."
He pressed his lips together thoughtfully.
"But it's still progress. At least now they're pretending to love each other."
"There was a time when Sigourney didn't even bother to hide her hostility toward Theodore."
Park seemed on the verge of voicing more doubts, but Tom waved him off gently.
"What we need to do... is give them a little push-something to stir the waters,
to help them fall in love for real."
"Whether that happens or not... well, that depends on how capable my grandson truly is."
In the afternoon, Tom remained in unusually high spirits, even playing a round of chess with Theodore while casually chatting with Sigourney.
Seeing this rare moment of cheer, the couple decided to spend the night at the estate.
When they announced their decision, a brief flicker of light passed through Tom's eyes, though it quickly faded back into his usual calm expression.
That evening, during dinner, as everyone was enjoying the meal, Aunt Lucy-the housemaid-approached with a steaming bowl of chicken soup and gently placed it in front of Theodore.
"Young Master, this is chicken broth Master Tom asked me to specially prepare for you. It's very nourishing."
Theodore paused mid-meal, lifting his gaze to Tom.
Tom met his eyes and nodded.
"That's right. You've been working hard-eat something nutritious to restore your strength."
"You'll need your health to manage the company properly."
Theodore glanced down at the bowl without much interest and politely declined.
"But Grandfather, I'm already full. And really, I'm in good health-I don't need all this tonic food."
He turned toward Sigourney beside him.
"Let Sigourney have it instead."
At that moment, Aunt Lucy appeared again, carrying a second bowl of chicken soup, which she placed in front of Sigourney. Her tone softened kindly as she explained:
"This one is specially prepared for Miss Nichols. It has red dates and goji berries added-particularly good for a young lady's health."
Tom gave an approving nod.
"As Lucy just said, you have your own soup. Sigourney's portion was made separately-with extra ingredients for her well-being. So go on, finish yours."
"I don't really like chicken soup, so I'll pass. You two go ahead and enjoy it-no need to worry about me,"
Tom said with a gentle wave of his hand.
Since he'd spoken, Theodore didn't protest any further. He obediently finished the bowl of chicken soup placed before him.
Sigourney followed suit-eating while complimenting the flavor, even praising Tom for his thoughtfulness.
Seeing Theodore's bowl slowly empty, the faint smile at the corner of Tom's lips grew a little deeper.
After dinner,
The three of them moved to the living room to chat,
nibbled on some fresh fruit, then eventually returned to their rooms to rest.
Tom, being of advanced age, needed to retire early-so Sigourney and Theodore also turned in not long after.
Naturally, they had to share a room.
Otherwise, wouldn't the façade they had worked so hard to maintain unravel in an instant?
Once inside, Theodore was the first to speak, his tone polite and composed.
"Don't worry. Even though we're sharing a room, I'll keep my distance. I won't do anything inappropriate or make you uncomfortable."
"You can relax-do whatever you need to. There's no need to be uneasy around me."
His reassurance seemed genuine, and Sigourney nodded in agreement.
At the very least, she still trusted Theodore's character.
With that, Theodore let Sigourney take the shower first, while he sat on the bed with a book in hand.
It should have been a perfectly normal evening-
and yet, for some inexplicable reason, Theodore felt his body heating up unusually.
He subtly lowered the air conditioner's temperature, then unfastened an extra button on his shirt, trying to cool down and get more comfortable.
By the time Sigourney stepped out of the shower, Theodore seemed even more out of it than before. His shirt was partially unbuttoned, and there was a faint flush on his face.
"Are you okay? Do you have a fever?"
Sigourney asked in surprise, towel-drying her hair as she approached him. She squinted slightly, concern creeping into her gaze.
There was something… off about him.
Theodore, on the other hand, was staring at her—eyes fixed, almost entranced. As she drew closer, the delicate, sweet scent of rose from her shower gel drifted into the air. The subtle fragrance made his head spin.
Her delicate features, that soft porcelain skin, and the elegant curve of her collarbone peeking through the silky nightwear only served to accentuate her allure.
Just a little higher—those lips.
A natural pink, untouched by makeup, yet still vibrant and full. They looked impossibly soft, would feel... incredibly comforting to kiss.
That thought startled him. Theodore quickly averted his gaze, licking his lips, waving his hand and shaking his head in flustered denial.
"I'm fine, don’t worry. Maybe just a bit warm, that's all."
He staggered slightly as he stood, fighting to push away thoughts of how soft her lips might feel. Grabbing a random set of clothes, he turned to her, forcing out a casual tone.
"I'm going to take a shower. The hairdryer’s in the small cabinet under the bookshelf if you want to use it."
And with that, he hurried into the bathroom like a man running from danger.
“...”
Sigourney stood frozen, watching him disappear, too baffled to even react.
Is She that scary?








Chapter 16: Was she teasing him on purpose?

By the time Theodore finished his shower,
his condition hadn't improved one bit.
His vision was slightly blurred, and an unbearable heat simmered beneath his skin, intensifying with each passing second.
He kept swallowing-dry, tight gulps-
and couldn't stop thinking about Sigourney.
Her eyes. Her smile. That unwavering confidence.
And above all, the soft tenderness in her gestures today, the warmth in her expressions.
Of course, Theodore knew something was wrong.
Very wrong.
So he bit his lower lip, forcing himself to stay composed as he stepped out of the bathroom.
"Are you really okay, Theodore? Should I call your private doctor?"
Sigourney looked up at him, clearly confused.
From her point of view, something was definitely off.
Theodore's face was flushed an alarming shade of red, his lips pressed together tightly, his entire posture stiff and tense.
Without waiting for a response, Sigourney stepped closer and leaned in, pressing the back of her hand to his forehead.
Warm-far too warm.
"You have a fever, Theodore. Your forehead is burning up."
"I'm going to call the doctor. Just give me a second, it won't take long."
The heat radiating from his skin sent a wave of panic through her voice.
She turned abruptly, ready to rush off-
And that's when Theodore finally reacted to everything she'd done.
Reaching out, he caught her wrist.
"I'm fine. There's no need for a doctor."
"Just... let me rest for a bit. That's all I need."
Theodore, of course, understood his own condition better than anyone.
He knew exactly what this reaction meant.
And more than that-he had a very good idea of who was behind this little scheme.
Still, he didn't want to stir up unnecessary trouble.
He reassured Sigourney, speaking with quiet certainty.
But Sigourney, clearly unconvinced, kept reaching out-first pressing her hand to his forehead again, then to the side of his neck, growing more anxious with each second as the heat radiated from his skin.
The concern in her touch, only made Theodore's mouth feel drier, his discomfort sharper.
He pressed his lips together tightly, trying to restrain the sudden urge to pull her into his arms, to hold her close.
He told himself to stay calm, to ask her-gently-not to make a fuss.
He was fine.
Or at least, he needed to be.
But Sigourney wouldn't stop.
Her hand slid along the curve of his neck now, soft and careful-
and it was the last straw.
So close, so tender-was she teasing him on purpose?
Unable to hold back any longer, Theodore gave in to the rising heat and instinctively leaned in, wrapping Sigourney tightly in his arms.
The space between them vanished until they could feel each other's heartbeats pounding through thin layers of clothing.
His body was hot-almost burning-and pressed so close it took Sigourney completely off guard.
She stood frozen, too startled to react.
She had never seen Theodore like this.
He rested his forehead against her cheek, nuzzling lightly, almost like he was seeking comfort.
One arm slipped behind her, hand brushing gently over the back of her neck-
and with the faintest tug,
he drew her even closer.
The familiar scent of mint lingered in the air, blending subtly with Theodore's masculine breath.
Sigourney stammered.
"Theodore, I..."
She placed her hand against Theodore's chest, calling out to him in a dazed voice. Startled by the unexpected intimacy, she trembled slightly and instinctively leaned away, turning her face to the side to avoid his touch.
Her voice, soft and almost pleading, stirred something deeper within Theodore.
He stared intently at Sigourney's plump, delicate lips-his Adam's apple bobbing as desire surged through him.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't hold back."
Theodore stepped back, trying to put some distance between them. He steadied his breathing, doing his best to restrain himself, forcing his thoughts away from Sigourney's gentle expression to regain his composure.
Then, to Sigourney's surprise, Theodore hastily turned to the wardrobe, grabbed some clothes, and hurried into the bathroom.
"I-I'll go take another shower. You should sleep first, don't wait for me."
Theodore almost fled into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him with a firm click.
He turned on the cold water, hoping to cool his thoughts and bring himself back to reason.
"..."
Sigourney stared at the door through which Theodore had disappeared, unsure of how to feel.
Of course, she wasn't yet close enough to Theodore to be fully comfortable with such physical intimacy, yet there was a flicker of disappointment at how abruptly he had withdrawn.
More than that, she was concerned about his current state.
After all, Theodore had always been the cold, calm, and upright type.
This was the first time he had shown such intense emotion-losing control like that.
"..."
Sigourney shook her head, trying to dispel the confusion swirling in her mind. She forced herself to calm down and climbed into bed.
Still, her heart couldn't settle as if nothing had happened.
Sleep didn't come easily, not in this room-Theodore's room-where his scent still lingered faintly around her, stirring something inside.
After a long while, Theodore still hadn't returned.
Only the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, making Sigourney increasingly anxious.
Given Theodore's condition... and how long he'd been showering-
Could he have fainted in there?
The thought tightened her chest.
She waited a little longer, then got up, intending to knock on the bathroom door and check on him.
But just then-
The door swung open.
Theodore stepped out, hair dripping wet, his expression weary-tinged with fatigue.
The moment he glanced at Sigourney, he immediately understood what she had been about to do.
He sighed and offered her a few reassuring words.
"I'm okay."
"About earlier... I'm sorry for being so abrupt. I hope it didn't make you too uncomfortable or upset."
His face had regained some of its composure, the calm demeanor he usually carried settling back into place.
Sigourney simply nodded without saying a word.
An unspoken understanding passed between them, and both chose to keep the silence.
Theodore dried his hair, then climbed into bed.
Sigourney, obediently, turned to one side, giving him space to lie down beside her.
For a moment, it seemed like everything had returned to normal-
But it hadn't.
That night, neither of them slept.
Sigourney, unfamiliar with this space, uneasy about sharing a bed with Theodore for the first time, and still rattled by his earlier actions, lay with her back to him, tossing and turning, unable to close her eyes.
Theodore fared no better.
Under the lingering effects of the medication, he struggled to suppress his desire to be close to Sigourney, forcing himself to remain calm.
And so, that night passed-
With both of them wide awake.
...
The next morning—
just as expected—
both of them woke up with dark circles under their eyes, looking like a pair of pandas,
utterly exhausted and far from alert.
While coming down the stairs, Sigourney nearly slipped and fell—
fortunately, Theodore caught her just in time.
As they made their way downstairs,
they found Tom leisurely sipping tea in the living room, his posture relaxed, exuding calm.
“Awake already?” he asked casually.
“How was your sleep last night?”
“You both look terribly worn out.”
Tom tilted his head, his tone light and nonchalant.
Sigourney and Theodore exchanged a brief glance, then, with silent agreement, each mumbled an excuse before quickly making their way into the dining room to eat breakfast.
What they didn’t know was—
the moment they turned their backs,
Tom’s eyes narrowed into a gleam of amusement,
a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips.









Chapter 17: 

I might soon be holding my first grandchild
When butler Park brought in a pot of chrysanthemum tea for Tom, he couldn't help but ask upon seeing the satisfied look on the man's face.
"Something good happened, Master? You seem awfully cheerful this early in the morning."
Tom gave a mysterious glance toward the dining room, then gestured for Park to come closer. Once the butler leaned in, Tom spoke in a low voice, just enough for the two of them to hear.
"I have a feeling... quite unintentionally, I might soon be holding my first grandchild."
"Probably within a year, I'd say. Haha."
Tom laughed heartily, clearly pleased with himself, leaving Park somewhat confused.
Still, having worked in the Wang estate for many years, Park knew better than to pry or make wild assumptions.
He simply smiled and offered his congratulations, then carefully set the teapot down and poured a cup for Tom.
...
Even when they left the Wang estate,
Sigourney and Theodore remained wordlessly in sync-but in silence, not the warm harmony of the previous day.
As soon as they stepped out of the mansion, they became like strangers.
Throughout the entire car ride back, neither of them said a word.
Upon arriving at the Twilight estate,
despite it being the weekend, Theodore feigned busyness and promptly retreated into his study, shutting the door behind him as if he intended to stay there all day.
Feeling bored and restless,
Sigourney decided to call her friend Hilary to go shopping-to lighten her mood and regain her composure after the emotional chaos of the night before.
Hilary agreed enthusiastically, even saying she'd come pick Sigourney up right away.
Relieved, Sigourney hung up and headed upstairs to change.
She chose a cream-white short-sleeved dress, a new design from a well-known foreign brand.
She applied a light layer of makeup, carefully dabbing on extra concealer to hide the dark circles under her eyes.
Only then did she feel somewhat satisfied.
She cheerfully went downstairs-just in time for her phone to ring.
Hilary had arrived.
As soon as Sigourney stepped into the car, Hilary turned to her with a teasing grin.
"What's gotten into you today, inviting me out for shopping? I thought you'd be spending the weekend with your dear sister."
"You two used to be so close, didn't you?"
Hilary spoke up teasingly, her tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm.
She had never liked Savannah, always feeling that she was too fake. She had warned Sigourney countless times, but Sigourney never listened.
In fact, she often spent time with Savannah, listening to her ridiculous nonsense.
As a result, even though they were close friends, it had been a long time since the two of them had hung out together.
"Come on now, it was my own stupidity back then for not seeing through her,"
"I admit my mistake, and here-this is my apology gift..."
Sigourney brought out the gift she had prepared long ago but never had the chance to give Hilary, smiling sweetly, her voice gentle.
"If you like it, would you forgive me?"
Sigourney spoke sincerely, but Hilary merely pouted, keeping up her tough facade.
"I'm driving, so it's not convenient-open it for me."
"If I like it, maybe I'll forgive your foolishness from before."
Sigourney chuckled softly and carefully unwrapped the gift, which had been placed in a silk bag from a well-known luxury brand.
It was a diamond-studded bracelet from a famous international jewelry house-elegantly slender, adorned with small heart-shaped diamonds all around.
At the center of the bracelet sat a large pale pink heart-shaped diamond-sweet and sparkling.
Sigourney held it closer to Hilary so she could get a better look, then smiled with a flattering tone.
"So, do you like it?"
She explained:
"When I was on a trip to Country B, the moment I saw it, I thought it would suit you perfectly-so I bought it."
Hilary tilted her head slightly. Even with just a glance, she had clearly fallen in love with the bracelet. However, she maintained a cold expression.
"It's acceptable. I suppose your apology is sincere enough."
"I'll try it on later when we arrive."
Sigourney grinned, understanding perfectly well that Hilary's expression meant she liked it. Cheerfully responding with a yes, she carefully placed the bracelet back into its box and sat obediently in the passenger seat.
Once they arrived, Sigourney thoughtfully helped Hilary try on the bracelet. Its delicate design perfectly accentuated Hilary's fair skin and slender wrist-an impeccable match.
Not to mention, under the sunlight, the bracelet sparkled dazzlingly.
Hilary smiled with her eyes, unable to hold back her admiration any longer as she repeatedly praised how beautiful it was.
...
The two wandered through the shopping mall together, going on a shopping spree. Before long, they were both carrying armfuls of bags.
"Aren't you buying anything for your dear husband?"
"I heard things between you two have been going well lately?"
"Aren't you often seen attending events and evening galas together?"
Hilary glanced at the mountain of bags Sigourney was holding, tilting her head and winking teasingly.
Sigourney simply shook her head, saying that she and Theodore weren't actually that close-it was all for show in front of others. Then she pulled Hilary into a handbag boutique to browse.
At a glance, one particular handbag immediately caught Sigourney's eye.
It was a crystal crossbody bag, crafted from shimmering silver-toned crystals. Though simple in design, it exuded elegance-perfectly suited for the minimalist outfits Sigourney often wore.
"This is a crystal handbag from our latest collection and is available only in limited quantities..."
Hearing that from the sales assistant, Sigourney became even more enamored with it. Hilary also commented that the design suited Sigourney perfectly as if it had been made just for her.
Sigourney curved her lips into a smile, just say she would take it-
another female voice abruptly interrupted.
"This bag is so pretty-I want it."
The girl pointed directly at the handbag Sigourney had her eye on, then turned to the man beside her, speaking in an overly sweet, saccharine voice.
"Darling, I really love this bag. Buy it for me, please?"
She batted her lashes sweetly, and the man beside her chuckled as he gently ruffled her hair, readily agreeing.
"Alright. We’ll take it. How much is this?"
The two of them chatted casually, completely indifferent to their surroundings.
It wasn’t until that moment that the sales assistant finally processed what was happening. With a slightly apologetic look, she turned to the girl and spoke gently.
"I’m sorry, miss. This crystal bag is the last one we have in this store."
She gestured toward Sigourney.
"This lady here had already expressed her intention to purchase it, so I’m afraid I can’t sell it to you."
Her explanation was both polite and professional, and then she quickly followed up with a suggestion.
"But please don’t worry—we do have this design available in other colors such as white, red, and black."
"Or, if you really prefer the silver one, you could try one of our other locations. There’s a store nearby at..."
The sales assistant spoke smoothly and with a calm voice, but the girl merely scoffed and curled her lip in disdain.
"What the hell? I only want this one! Only this color!"
"And I only want to buy it from this store! I’m not free to go anywhere else!"
She snapped, raising her voice, then began ranting in a sharp, bitter tone.
"What kind of stupid store only has one of a bag like this, anyway? And FYI, I’m a VIP customer! Is this how you treat VIPs?"









Chapter 18: Who even is this?

She continued to spit out insults in all kinds of unpleasant language, leaving both Sigourney and Hilary stunned. The sales assistant's expression also became awkward and tense.
"I'm very sorry, miss, but that's our store policy."
"This customer arrived first and had already indicated she wanted the bag. Perhaps... perhaps you could try discussing it with her?"
The assistant, caught in the middle, offered the suggestion timidly.
It was only then that the girl bothered to glance at Sigourney. One look and she immediately sneered with open contempt.
"Ugh. Who even is this? Some shabby little nobody trying to fight me for a bag?"
She didn't hesitate to speak, even sizing up Sigourney's outfit with a mocking sneer.
"Wearing a dress from a luxury brand, huh? Think wearing expensive clothes will magically make you rich?"
"Who knows which billionaire's sugar baby you are? I bet you don't even have enough money to buy anything here."
At that moment, staying silent would've made Sigourney seem far too mild.
So, she simply glanced at the girl and let out a cold chuckle.
"Excuse me? Just because you're a sugar baby doesn't mean the rest of us have to stoop to your level."
"With that uncultured, ignorant mouth of yours-did your parents not send you to school because they were too poor back then?"
"And another thing-are you deaf, or just incapable of understanding words?"
Sigourney didn't hold back in the slightest.
"The staff already told you-I chose this bag first. You're the one trying to snatch it. So don't act so entitled, it makes you look like some bitter old hag."
Her tone was casual, just a few sharp words tossed out without effort-but they hit hard.
The girl's face turned from pale to red, trembling with rage. She pointed at Sigourney, lips quivering as she tried to curse back, but she was too furious to form any coherent words.
She turned toward the man beside her for help, but he merely looked at her coldly, indifferent. With a slight shrug, he made it clear-he wasn't about to get involved.
Sigourney let out a faint chuckle. The man's face looked familiar, but she didn't care enough to dwell on it. Instead, she turned to the girl and spoke calmly.
"I heard you have a VIP membership at this store?"
The girl, regaining her confidence, planted her hands on her hips and nodded firmly.
"That's right. So what?"
"Getting nervous now, are you? Of course, a VIP member's privileges are far superior to someone lowly and poor like you."
She curled her lips into a scornful smile, her voice sharp and shrill. Sigourney didn't bother replying. She simply tilted her head and addressed the staff member.
"Is there any membership level higher than VIP? What are the conditions?"
The employee, slightly confused, still responded politely and professionally.
"Yes, we have the VVIP tier. The condition is..."
After hearing the requirements, Sigourney smiled nonchalantly. She handed over her bank card and asked the staff to deposit the required amount to upgrade her to a VVIP member. Then, with a subtle tilt of her chin toward the girl, she remarked:
"See? My card is now VVIP. One rank above yours."
"So if you have any sense, get lost. Don't humiliate yourself any further."
Sigourney's calm yet cutting response even made Hilary-who had witnessed it all-secretly admire her composure and sharpness. Meanwhile, the girl was livid, stomping her feet in frustration as she yanked Richard by the arm and stormed out of the store.
What she didn't notice, however, was that just as they were about to leave, Richard glanced back at Sigourney, his eyes flashing with a hint of obsession.
"Richard? Do you hear me?"
Lost in his thoughts, Richard was jolted back to reality by the sharp voice beside him. He replied indifferently.
"What is it?"
The girl hadn't expected Richard's sudden coldness and hurriedly clung to his arm, softening her tone.
"Why are you being so distant? I just wanted to know why you didn't defend me back there."
"You don't understand-she was so rude..."
She kept complaining, repeatedly badmouthing Sigourney.
Suddenly, Richard found the girl unbearably dull and annoying. Her shrill voice grated on his nerves, giving him a headache and a rising sense of fatigue.
He stopped in his tracks, massaging his temples, and said coldly to her,
"Enough. Get lost."
His sudden cold words left the girl completely stunned. She blinked, taking a while to process what she had just heard, her face clouded with confusion.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Let me take you home so you can rest, okay?"
She stepped forward, trying to reach for Richard's arm to support him, but he casually brushed her off and stepped back. His eyes were filled with disdain as he looked at her.
"Are you deaf? Or do you just not understand what I said?"
"I said, get lost."
Richard repeated coldly, his eyes narrowing with visible exhaustion.
"Don't ever show your face in front of me again. If you do, don't blame me for not being polite."
His blunt words only left the girl more shocked. She instinctively stepped closer, trying to explain herself.
"What's wrong, darling? Did I do something to make you angry?"
"If you didn't like me badmouthing that woman just now, then I won't do it again."
"Didn't you say you wanted me to cosplay in that maid outfit? I even bought it already..."
She kept trying to reach for his hand, desperate to hold on, but Richard was utterly repulsed-so much so that his skin crawled.
His voice dropped dangerously, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Get out. You have three seconds."
The moment he began counting, the girl panicked and hurried away, still clueless about what had just happened.
But Richard knew exactly what was going on inside him.
He wanted to pursue Sigourney.
Even if she was Theodore's wife.
As for Sigourney-
After a full day of shopping, she and Hilary had dinner before heading home. She didn't expect to find Theodore sitting in the living room when she returned.
So surprised was she that she forgot to greet him.
"You're back?"
"Do you have a moment to talk with me? Just a little bit."
Theodore turned at the sound of movement. Seeing Sigourney's stunned expression, he spoke first.
Sigourney nodded, setting down her large and small shopping bags and asking Aunt Miller to take them upstairs for her. Then she sat down on the sofa.
"Tomorrow, my corporation will be hosting an evening banquet. It's a celebration of the company's successful half-year performance, as well as of the completed projects from earlier this year."
"Do you have time to attend with me?"
Theodore didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point, gently explaining the situation to Sigourney.
They had agreed to appear close in front of outsiders, so her presence at such a banquet was perfectly reasonable.
She nodded in agreement, asking about the timing and what kind of gown she should prepare.
Theodore responded slowly, then added,
"As for the gown, since you'll be appearing with me, it should be more formal than usual-something from a well-known domestic or international brand."
"If you're free tomorrow, I'll accompany you to choose a dress, then head to the makeup studio, and after that, we'll go together to the hotel where the banquet will be held."
Theodore explained in detail, and Sigourney nodded.
She figured-might as well let him handle everything as he wished.

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