Chapter 6 Connecting with Violet

Violet gave a quick summary of the incident over the phone. Keep playing your little game. She wasn't in a rush. She'd just sit back and watch it all fall apart—then she'd be the one laughing. As Jade Cooper and Claire Snow were thinking exactly that, Violet ended the call and turned to the sales associate. "Go grab your phone. You're about to get a call." The sales associate twitched her lips in disbelief. As if the phone would magically ring just because this girl said so? Was the boss really taking orders from her? "I dare you to make a bet," Jade sneered at Violet. "If she doesn't get a call in the next minute, you slap yourself twice. How's that sound?" Violet despised entitled heiresses like Jade the most. "And if you lose, you do the same." "Fine. Deal." Jade tilted her chin up, radiating confidence. Claire tugged at Jade's sleeve. "Jade, betting with her—what if she backs out when she loses?" "Simple. If she won't slap herself, I'll do it for her." Jade raised her voice deliberately, ensuring Violet could hear every word. The moment Jade finished speaking, the sales associate's phone rang. No way. Could it really be that timely? Jade stared, wide-eyed, as the sales associate answered. She assumed it was just a friend calling—nothing to do with the earlier drama. "Hello? Manager, what's up?" The sales associate took the call, stealing glances at Violet. When Jade heard "manager," her heart dropped like a stone. "You've got some nerve! Daring to offend the boss's friend! You want to quit? Then get out—don't drag me down! Do you even know who you've messed with? You—" The manager's voice roared through the phone. The sales associate nearly jumped out of her skin. After hanging up, she bowed deeply to Violet. "You're Miss Leach, right?" "Yes." Violet replied coolly. "Miss Leach, the manager just called. The boss said you can take anything from the store—free of charge." What the hell? Jade and Claire's eyes bulged. They stared at Violet in stunned disbelief. This girl in thrift-store clothes—did she actually know the owner of LANG5? Free clothes? This level of treatment was insane. "I get it now!" Jade studied Violet's flawless, ethereal beauty and wore a knowing smirk. "You must've slept with the store manager. He's in on it, and the salesperson's just acting. Pathetic! A woman with zero self-respect." Violet's phoenix-like eyes turned icy. "Say I slept with the manager? Did you see it?" "Pfft! Isn't it obvious? Why else would the salesperson play along?" Jade insisted it was a setup. Violet got it now—no matter what, in Jade's mind, she was guilty. "Believe what you want. But aren't you supposed to slap yourself now?" "Are you out of your mind? Like I'd listen to some mistress seducing a married man? Claire, let's go. Don't waste time on trash." Jade grabbed Claire and turned to leave. Leave? Violet shot forward, seized Jade, and delivered two sharp, stinging slaps. "You—hit me?!" Jade glared, eyes blazing. She raised her long nails and lunged at Violet's face, aiming to scratch and ruin that infuriatingly perfect skin. That was the plan—until Violet suddenly sidestepped with surprising agility. Jade hadn't expected such speed. Off balance, she crashed forward, face-planting onto the cold tile floor. Her nose hit hard, blood gushing instantly. Her hair tumbled loose, and she lay there—utterly humiliated. "You—just wait! You're dead!" Jade wailed, covering her face as she scrambled out of the store, already dialing. "Dad! I've been attacked! " "What?! Who dares lay a hand on my daughter? They're finished!" A thunderous roar answered. "I'm at MixC! Dad, hurry!" By the time Jade's father arrived, Violet was long gone. "Don't worry, Jade. Dad will find her and slap her a hundred times till you're satisfied!" "Thank you, Dad!" Scene shift. The moment Wesley stepped into the villa, his eyes instinctively drifted to Violet's room upstairs. Oscar wheeled in. "Bro, you're back. Perfect—dinner time, and I'm starving." Wesley shrugged off his suit jacket and hung it up, then told the maid, "Call Violet down to eat." "She's out." Oscar replied. "Out? When?" Wesley turned. "Right after you left this morning." Wesley's brow furrowed. "Still not back?" "Better if she never comes back!" Oscar muttered, then noticed Wesley staring at the door like a man waiting for his wife. "Bro, why so invested? Got hypnotized by her face?" "Do I strike you as that shallow?" Wesley's gaze shifted from the door to Oscar's legs. "If she doesn't come back, no one can heal your legs." "I doubt she can." Oscar scoffed—just as Violet walked in, humming a cheerful tune, arms loaded with shopping bags. Of course. She wouldn't leave—not when she wanted to cling to his brother. Seeing her, Wesley exhaled quietly, a flicker of relief in his chest. "Oh! Perfect timing—dinner's ready." Violet washed up quickly and headed straight to the table. "Hey! We agreed—separate lives. This is our family's meal. What gives you the right?" Oscar blocked her chopsticks. "Did you think I'd heal you for free?" Violet swatted his chopsticks away. Oscar blocked again. "Don't forget—you promised to heal me because my brother traded a marriage certificate. Has nothing to do with meals." Wesley cut in. "Let her eat. We're not short one pair of chopsticks." Oscar fumed, but said nothing. Violet set down her chopsticks, opened her bag, pulled out her phone, and looked at Wesley. "Add me on WeChat." Wesley felt an unexpected warmth in his chest. "Hey! Still playing innocent? Tail's already out!" Oscar sneered, then turned to Wesley. "Bro, don't add her. She's got an agenda. From the start—" Before he could finish, Wesley had already pulled out his phone. "Beep—" Scan complete. "This is my personal WeChat. Don't message unless it's important." Wesley's words stunned Oscar. Wesley only added family and closest friends to this account—no one else. Yet now, he was letting Violet in… If not for his own words, Oscar would've thought his brother had been bewitched. "Don't worry. I won't message unless necessary." Violet tapped her phone. Three seconds later, just as Wesley set his phone down, a notification popped up—Violet had transferred money. "For the meal." Violet said.