Chapter 16
Chapter 16:
Every stitch, every curve of the fabric, carried a memory of her parents’ care and pride. It wasn’t just clothing; it was a piece of her story, something she had cherished deeply.
Yelena stared at the spreading blotches, her fingers brushing the fabric as if to convince herself it wasn’t ruined.
That coat wasn’t just a fashion statement—it was a piece of her. A symbol of her parents’ love and a tangible result of her creative vision.
A large brown stain now spread across the once-pristine trench coat, its elegance now tarnished. Yelena stared at the mark, her expression unreadable, while Sonya stood a step back, her lips curling into a triumphant smirk.
“Oh no, Yelena!” Sonya gasped theatrically, pressing a hand to her chest. “I’m so sorry. Such a terrible accident p>
Rummaging through her purse with exaggerated urgency, Sonya pulled out a crumpled bill. She flicked it dismissively toward Yelena, the money fluttering to the floor like discarded trash.
“Here,” Sonya said, her tone laced with mock generosity. “Buy yourself a new coat—if that’s even possible where you shop. Maybe there’ll be enough left over for a latte at Starbucks p>
Yelena’s gaze lingered briefly on the fallen bill before returning to Sonya, calm and steady.
“Yelena, pride won’t feed you, you know. Back in your little village, that must be a small fortune. Pick it up before someone else does p>
Her sneer widened, but it faltered as Yelena remained unmoved, not even a flicker of indignation crossing her face. Then, without a word, Yelena reached out, her fingers curling around Sonya’s half-empty coffee cup.
Sonya’s smugness dissolved into stunned disbelief as the coffee splashed across her face.
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The dark liquid smeared her foundation, streaked her mascara, and unmoored her false eyelashes, leaving her face a chaotic canvas of misplaced vanity.
“You p>
Sonya sputtered, her voice high and shrill, anger and embarrassment warring in her expression. She glared at Yelena, her fists trembling as though she might launch herself forward.
At that precise moment, Tatiana returned, a small stack of fabric samples in her hands, only to freeze in the doorway, her eyes darting between Sonya and Yelena.
Tatiana stormed across the room, her composure unraveling with each step. Her voice cracked like a whip. “Yelena, you ungrateful wretch! Have you completely lost your mind p>
Her fury radiated as she stood before Yelena, bristling at the insult to her daughter. She dropped her voice into a trembling, wounded tone. “Mom, I only tried to make amends. It was an accident—I offered her money, but she… she wouldn’t let it go p>
Tatiana’s gaze darkened further as she turned her attention back to Yelena. She reached into her purse with dramatic flair, pulling out a crisp stack of bills. “Now that we have nothing to do with each other anymore, you can’t squeeze money out of us! Here! Take this and leave. But hear me well—if you cause even the slightest trouble again, I’ll have the police on you faster than you can blink p>
Yelena didn’t flinch. “That’s not enough,” she said, her voice as cold and unyielding as steel.
Tatiana’s hand trembled with fury. Not enough? How dare she demand more!