I fumbled around trying to comfort her, my mind filled with the words the shopkeeper and Theo had said.
Until a ringing phone interrupted my thoughts, when I answered, Theo’s voice was impatient.
“Why aren’t you at the hotel yet? Your parents are already there. How can you make the elders wait for the younger generation?”
“Stella’s stomach hurts, I can’t leave her. What’s wrong with you? Can’t you move any faster?”
“I also need sanitary pads, but the shopkeeper said everything in the store has been sold out. Theo, what a coincidence…”
My voice was so calm I didn’t recognize myself.
Before he could speak, Stella immediately said in a sweet voice, “How could this happen? Is my menstrual cycle the same as my sister-in-law’s? That’s such a coincidence…”
“I thought Adele’s was at the beginning of the month. This change is so sudden.”
The implied meaning in her words instantly enraged Theo.
“Adele, why are you so full of ulterior motives? Since Stella isn’t feeling well, you’re following her example? It’s not unusual for a store to sell out of everything. Can’t you just go to a few more stores? Is that a valid excuse?”
“Stop making excuses for yourself. If all else fails, can’t you just use toilet paper? Your parents and relatives are waiting for you. Can’t you be a little less arrogant?”
Before I could react, the call was hung up again.
Charles looked at me thoughtfully. I was about to ask him to drive to a restroom first. Luna started crying again.
Her diaper was no longer holding and the urgent priority was to take care of the child.
When we went to the nearest mall to buy diapers, the store clerk pointed to a figure in the distance and said that Charles had bought out the entire store’s supply.
He held a black card in his hand, casually instructing the store clerks to carry the diapers.
“Yes, we want this one too. Take it all and load it into my car.”
“Money isn’t an issue. The problem is making my boss happy.”
“Who is your boss?”
“Theo Baron, the president of Baron Group. Do you know him?”
“Mr. Baron just had a son. The cost of a few diapers is nothing. Just do as I say.”
I thought Theo had finally done something kind.
Before I could even celebrate, after revealing my identity, I was publicly humiliated by that shopkeeper.
“What Mrs. Baron? I don’t know her. Mr. Baron didn’t mention her. I only listen to Mr. Baron.”
“Where did you come from? You can’t even afford diapers and you’re pretending to be rich?”
His phone screen suddenly lit up. Someone had sent a message asking about the progress.
I glanced at the wallpaper and saw it was a photo of Stella. What else was there to understand?
“Name your price. How much are you willing to sell it for?”
The other person looked me up and down with disdain.
“Ten thousand per photo, cash only. Hand it over.”
I froze in shock.
Now I couldn’t even ask Charles for help.
Luna’s cries grew louder, attracting the mall security guards who were ready to escort us out.
As I was frantically trying to figure out what to do, my phone popped up with some messages from Theo.
[It’s okay, you don’t need to come. Take Luna home and stay there.]
[Today happens to be Stella’s birthday, so we’ve changed Luna’s birthday party to Stella’s birthday party.]
[Don’t argue with me. It’s your fault for dragging your feet. We’ll just have to reschedule the first birthday banquet for next year. I have no idea what you’ve been doing all day. What’s so busy about that?]
The hotel staff hadn’t received the message and continued filming the event as planned, leaving the video for me as a souvenir.
When I opened the video, Stella stood on stage in a custom-made evening gown, with countless diamonds sparkling on the skirt, blinding everyone.
It didn’t look like a last-minute replacement. It seemed more like it had been planned all along.
“Hello everyone, I’m truly sorry for the last-minute change. It’s just that my sister-in-law, Adele, is a very busy person and couldn’t bring Luna over.”
