THE
Chapter 7
Callie’s throat tightened, fingertips digging into the edge of her shawl. But finally, she let go, sliding it off her shoulders.
She knew that even if she refused, Declan would just have someone yank it off her anyway []
As she handed it over, Mia reached out to accept it, her face wearing an apologetic smile: “Thanks, I’ll wash it and give it back to you,”
“No!” Callie blurted, and quickly shook her head, double–checking anxiously, “Don’t get it wet–needs dry cleaning. I’ll send someone for it tomorrow.“]
Mia nodded: “Got it.“[]
Just then, the driver pulled up, stopping smoothly at the entrance.]
Declan glanced at Mia, frowning at her pale face, then turned to Callie: “Mia’s got a cold. I’ll take her home first. It’s out of the way–you catch a cab.”
Without waiting for Callie’s response, he was already helping Mia into the car.]
The door slammed shut, the engine started, and the black sedan quickly disappeared into the curtain of rain, leaving Callie standing alone at the entrance as rainwater splashed against her dress.[]
The stormy street was dead empty.[]
Callie stood shivering in the wind for forty minutes before flagging down a cab.
By the time she got home, she was soaked through and dizzy.[]
Her forehead was burning hot. She forced herself to take some fever medication before collapsing onto her bed.[]
In the middle of the night, her phone kept buzzing, but her head was splitting and she didn’t even have the strength to lift her hand. She could only let it vibrate over and over until it finally fell silent.]
The next day, Callie’s fever had finally broken, though her throat felt like it had been scorched. She struggled to sit up, took a sip of water, and finally picked up her phone.]]
On the screen were over a dozen unread messages–all from Mia Castellano.[]
She opened them, and the first image made her pupils shrink in shock-
That precious cashmere shawl was completely submerged in water, its once–soft fibers clumped together wetly, already completely ruined.]
The messages kept coming:
[Sorry, I forgot the shawl couldn’t get wet and threw it in the wash as soon as I got home.]]]
[I’m really sorry. How much did this shawl cost? I’ll pay you back. The material’s actually pretty nice–I can keep it and maybe turn it into a scarf or something.
[Since you’re not answering, I’ll take that as a yes? I’ll give you thirty bucks for it. You said your grandma made it, so that should be about right, yeah?]]]
The final image showed the shawl cut to pieces, the edges deliberately shredded into strips like it had been maliciously destroyed.]
Callie’s hands trembled as rage shot straight to her head. She threw off the covers and, ignoring her lingering fever, rushed out the door.]]
At Mia’s apartment, Callie rang the doorbell, her eyes ice–cold.]
The door opened to reveal Mia in loungewear, looking somewhat surprised: “Miss Hartwell? What are you doing here?”
“Where’s my shawl?” Callie’s voice was frigid.[]
At this, Mia turned and picked up the shredded shawl from the couch. “You mean this? I already bought it from you, didn’t I?“]]
She glanced down at her phone. “You didn’t accept the thirty I sent? Think it’s too little? I can add another twenty. It was made by some old lady anyway, so it shouldn’t be too expensive…”
SLAPI
A sharp smack landed hard across Mia’s face. She staggered back a step, clutching her cheek and staring at Callie in disbelief: “You… you hit me?“[]
Callie’s eyes were razor–sharp as she spoke each word deliberately: “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?“]
Mia’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, her voice taking on a whimpering tone: “On
“I have i
no idea what you’re talking about…”
“Coming back to the country on purpose, calling Declan on purpose when your mom needed the bone marrow transplant, saying those things to me outside the operating room on purpose, barging in on purpose when Declan and I were kissing, and now destroying my shawl on purpose-“]
Callie stepped closer, her voice cold as ice: “Mia Castellano, let me tell you something–I see right through your little games. Just because I don’t call you out doesn’t mean I’ll keep letting you humiliate me!“[]
Mia’s face changed, but her tears fell even harder: “I didn’t… I really don’t know what you’re talking about…“[]
Callie gritted her teeth, about to say more when suddenly a cold voice came from the doorway-
“Callie, what the hell are you doing!”
She spun around to find Declan standing at the entrance, his expression terrifyingly dark.[]
