The Hidden Heiress Revenge – Betrayal Love and Justice
By Lea von Löwenstein
Chapter 5: Shopping with Benefits
Part 1: Crystal Confrontations
The Van Cleef & Arpels boutique’s crystal chandeliers cast prismatic shadows as Elizabeth Cavendish recovered her composure, her Hermès silk rustling like battle armor.
“Richard, darling,” her tone dripped aristocratic condescension, “surely you’ve been misled. This… person… is clearly running some sort of con.”
“A con?” Richard Lee’s eyebrow arched perfectly.
“Obviously.” Elizabeth moved closer to Sophia, examining her like a suspect piece of costume jewelry. “I mean, look at her. The real Sophia Zhang would never wear last season’s Chanel. And that bag? Please.”
Madame Dubois, emboldened by Elizabeth’s stance, joined in. “Monsieur Lee, we have served Mademoiselle Zhang many times. She is… how do you say… more refined.”
“More refined?” Elizabeth’s laugh could have shattered ice. “The girl can barely string together a coherent thought beyond party planning. Just last week, she was photographed falling out of Lavo at 3 AM.”
Sebastian felt Sophia’s hand tighten in his, but her face remained serenely amused.
“And now she expects us to believe she’s some financial mastermind?” Elizabeth continued, circling like a shark. “The same girl who asked me last month if stocks were something you bought at Whole Foods?”
The second saleswoman tittered nervously. “Perhaps Monsieur Lee has confused her with someone else? After all, the real Mademoiselle Zhang would never marry so… impulsively.”
“Unless,” Elizabeth’s smile turned vicious, “she’s actually a very clever gold digger who’s managed to fool even the plaza’s management.”
“A gold digger?” Elizabeth’s voice rose with theatrical concern. “Richard, darling, you must see it. This little… impersonator has even fooled poor Sebastian.”
“Poor Sebastian?” Sophia’s voice held quiet amusement.
“Clearly she’s done something to manipulate him,” Elizabeth pressed on, her Louboutins clicking against marble as she circled. “Drugs perhaps? Or blackmail?”
Madame Dubois clutched her pearls. “Mon dieu! That would explain the hasty marriage!”
“After all,” Elizabeth’s smile turned shark-like, “what else could explain Sebastian Winchester choosing this… this Instagram wannabe over proper society?”
The second saleswoman stepped forward, emboldened. “She probably stole the real Mademoiselle Zhang’s identity. I read about such schemes in the Post.”
“Exactly!” Elizabeth’s voice rose triumphantly. “Richard, as a friend of the Zhang family, you must see—”
“Must I?” Richard’s tone could have frozen champagne.
“Look at her!” Elizabeth gestured dramatically. “The real Sophia Zhang would never be caught dead in such pedestrian jewelry. That Cartier? Obviously fake.”
“My vintage Cartier?” Sophia finally spoke, her voice carrying deadly quiet. “The one Daddy gave me for my Harvard graduation?”
“Harvard?” Elizabeth’s laugh turned hysterical. “Please. Everyone knows you barely managed community college!”
The boutique’s crystal chandeliers seemed to hold their breath as Richard Lee pulled out his phone.
“Speaking of education,” he said mildly, “perhaps we should call Lawrence Zhang himself to clarify?”
Part 2: Crystal Justice
Without waiting for Elizabeth’s next attempt on assaulting Sophia, Richard Lee pressed a discrete button on his phone. Two immaculately suited security officers materialized in the boutique’s doorway.
“Miss Cavendish,” his voice carried quiet finality, “I believe your shopping privileges at Zhang Global properties have just expired. Permanently.”
“You can’t—” Elizabeth’s face flushed an interesting shade of puce.
“Actually,” Richard smiled thinly, “I can. And I am. Gentlemen?”
The security officers moved with practiced efficiency. Elizabeth’s protests echoed off crystal walls as they escorted her toward the exit, her Hermès bag clutched like a shield.
“This is outrageous! Do you know who I am? My father will—”
“Will be quite interested in the recording of this incident,” Richard cut in smoothly. “Along with your family’s rather… precarious market positions.”
As Elizabeth’s protests faded, Richard turned his attention to the boutique staff. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
“Now then,” his voice could have cut diamonds, “about your treatment of Zhang Global’s heir…”
Madame Dubois’s French manicure trembled as she clutched her collar. The second saleswoman had gone deathly pale.
“Monsieur Lee,” Madame Dubois attempted, “we didn’t—”
“Didn’t what, exactly?” Richard’s smile held no warmth. “Didn’t attempt to destroy a black diamond card? Didn’t accuse the daughter of your employer of fraud? Didn’t suggest she shop at… what was it? Zara?”
“Monsieur Lee,” Madame Dubois’s voice quivered, “we were simply following protocol for suspected fraud—”
“Protocol?” Richard’s voice could have shattered the crystal displays. “Let’s discuss protocol, shall we? Marie, how long have you been manager here?”
“Fifteen years, Monsieur—”
“Fifteen years,” he cut in smoothly. “During which you’ve personally handled Mademoiselle Zhang’s purchases. Including, if I recall correctly, the Zip Antique Necklace she bought last month?”
The second saleswoman’s knees actually buckled.
“And you, Claire,” Richard turned to her, “weren’t you just promoted after Mademoiselle Zhang recommended your excellent service?”
Claire’s face had gone from pale to grey.
“I… I didn’t recognize—”
“Clearly.” His jade cufflinks caught the light as he reached for his phone again. “Shall we review the security footage? I’m particularly interested in the moment you attempted to destroy a black diamond card worth more than your annual salary.”
Madame Dubois swayed slightly. “Please, Monsieur Lee—”
“Your employment termination papers are being processed as we speak. However,” his smile turned arctic, “I believe Mademoiselle Zhang was about to make a purchase?”
The sapphire collection gleamed under crystal lights, waiting like silent witnesses.
Part 3: Crystal Schemes
Sebastian watched his wife browse Van Cleef & Arpels’ sapphire collection with the same casual elegance she’d shown in the boardroom. The trembling staff now hovered at a respectful distance, while Richard Lee observed the scene with quiet amusement.
“Darling,” Sebastian murmured, his aristocratic tone carrying equal parts admiration and bewilderment, “however you managed to convince Richard Lee to play along with this… masterful performance—”
“Mmm?” Sophia held up a cascade of sapphires against her throat. “What do you think? Perfect for watching Marcus choke on his own press conference?”
“The necklace is lethal,” he admitted, then lowered his voice. “Though I must say, this elaborate charade with the black card and the plaza director—”
“For the gala,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken, “I’m thinking something more… dramatic. After all, it’s not every day you crash a signing ceremony to announce the deal’s cancellation.”
“About that,” Sebastian’s eyes sparkled despite his disbelief, “you seem rather confident the contract can be voided.”
“Oh, it can.” Her smile could have frozen champagne. “Particularly when the person who structured the deal decides to pull the rug out from under Marcus’s perfectly polished Louboutins.”
“And that person would be…?”
“I’ll take these,” Sophia announced to the petrified staff, gesturing to an entire collection of sapphires. “After all, nothing says ‘your merger is dead’ quite like ten million in jewels, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Ten million in jewels?” Sebastian’s aristocratic composure wavered slightly. “Darling, even for revenge—”
“For justice,” Sophia corrected softly, turning to face him. The boutique’s crystal lights painted her in prismatic shadows, making her look almost ethereal.
“Justice that apparently comes with sapphires and elaborate performances involving plaza directors?”
Her laugh held genuine warmth. “You still don’t believe I am who I say I am, do you?”
“I believe,” he stepped closer, his voice dropping to that intimate tone that made her pulse quicken, “that whoever you are, you’re the most fascinating woman I’ve ever met.”
“Fascinating enough to crash a press conference with?”
“Darling,” his hand found the small of her back, drawing her closer, “I’d crash every press conference in Manhattan with you.”
The crystal chandeliers seemed to dim as his lips found hers, tasting of morning coffee and dangerous promises. Her fingers curled into his bespoke lapels as the kiss deepened, carrying whispers of revenge plots and sapphire schemes.
His jade cufflinks caught the light as his hands cradled her face, while her body melted into his like market predictions turning to gold.
It was a kiss that rewrote society rules, that turned elaborate charades into burning truths. When they finally parted, the boutique’s crystal walls seemed to hum with unspoken possibilities.
“Well,” she whispered against his lips, “shall we go destroy Marcus’s future?”
“Lead the way, my mysterious wife,” he murmured back. “Lead the way.”
