Page 111 of His Wicked Revenge

I turn around, peering over my shoulder at the back, when I hear a voice. A familiar voice that I didn’t expect to hear.

I stand still momentarily before opening the curtain and peeking my head out.

From here, I have a perfect view of the showroom, where I see her standing at a clothing rack with another woman. My teeth clench together, and my body begins to panic.

Stephanie.

Did I think I would have a run-in with my sister while being back in Seattle? No.

I was careful enough to avoid her. I learned all the places she would go and never went there. Granted, she only went to the best of the best while shopping or eating, so I had nothing to worry about.

Until today.

This shop isn’t on the higher end; the prices are somewhat affordable. Why is she here, then?

She tosses her head back, laughing elegantly at something her friend said. I need to retreat into the fitting room, but I can’t take my eyes off her.

My sister. The one person I truly loved. Just in the other room.

“Are you going to come out and let me see it?” Chloe’s question pulls my gaze away from Stephanie, and when I meet her gaze, she stares at me in confusion.

I shake my head, ducking back behind the curtain. I hear her mumble under her breath, and the curtain is ripped open.

“What the hell is goi⁠—”

Before she can finish, I pull her into the room and rip the curtain shut. “Shh.”

The confusion on her face turns to concern, and she whispers, “Why are we being quiet? What’s going on?”

“That girl out there… I know her. She wasn’t—” I hesitate, not knowing what lie I want to spin. “She wasn’t the nicest to me.”

“How do you know her?”

Come on, Veronica. Think!

“We went to school together.” The lie rolls past my lips.

“Huh. How crazy is it that you two are in Seattle at the same time?”

“Super crazy,” I say. “I don’t want her to see me.”

“She was that mean to you?” In an instant, I can see Chloe going into mama bear mode. “I’ll go give her a piece of my mind.”

“No!” I stop her; my voice is a little too loud, so I tone it down. “It’s not worth it. I just—I can’t face her.”

Chloe offers a sad smile. “Okay. You can stay in here until she leaves.”

“Thank you,” I say softly.

“The dress is very pretty on you. Why don’t you try on the other one? I’ll go sit on the couch, and when you are ready, I’ll come in to see it.”

She leaves me alone, and I quickly strip out of the dress and put the other one on. It is nice and fits well, but the fabric is too heavy. “I’m ready.”

Chloe enters the fitting room again and grins. “That is super pretty.”

“Yeah, but the fabric is weighing me down,” I tell her, running my hands along the felt. “I think I like the other one more.”

Before Chloe can respond, I hear that voice again, but this time, it is closer and paired with another.