Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

Meanwhile, Thea Sherwood was in a terrible mood because of what happened yesterday, so she went out shopping first thing in the morning.

Only retail therapy could lift her spirits. She bought anything and everything she liked; money was no object. She’d casually spend millions, let alone tens or hundreds of thousands.

Even when it came to beautiful clothes with five- or six-figure price tags, Thea Sherwood didn’t even bat an eye.

She recalled that Ivy Sherwood also had a store in this mall. It wasn’t the flagship store, just a branch. ’There’s probably no one there,’ she thought.

Thea Sherwood walked over, only to find the Iris store packed with people. Even though most items were sold out, many customers were still coming in to browse.

”My friend managed to snag one yesterday. I’m so jealous! I got a whiff of it, and the scent is so pleasant—not overpowering at all.”

”Same here! My skin is very sensitive, and I used to have allergic reactions to perfumes. I was nervous, but I bought a bottle to try, and Iris’s fragrance didn’t cause any reaction at all. It’s a lifesaver for me.”

Hearing this, Thea Sherwood’s jealousy flared up again.

She had received a call from her own store’s staff today, saying there were hardly any customers. And yet, here was Ivy’s store, overflowing with them.

She spotted someone bustling about—Yasmin Lee?

’Didn’t she used to work at the nail salon? What is she doing in Ivy’s store now? Wasn’t she my friend? She actually betrayed me!’

Her pent-up anger seemed to have found an outlet. Thea Sherwood stormed right in.

”Welcome... to...” Yasmin Lee never expected to see her again. Running into Thea Sherwood at the nail salon was one thing, but encountering her here too was another.

Thea Sherwood’s last outburst had cost Yasmin her job. She had only been working here for two days, and now she had run into her again!

”Well, well, if it isn’t a familiar face. Yasmin Lee, aren’t you supposed to be some rich kid? First, you’re working at a nail salon, now you’re working here. Just how desperate for cash are you?” Thea Sherwood sneered, pulling out her phone to take a picture of Yasmin.

”Don’t move. I’m posting this in the class group chat so everyone can see. You used to follow me around like a puppy. I can’t mistreat you now, can I? How about I get everyone to chip in and donate some money to you?”

Thea Sherwood’s words were incredibly insulting. Yasmin Lee bit her lip hard.

’I didn’t do anything to her, did I? What’s so wrong with working to pay off my credit cards?’

Back in school, she had genuinely tried to get on good terms with Thea and her friends. She had always thought they were friends, but it turned out Thea just saw her as a dog!

But Thea Sherwood seemed to find some sort of twisted pleasure in hurling insults, and she continued, ”Don’t think we don’t know. You’re not some rich kid at all. Your family has no money; you’re just a poser! Your bags are all fakes or hand-me-downs, and you probably get your makeup from the trash. It’s pathetic and laughable!”

After her tirade, Thea Sherwood finally felt a lot better.

She turned on her heel and left the store without a backward glance.

Left behind, Yasmin Lee bit her lip and clenched her fists. She was an incredibly proud person—otherwise, she wouldn’t have pretended to be wealthy despite having no money, only to secretly work part-time jobs to pay off her debts.

’So what if she’s rich? Thea only spends her family’s money. What’s there to brag about?’

’Thea Sherwood looks down on me so much. One day, I’ll make her eat those words.’

’I’ll make Thea Sherwood know the pain of being humiliated!’

She just never expected the opportunity to come so quickly.

Because she was deep in credit card debt, she worked one job during the day and another at a nightclub in the evening, where the money was faster.

What she didn’t expect was to run into Thea Sherwood’s father, Timothy Sherwood. Yasmin Lee recognized him, as she had been a guest at the Sherwood family home before.

Timothy Sherwood had come to the club with a few friends, hoping to borrow some money. But they all claimed to have their own difficulties and couldn’t spare any cash.

In the end, Timothy Sherwood hadn’t managed to borrow a single cent.

The company’s finance department kept calling to press him, and their business partners were asking when the final payments would be made.

Timothy Sherwood simply turned off his phone, as if the messages would cease to exist if he just didn’t see them.

As Timothy Sherwood was drinking heavily, a waitress in a uniform approached him. ”You’re Mr. Timothy Sherwood... Uncle Sherwood?”

”Who are you?” Timothy Sherwood squinted, looking at the girl in front of him.

Yasmin Lee spoke up, ”I’m Yasmin Lee, a classmate of Thea’s. We met at your home before.”

Timothy Sherwood had no memory of her but simply nodded.

Seeing the pained look on his face, Yasmin Lee stood behind him. ”Uncle Sherwood, you seem uncomfortable. I happen to know a massage technique. Would you like me to give you a shoulder rub?”

”Mm,” Timothy Sherwood didn’t refuse. He was indeed exhausted and weary.

Yasmin Lee’s technique was surprisingly good. Timothy Sherwood felt very comfortable. After a while, he spoke.

”Why are you working here?”

”My family is going through some difficulties, so I’m working to pay my own tuition.”

A hint of admiration appeared in Timothy Sherwood’s eyes. ’Look at this girl, working to pay her own tuition,’ he thought. ’And then there’s Thea, who does nothing but play around all day and spend the family’s money.’

Agitated, Timothy Sherwood ended up drinking a lot more.

He stumbled home, drunk. Ruby Sterling was nowhere to be found.

A short while later, Thea Sherwood came in through the door, her hands full of shopping bags, big and small.

”Dad, look at the new clothes I bought! They’re the latest collection—you can’t get them even if you have the money.”

”And this necklace, isn’t it beautiful?”

”How much did it cost?” Timothy Sherwood asked.

”Not much. The clothes were only about two or three million all together. The jewelry was a bit pricier, maybe a little over ten million.”

Timothy Sherwood’s expression changed. ’All that money, and Thea just uses it to buy this useless junk?’

’She’s been a spendthrift since she was a child. The Sherwood family is in this state, and she still doesn’t know how to hold back!’

”What’s wrong, Dad? Should I go try on the clothes for you?” Thea Sherwood was still basking in the joy of her new purchases.

She quickly ran upstairs and changed into a new, fashionable dress.

After coming downstairs, she even did a little twirl in front of Timothy Sherwood.

Under the light, Timothy Sherwood looked at his daughter. It was only then that he realized how much Thea had grown up.

Before this moment, he had always seen Thea as a child. But looking at his daughter now, he saw a face that combined his best features with Ruby Sterling’s beauty. She was, objectively, very pretty.

’No wonder even Charlie Rhodes has his eye on her.’

’He was truly at a dead end. He had raised Thea for so many years, sparing no expense. It was time for Thea to do something for the family.’

’Thea, don’t blame your father.’

”So, Dad? What do you think? Do I look good or not?” Thea Sherwood asked.

Timothy Sherwood nodded. ”You look beautiful.”

Thea Sherwood was overjoyed, completely oblivious to the thoughts running through her father’s mind.

Of course, Timothy Sherwood wouldn’t personally take Thea to that kind of place. He still couldn’t bring himself to push his own daughter into the abyss with his own two hands.

’He remembered Thea’s classmate... what was her name, Lee something? She was desperate for money.’