Chapter 21 A Well-Deserved Slap

Eira followed Lila to a designer boutique near the center of the mall.

Natalie and Kate trailed a few steps behind, still debating which store to visit next.

The glass doors were locked. A brass sign read:

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Lila pulled out her phone. One quick call, and the manager appeared less than thirty seconds later to unlock the door.

"Miss Reed. Welcome back."

Eira glanced at Lila. "Reed?"

"My mother’s family name," Lila said. "I use it for private bookings. The Sterling name has a way of turning a quiet shopping trip into a full security operation."

The manager stepped aside. "Right this way, Miss Reed."

Eira followed Lila inside.

The store was all cream carpet, soft lighting, and clothes without visible price tags. Voices drifted from a private fitting suite near the back.

"Serena, what do you think?" Isabella asked. "Would this look good on me?"

"If it looks good on the model, it’ll look even better on you."

Eira stopped.

Serena.

Apparently, she had gone straight from breakfast with Alpha Sebastian to shopping with Isabella. She had even offered to buy Isabella a custom birthday dress.

With Alpha Sebastian’s money, no doubt.

Lila noticed Eira’s expression.

"You know them?"

Before Eira could answer, the manager lowered her voice.

"Mrs. Hale and Miss Hale are in the adjoining suite."

Eira turned toward her.

"Mrs. Hale?"

"Yes, ma’am. The appointment was booked under that name."

So Serena was already trying on the title in public.

Lila’s expression sharpened. She remembered Alpha Sebastian introducing himself as Eira’s husband less than an hour ago.

"Wait. Is that his sister in there?"

"That’s Isabella."

Lila started toward the fitting suite.

Eira caught her arm.

"Don’t."

"Why not?"

Eira glanced toward the closed door.

"I want to hear how far they take this."

The fitting-room door swung open, and Isabella stepped out wearing a half-zipped designer dress.

"Who’s out there? This was supposed to be a private appointment."

Then she saw Eira. Her face soured. "What are you doing here?"

Her gaze shifted to Lila’s Stanford sweatshirt and sweatpants. "And apparently they’re letting anyone through the door now."

Lila blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Watch your mouth, Isabella." Eira stepped between them.

Isabella laughed. "You watch yours. Are you using my brother’s money to play rich again?"

"Isabella."

Serena appeared behind her in a cream silk dress, wearing concern like it had been professionally tailored.

She smiled at Eira.

"We really do keep running into each other."

"Mrs. Hale," Eira said evenly.

Both Isabella and Serena froze.

Serena recovered first.

"There must’ve been a misunderstanding."

The manager said nothing. She knew exactly what name Serena had used when booking the appointment.

Isabella rolled her eyes. "So what? Nobody would look at Eira and think she was Mrs. Hale. She’s basically a charity case."

Lila gave her a bright smile.

"Wow. Designer dress, private fitting room, and still no manners. That’s rough."

Isabella stared at her. "Excuse me?"

"I said money bought the dress." Lila’s smile disappeared. "Shame it couldn’t fix the personality."

The Hale siblings had more in common than either of them realized. Neither one handled being challenged very well.

Serena studied Lila more carefully. The Stanford hoodie was oversized, but the watch at her wrist cost more than most cars. More important, the manager had unlocked the boutique for her without asking a single question.

"Eira," Serena said, "who is your friend?"

"She’s family," Lila answered, linking her arm through Eira’s.

Serena’s eyes narrowed. "Family?"

Isabella laughed.

"What, another foster-care stray? Do they hand you people out in pairs?"

Eira stepped between them.

"I warned you about your mouth."

"Or what?" Isabella moved closer. "You’ll cry to my brother again?"

"No."

Isabella reached out and shoved Lila’s shoulder.

Eira’s hand moved before anyone else could react.

The slap cracked through the boutique.

Isabella’s head snapped to the side.

The room went dead silent.

Eira lowered her hand.

"That."

Isabella touched her cheek, stunned.

Then she lunged.

Two sales associates caught her before she could reach Eira. The manager immediately signaled the security guard stationed outside the boutique.

"Miss Hale, step back."

"Let go of me!" Isabella twisted against them. "She hit me! She’s nobody. My brother gave her a home, a name, everything!"

Serena stepped forward, calm and polished, already slipping into the role of peacemaker.

"Eira, this has gone far enough. Alpha Sebastian adores his sister. Apologize now, and I’ll explain everything to him."

Eira looked at her.

"Mrs. Hale, I don’t need you doing damage control for me."

Serena’s expression hardened. "Do you even hear yourself?"

"Loud and clear."

Eira turned to Lila.

Lila rubbed her shoulder. "I’m fine."

Her eyes dropped for a moment.

"I didn’t know you grew up in foster care."

Eira’s face stayed calm. "Most people don’t."

"I made some dumb comments earlier. About money. Families." Lila lowered her voice. "If any of that landed wrong, I’m sorry."

"It didn’t."

"You sure?"

"I’m sure."

Lila looked back at Isabella, who was still fighting the store employees.

Then she grinned.

"Also, that slap was incredible."

"Who the hell are you?" Isabella shouted. "This has nothing to do with you!"

"You shoved me," Lila said. "That made it my business."

"I’ll have my brother make sure neither of you works in this city again!"

Lila stared at her.

"Oh no. A rich girl threatening to call her brother. Groundbreaking."

She pulled out her phone.

"You’re not the only one with one."

Lila hit Call.

Alpha Killian answered on the first ring. "What happened?"

"Someone shoved me at Stanford Shopping Center."

His voice changed immediately.

"Are you hurt?"

"No. Eira handled it."

A brief silence followed.

"Put the manager on."

At the same time, Isabella had Alpha Sebastian on speaker.

"Sebastian! Eira hit me, and her crazy friend threatened me!"

Alpha Sebastian’s voice cut through the phone.

"Where are you?"

"The boutique at Stanford Shopping Center. Come get her away from me!"

Lila raised her voice toward her own phone.

"Also, they called Eira a foster-care charity case, and Isabella put her hands on me first."

The boutique manager closed her eyes for half a second.

Two powerful men on separate calls. Mall security on the way. One private appointment completely destroyed.

--

Alpha Sebastian was halfway to his next meeting when Isabella called.

He had the driver turn around.

By the time he reached the boutique, mall security was already there. Isabella stood near the fitting rooms with one cheek bright red, while Serena hovered beside her, calm and perfectly put together.

Eira and Lila waited across the store with Natalie and Kate.

The second Isabella saw her brother, she rushed toward him.

"Sebastian, Eira hit me! In front of everyone!"

Serena stepped in before he could respond.

"Please don’t get angry. I’m sure Eira didn’t mean to. Things got out of hand."

It sounded like a defense.

It was not.

Alpha Sebastian’s gaze moved to Serena first. "What are you still doing here? I told you to go home."

Isabella stared at him. "Are you kidding me? She slapped me, and you’re asking Serena why she’s shopping?"

Only then did Alpha Sebastian examine his sister’s cheek.

The mark was clear.

When he finally turned toward Eira, she was standing with her arms folded, calm enough to make him angrier.

"Why did you hit Isabella?"