From Exile To Queen Of Everything - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Bella raised an eyebrow, letting go of the ruined dress as if it were on fire. A smug, triumphant smile spread across her face.
"Oops. My hand slipped," she said, feigning innocence. "But I'm sure since you love it so much, Vivian, you'll buy it anyway, right?"
Vivian's hands clenched into fists, her body trembling with rage.
"Oh, don't worry, Bella," Marcy added, her voice dripping with mock concern. "She has a black card, remember? A little tear like that is nothing to her."
"I'm not buying it," Vivian gritted out.
The manager blanched. "What! You can't do that! The dress was damaged while you were holding it. You have to pay for it."
The honest salesclerk stepped forward. "Sir, that's not true. This lady," she said, pointing at Bella, "is the one who pulled it. It wasn't Miss Hart's fault."
Bella was unfazed. "What do you mean, I pulled it?" she snapped, pointing a finger at the clerk. "I just wanted to get a closer look. If she hadn't been clinging to it like her life depended on it, it wouldn't have torn. You think you can pin this on me? Dream on!"
Vivian was shaking with fury. It was so obvious they were targeting her, trying to humiliate her.
"Bella, you're unbelievable," Vivian said, her voice low and dangerous. "You're just doing this because you're obsessed with Mason. Why don't you go after him yourself? Oh, that's right. Because even when you throw yourself at him, he doesn't want you."
The jab hit its mark. Bella's face contorted with rage. "How dare you talk to me like that!" she shrieked, lunging at Vivian with her hand raised to strike.
Vivian sidestepped neatly. Bella, propelled by her own momentum, went sprawling to the floor with a pathetic yelp.
"You tramp, you dodged!" she howled from the ground.
"That's it!" Marcy shouted, stepping in to defend her friend. 'So what if I slap her? What's Vivian going to do?' she thought. 'She's a nobody with no connections. She wouldn't dare fight back.'
But as her hand flew through the air, an iron grip caught her wrist, stopping it cold.
"Who—?"
Marcy spun around and found herself looking into the most beautiful and terrifying face she had ever seen. The woman's eyes were like chips of ice, radiating a power so immense it felt like a physical force.
It was the kind of pressure that made you forget how to breathe.
"And you are?" the woman asked, her voice a silken threat.
Before Marcy could answer, the woman twisted her arm. With a flick of her wrist, she sent Marcy tumbling to the ground beside Bella.
Sienna stepped over to her sister's side. "Vivian, are you hurt?"
Seeing Sienna, Vivian felt a wave of emotion wash over her. It was the first time in a decade anyone had asked her that. She shook her head, a small, clean smile breaking through the anger. "I'm okay. But they ruined my dress."
Bella and Marcy stared at Sienna with confusion. Sienna simply took out her phone and sent a quick text. A moment later, Lana walked into the store.
"Call the police," Sienna instructed Lana calmly. "File a report against these two for assault and destruction of property. And I want them to pay for the dress."
Hearing the word "police," the two bullies finally panicked.
"Who are you? Why should we pay? We didn't do anything!"
Sienna ignored them. "Make sure you get a copy of the security footage," she told Lana. "We'll post it online."
"What!" Bella and Marcy's faces went pale with horror.
"Who do you think you are?" Bella stammered. "What's your relationship with Vivian? Do you know who we are?"
Before Sienna could reply, a group of men in suits hurried over. The store manager saw them and immediately began bowing and scraping.
But the two men ignored him completely, walking straight to Sienna. They bowed deeply and respectfully.
"Miss Enna," they said in unison. "We are so terribly sorry for this unpleasant shopping experience. Everything in the store today is on the house, as our apology."
Not just Bella and Marcy, but even Vivian stared in shock. Sienna... what was her identity? She pondered. How could she command such respect?
One of the two men was Marcy's uncle. He shot his niece a look of pure fury. "Apologize to Miss Enna. Now!" he hissed.
Marcy mumbled, "But, Uncle—"
Sienna gave Lana a subtle nod. Lana stepped forward. "The police are on their way. You two can come with us. The court summons will be sent to you shortly."
Marcy's bravado finally crumbled. This was real. This was serious. She looked pleadingly at her uncle, who gave her a look that said, "Apologize now if you value your life."
All her arrogance gone, Marcy bowed low. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Miss Enna. Please, forgive me."
Bella felt a pang of betrayal, but she wasn't stupid. Her family were new money; they couldn't possibly stand against Marcy's family. She quickly followed suit, bowing her head. "I'm sorry. I was wrong."
Sienna showed no sign of forgiveness. "Officer," she said as the police arrived, "these two assaulted my sister and destroyed her property. I was willing to handle this privately, but it seems they aren't interested in being reasonable."
Marcy's uncle understood immediately. He strode over and slapped his niece hard across the face. "Apologize to this young lady properly!"
The slap knocked all the fight out of Marcy. But being forced to apologize to Vivian, to that nobody, was a bitter pill to swallow.
Bella gritted her teeth. She couldn't get arrested. "I'm sorry, Vivian," she mumbled. "We shouldn't have targeted you. I'll pay for the dress. I'm sorry."
"Vivian," Marcy added, "we were classmates. Please, just forgive us this once. We promise it will never happen again."
Sienna looked at Vivian, waiting for her decision.
Seeing them groveling, Vivian was stunned. Sienna was incredible. With just a few words, she had brought them to their knees.
Not wanting to create more enemies for her sister, she relented. They paid for the dress, and the matter was settled.
Sienna, however, was not satisfied. If she hadn't arrived when she did, that slap would have landed on Vivian's face.
A flash of cold fury passed through her eyes.
"A private settlement involves more than just an apology," she said coolly. "Paying for the dress is your responsibility. But my sister was frightened. I think compensation for emotional distress is also in order."
Sienna didn't need their money, but letting them off so easily wasn't her style. However, since Vivian had decided, she wouldn't push it.
In the end, with tears in their eyes, Bella and Marcy each paid ten hundred thousand dollars in compensation before being allowed to leave, desperate to avoid the public humiliation of a scandal. The manager was promptly fired.
After the chaos, Sienna crossed her legs, lounging on the sofa as she played with her phone. Vivian tried on dress after dress.
Finally, Sienna waved her hand dismissively. "Wrap them all up," she told the new manager. "And send them to this address."
Vivian rushed over. "No, no, that's not necessary! I can't possibly wear all of these! And these bags, I—"
"I have money," Sienna interrupted flatly.
"But I..." Vivian's heart was still pounding. She had just spent more in a few hours than she'd earned in a lifetime.
But just then, her phone rang. She picked it up, only to meet her father Aiden's gruff, angry voice barked through the speaker. "You little brat! It's your Aunt Linda's birthday tonight," barked Aiden. "You get back here right now, or I'll burn everything in your room."
Vivian's hand tightened around her phone, a familiar wave of resentment and helplessness washing over her.
It's fine, she told herself. Just give in. Keep your head down, and it will be over soon. She didn't want to cause trouble for anyone else.
Sienna, standing beside her, had heard every word.
The father she remembered was a spineless man, completely dominated by their powerful mother. Ninety percent of the family's assets came from their mother.
To her, their father had married their mother entirely on the strength of his devastatingly handsome face.