Page 40 of Surrendering to the Obsession

Kylie’s lips twisted in disgust. She took a slow step forward, eyes narrowing. “Look at her. Laughing… buying all this. She must be using James’s card.”

Tara shook her head, her brows knitting. “Impossible. If she were using his card, he’d know exactly where she was. He wouldn’t be searching all over the city. She’s definitely using someone else’s money.”

They watched for a moment longer, suspicion written across their faces, but Mia had already disappeared. One moment she had been there, the next — gone, slipping out of sight so quickly it left them both frozen.

“What the—where did she go?” Tara muttered, scanning the crowds.

“She can’t have gone far,” Kylie said, tilting her head and lifting her sunglasses just enough to get a better look. “No way she walked out of the mall that fast. She must’ve ducked into another store.”

“Let’s go.” Kylie grabbed Tara’s arm and practically dragged her along, weaving through the throng of shoppers. Their steps were brisk, filled with irritation and urgency as they checked each store along the way.

Just as fatigue began to creep in, Kylie suddenly stiffened, her eyes locking on something. “There!” she hissed, pointing.

Mia had just emerged from a changing room, a dress held delicately in her hands as she talked to Hazel.

Kylie’s eyes narrowed, and a small smirk played at the corner of her lips. “There she is.” She yanked Tara along behind her, weaving through the racks until she reached Mia. Without hesitation, Kylie snatched the dress from Mia’s hands.

“I like this dress,” Kylie said immediately, her voice dripping entitlement, her tone sharp as a knife. She didn’t even pause to wait for a response, turning on her heel and striding toward the changing rooms. Her heels clicked against the polished mall floor.

Both Mia and Hazel froze, mouths slightly open, shock written across their faces.

“What the hell—?” Hazel muttered, her eyebrows shooting up, jaw slack. “We’ve already paid for it!” she shouted.

Kylie didn’t so much as glance at her. Her eyes were fixed ahead as she pushed the fitting room door open with a swift jerk.

Inside, she yanked her phone from her bag, fingers drumming impatiently across the screen. She dialed James’s number, pressing the phone to her ear. Silence. No answer.

She tried again, and again, but, as usual, James didn’t pick up. A sharp pang of frustration tightened in her chest.

Her patience snapped, and she quickly typed a message:

‘Hey, James. I think your ex-wife found herself a sugar daddy.’

No more than a few seconds passed before her phone vibrated violently. James’s name flashed across the screen, sending a thrill through Kylie. Her grin widened.

She answered, voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. “Hey, James!”

On the other end, James’s voice was taut with urgency, almost breathless. “You saw Mia?”

Kylie tilted her head innocently, eyes wide. She leaned against the wall, flipping her hair over one shoulder with languid grace. “James… she’s in Max Mall. Shopping, carrying bags, clearly enjoying someone else’s money. Didn’t her family already go bankrupt?”

“I’ll be right there,” he snapped, the urgency rattling through his words, accompanied by the sound of jangling keys and hurried footsteps. “Stay put. Keep your eyes on her.”

“Of course,” Kylie purred, her sweetness a razor disguised as silk. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Anything for you… Oh, and about that new apartment on Rolling Street…”

“I’ll give it to you,” he cut her off, breathless and raw, and Kylie could almost hear him storming toward the door.

She hung up and let a smirk curl wider across her lips. Turning to the mirror, she examined the dress with distaste. She slid it on, adjusted the hem, and twirled once, letting the fabric brush luxuriously against her legs. Then, she stepped out of the fitting room, hips swaying, chin lifted, eyes gleaming with happiness.

“I am taking this dress,” she declared.

Hazel planted herself firmly in Kylie’s path, crossing her arms, eyes blazing.

She shoved Kylie’s shoulder, chest heaving. “Are you blind?” she snapped. “How dare you snatch that dress from Mia?!”

Hazel’s muscles tensed; her face burned red. All the stories Mia had told her about Kylie and James exploded in that moment, fueling her fury like wildfire.

Kylie’s lips twisted into a smirk as she shoved Hazel’s hand away. Her eyes glittered, sharp as knives. She leaned slightly toward Mia, tilting her head, voice smooth but laced with venom. “Nothing is yours. You’re living on James’s money—whatever you touch is his.”