Vivian couldn't take the intense stare any longer and blurted out, "What are you looking at?"
Jade, towering over her with an air of dominance, retorted, "Next time you come over, make sure to swipe a couple more of my brother’s designer clothes. The cops won’t bother with cheap stuff!"
Molly felt a surge of anger when she heard Vivian's misleading words, clearly meant to cause confusion.
But as she studied Vivian's conniving, petty face, she reminded herself she knew Chad well. He wouldn’t give Vivian the time of day, let alone spend a night at her place. He’d probably need a shower just from looking at her.
Calming down, Molly's mind raced. Vivian showing up all of a sudden didn't add up. If she had Chad's clothes, why not just bring them along? It was clear she was here to make trouble, either for Chad or Molly herself.
Molly scoffed at Vivian’s explanation. "Talk about sky-high arrogance meeting rock-bottom stupidity."
Vivian didn't catch the insult and frowned, glaring at Molly. "What do you mean by that?"
Molly smirked. "I'm saying you have no shame."
She eyed Vivian critically. "When have you ever seen my brother's uniform at our place? Everyone in the Byrne family knows Chad washes his own uniforms. The best you’ve got is probably a plain white shirt."
As another cab rolled up, Molly hailed it. "You know, if you’re so desperate to cling to something of my brother’s, keep the shirt."
She was about to get into the taxi when Vivian interjected, "I don’t think you have the final say. It's just a shirt, but that one? Chad will definitely come for it."
Vivian leaned in close and whispered, "That shirt has Chad’s initials embroidered on it. And a little heart-shaped strawberry."
Molly shot Vivian a look, slammed the car door shut, and told the driver to take off.
Back at the Byrne residence, Molly went straight to Chad's room and rummaged through his wardrobe. "Where the heck is it?"
Coleen appeared, "Molly, isn’t your own room enough for you to mess up? What are you looking for in your brother’s room?"
"Mum, didn’t Chad have that shirt with the heart-shaped strawberry? He never wore it, just kept it hanging in his closet. It’s gone."
Before her daughter could say who gave it, Coleen bluntly asked, "When did you give your brother a shirt with a strawberry?"
"Oh, back in junior high, Mia and I were supposed to be studying. She was secretly knitting scarves, and I took up embroidery. Mia made scarves for Cooper and Leo, and I embroidered strawberries and coal pieces for my brother and Leo."
After finishing her embroidery, her fingers were sore, and she fancied herself "Lady Ziwei," much to Chad’s concern.
That was Molly's debut, proof of her crafty hands and virtuous spirit. Even if she struggled to thread a needle now, she once had her shining moment.
"Darn it, Vivian must've stolen it!" Molly cursed after a fruitless search.
Coleen surveyed the chaos in her son’s closet. "Just wait until Chad comes home to settle this with you."
Molly stormed back to her room, pulled out her phone, and dialed Vivian’s number from the blacklist. "Where are you?"
A dingy motel.
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