"Who dares!"

Wren Wynter snapped, pulling a black card from her purse. Come to think of it, the card was Kaden Xavier’s. She never got the chance to return it after the divorce.

"Are you the only one with a black card, Ms. Sawyer?"

At the sight of the black card in Wren Wynter’s hand, not only Helen Sawyer but also Tina Wallace at her side looked astonished. A flash of jealousy crossed Tina’s face when Wren wasn’t looking, but she quickly concealed it.

The store manager was now in an even more difficult position. He couldn’t afford to offend either side. ’But I’m just an employee!’

Helen Sawyer hadn’t expected Wren Wynter to have a black card. ’The Wynter Family went bankrupt long ago. How could she possibly have a black card?’

In truth, Wren Wynter had another card her parents had given her; she had just grabbed the wrong one by mistake today.

Wren Wynter feigned ignorance and browsed on her own, picking out a few items she liked and placing them on the counter. Helen Sawyer, in turn, stopped pressuring the manager and pulled Tina Wallace to another section to look at clothes.

’I’ll just see whether that black card of hers is real or not.’

"Wren, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect to run into Mrs. Sawyer here. I’m so, so sorry."

Tina Wallace pressed her palms together in a pleading gesture as she sidled up to Wren Wynter and whispered an apology.

Wren Wynter smiled faintly and shook her head. "It’s fine. Go on, don’t worry about me."

"Thanks, Wren. I’ll go shopping with you again next time. And don’t be mad at Mrs. Sawyer. She was just letting off steam; she didn’t really mean it."

After saying that, Tina Wallace turned and ran to Helen Sawyer’s side.

Wren Wynter watched her go, the smile on her face gradually fading.

When it was time to check out, Wren Wynter handed the black card to the salesclerk. The clerk took the card to run it, but her expression soured.

After trying twice, her face turned grim.

"I’m sorry, miss, but there’s an error with your card. It won’t process the payment."

"How is that possible?"

Wren Wynter’s brow furrowed. She took the black card back and examined it.

’It’s the right one. It’s definitely Kaden Xavier’s card. Did he freeze it?’

"What’s the matter? Can’t afford it? Need me to help you out?"

Helen Sawyer’s mocking voice came from behind her. Tina Wallace stepped forward, already taking a card from her purse and placing it on the counter.

"Use mine. It’s only right that I help my friend out once in a while."

Wren Wynter’s expression was grim. She checked the black card over and over, certain there was nothing wrong with it, and had the clerk try it one more time. But the clerk just shook her head again.

"And here I thought you were still so rich, using a black card and all. Turns out it was just a bluff. Why pretend to be a big shot when you’re broke?"

Wren Wynter was in a real bind. She couldn’t just say the card belonged to Helen’s son, could she? That would only invite more of Helen Sawyer’s ridicule for using her son’s money after their divorce.

’Forget it. At least I have some money on my phone. I’ll just pay with that.’

Wren Wynter pulled out her phone to scan the payment code, but it wouldn’t turn on at this critical juncture. ’It had a charge just a moment ago. Why won’t it turn on now?’

"One moment. Do you have a place I can charge my phone? I just need a little power, I have money on my phone."

The clerk shook her head apologetically. Wren Wynter was completely exasperated. She glanced at the clothes on the counter, her face fell, and she pushed them back toward the clerk.

"Sorry, I don’t want these clothes anymore."

The clerk gave an awkward smile and took the clothes back, then rolled her eyes.

"If you’re broke, you’re broke. Stop acting so rich."

Helen Sawyer sneered, crossing her arms and looking Wren Wynter up and down with contempt. She handed her own black card to the store manager beside her.

"Wait!" Helen Sawyer called out to Wren. "I’ll take the outfits she just picked out, too."

"What do you mean by that?"

Helen Sawyer held her hand out to the clerk, who placed the clothes Wren had chosen into her hands. Helen Sawyer slowly walked toward Wren and threw the clothes in her face.

"Consider it a handout."

The overwhelming humiliation finally shattered Wren Wynter’s composure. With a glacial expression, she stared down at the clothes scattered across the floor, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

’This is utterly humiliating.’

She knew Helen Sawyer had never liked her, not from the moment she got married. In fact, Helen had been dying for her and Kaden Xavier to get a divorce.

But she’d never imagined Helen would stoop to something so degrading.

"Wren, you should thank Mrs. Sawyer! These clothes are very expensive. If you’re really in financial trouble, I can lend you some money later."

She sounded like she was defending Wren, but every word was a dagger, twisting the knife about how penniless Wren was.

Wren Wynter bit her lip. Their words had publicly humiliated her, and she could feel herself trembling with a rage that burned in her eyes.

Shaun Quinn and Finn Wynter hadn’t received any message from her, so they had no idea what was happening in the store and didn’t dare to rush in unannounced.

Just as Wren Wynter was at a complete loss, the shop door was pushed open. A familiar fragrance reached her first.

A large hand wrapped around Wren Wynter’s shoulder, while another took her hand, stroking it gently.

"Sorry I’m late."

Kaden Xavier’s arrival shattered the ugly scene. His gentle voice was like a fortress, giving her a sudden, profound sense of security.

"Ka... Kaden!"

Helen Sawyer hadn’t expected Kaden Xavier to suddenly appear either. She stepped forward guiltily to grab his arm, but he pulled away.

"It seems you’ve forgotten my warning."

Kaden Xavier’s eyes glinted dangerously. His gaze swept over everyone in the room before finally landing on Tina Wallace.

"Who gave you permission to treat my wife this way?"

"Kaden, you’re already divorced!"

The color drained from Helen Sawyer’s face. She opened her mouth to argue, but Kaden Xavier cut her off.

"And how do you know we can’t get remarried?"

With his arm around Wren Wynter, he walked straight to the counter. His powerful presence was so intimidating that everyone held their breath.

"This card didn’t work because I was planning to get you a new one and haven’t had the chance to give it to you yet. From now on, use this for whatever you want to buy."

He pulled another black card from his suit pocket. Tina Wallace, who had a sharp eye for these things, gasped aloud. "That’s... that’s the global limited-edition Black Gold Card!"

A black card and a Black Gold Card were on completely different levels. A Black Gold Card could do everything a black card could do... and everything it couldn’t.

And the status they symbolized was in another league entirely.

"Assistant Lynch. As of today, freeze the Madam’s black card."

"Yes, sir."

Helen Sawyer hurriedly ran in front of Kaden Xavier and shrieked, "Kaden Xavier! What is the meaning of this? Are you going to defy your own mother for this woman?"

"I warned you to behave. Since you can’t do that, I’ll have to teach you a lesson."