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Novel Catalog
Chapter 59
The moment Freya pulled out her credit card, Catherine felt a surge of anxiety. She knew Freya meant well, but this was exactly what they had been trying to avoid—drawing attention to themselves, especially when people like Janet and Cindy were around. These women didn’t care about status; they thrived on making others feel small. And Catherine wasn’t in the mood for any more of their mockery.
“Freya, don’t,” she whispered urgently. “Let’s just go. It’s not worth it.”
But Freya, who had always been a bit of a firecracker, wasn’t about to let these women get the best of them. “They think they can just push us around because they’ve got money? Not today,” she snapped.
The saleswoman, clearly unsettled by Freya’s confidence, hesitated for a second before stepping back. “Please, Miss, if you’d like to see the rest of our collection, we can assist you.”
But Janet wasn’t finished. She took a step closer to Catherine, sneering. “Don’t worry, Cathy. We wouldn’t want to pressure you. After all, the last time I checked, you weren’t exactly in a position to afford a shopping spree here.”
Cindy snickered, eager to join in on the mockery. Catherine could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, the sting of their words settling deep inside her. It wasn’t just about money—it was about the way they thought they could treat her like she was beneath them. She could feel Freya bristling beside her, ready to fight back.
But Catherine, even with her anger boiling inside, stepped in front of her friend. She didn’t want this to escalate further. “I’ll be fine,” she said quietly, her voice steady but her gaze cold. “Let’s go, Freya. It’s not worth it.”
Freya was silent for a moment, her hand still gripping her wallet. Then she sighed, her shoulders dropping in resignation. “Fine, fine. But one day, those two will realize who they’re messing with.”
Catherine didn’t say anything as they turned to leave. She had always known that people like Janet and Cindy wouldn’t change, and she wasn’t about to waste any more of her energy on them. But the words still stung. She wasn’t sure if it was the humiliation from their taunts or the frustration of her situation. Maybe both.
As they walked out of the store, Catherine kept her head high, but inside, she felt more defeated than she cared to admit. She wasn’t just battling other people’s perceptions of her; she was struggling with her own sense of identity. Who was she now? A woman married to a man who barely acknowledged her, someone with a marriage full of expectations but devoid of affection. She wasn’t sure where she fit into all of this anymore.
Freya must have sensed her quietness because she turned to her as they left the mall. “Don’t let them get to you, okay? They’re not worth your time.”
Catherine nodded, but the words didn’t comfort her as much as she wanted them to. She was tired of pretending everything was okay. She was tired of trying to be something she wasn’t for people who didn’t matter.
As they climbed into the car and drove away, Catherine stared out the window, lost in thought. The world outside was busy, full of life and people who didn’t know or care about her struggles. She almost wished she could be like them—detached, unaffected, free.
But she wasn’t. And for some reason, that hurt more than anything.