Zoey turned around to face three women standing before her, their looks far from friendly.
Particularly the redhead leading them, whose sharp, cold gaze sized up Zoey like she was nothing more than an insignificant bug.
A name that Zoey would never forget surfaced in her mind, Victoria.
Back in high school, Victoria, along with her two well-born friends, had bullied Zoey constantly.
Their mockery wasn't unfounded. It stemmed from Zoey's inability to shift like the other kids.
Over time, the reasons for their bullying diversified.
Sometimes, they ridiculed her for her outdated clothes, saying that she seemed like someone from the last century.
Other times, they mocked her lunch, saying that it was made for the poor.
Zoey had never let their words shake her. However, their machinations forced her to drop out of high school prematurely.
Otherwise, with her strong talent in fashion design, she could have easily joined some prestigious companies.
"Victoria, after all these years, you're still as spiteful," Zoey said, her gaze sharp as she locked eyes with Victoria.
"You!" Victoria's face twisted, and she gritted her teeth. "You shiftless fool, are you sure you want to cross me... You know I can make your life as miserable as in high school."
Zoey remained composed.
She was no longer the timid girl who could be easily crushed by a few threats. The hardships of life and her parents' divorce had toughened her up.
At least her spirit was much stronger than Victoria could possibly imagine.
Zoey picked a reasonably priced dress and asked the clerk to pack it.
Then, she turned back to Victoria. "Do whatever you want, okay? Show me what you've got, but I won't let you get any satisfaction out of me."
Victoria clenched her fists, unable to comprehend why this girl, born in poverty and unable to shift, not only didn't suck up to her but also continually challenged her authority!
The resilience and purity in Zoey's eyes were so irritating!
It seemed like she could see through all pretense and arrogance, her gaze stabbing right at Victoria's heart like a sharp spike.
Victoria bit her lip as she saw the clerk bringing the packaged dress. She snatched it away directly and said, "I like this dress. It's mine now."
The clerk seemed embarrassed and tried to be diplomatic. "I'm sorry, but it's already taken."
"My father is the general manager of this mall. If you don't give me the dress, I'll have him fire you!" Victoria declared arrogantly.
The clerk looked helplessly at Zoey, torn between her job and her professional integrity.
Finally, Zoey stepped in to ease the clerk's dilemma, her tone indifferent. "Since you're that eager to be a copycat, you can have it."
Victoria's smug smile froze. Zoey's indifferent attitude made her feel like she was a clown.
She spitefully warned the clerk, "I'm telling you, no one is allowed to sell clothes to her without my permission!"
"Who are you to give orders in my mall?" A sharp voice cut through.
It was Owen.
Owen strode over with a stern face, his steps determined.
"Alpha!" The clerk saw him and finally felt relieved.
Owen wasn't supposed to be here. As the head of the company, he was incredibly busy, managing vast responsibilities.
However, due to financial discrepancies in the mall's annual report, he had to come in person to reprimand the general manager.
He never expected to walk into such a spectacle!
Victoria's arrogance turned into flattery the moment she saw Owen. "Owen, I was just disciplining someone who doesn't understand the rules."
Owen frowned, scrutinizing her. "You know me?"
"Of course!" Victoria boasted. "My father is a major under your command. He's the general manager of this mall..."
"Good," Owen cut her off without a trace of mercy. "From now on, he is no longer the general manager."
"Why?" Victoria gasped in shock. "Alpha, my father has always respected you. What did he do wrong?"
"I don't need to explain my actions to you." Owen's voice was as icy as metal, and he quickly instructed someone to handle the dismissal.
Victoria couldn't comprehend why her father was suddenly being fired!
It wasn't until her eyes landed on the black card in Zoey's hand that she thought she grasped the truth.
"Could it be because of this lowly she-wolf? Alpha, with her status and background, she doesn't deserve to step into this fancy mall..." Victoria complained tremblingly on purpose, making herself appear pitiful as if she'd suffered a great injustice. "I was just worried her presence might tarnish the reputation and business here!"
She continued, her voice filled with sorrow, "Moreover, my father has been diligently working in your Pack. If you fire him just because of this she-wolf, it will dishearten the entire Pack..."
Owen replied coldly, "I don't need your advice on how to consider the Pack's interests. Just go back to your father. He will find out why he was fired!"