Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Chapter 13

Ruby came up to her mom, phone in hand, and said, "Mom, check out the pic Josefina sent me. She's bragging about this gift from her parents, and look at that—a black card too."

Lauren glanced at it and snorted, "Ruby, you're just too naive. Who knows, Josefina probably found these pics on some website. She's trying too hard to cover up, you know. She's living a tougher life than a beggar, yet here she is, trying to puff herself up in front of us." Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

Ruby felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She was about to text Josefina a piece of her mind when she realized she'd been blocked. She was fuming, with nowhere to channel her anger.

When Lauren went to pay, she was told that she exceeded her credit limit. Lauren called Billy and got an earful. "Stop buying so much stuff! The company's going under, and you're still out shopping for clothes! You have no clue, do you? Get yourself home right now, and stop embarrassing us out there!"

Holding her phone, Lauren's face lost all its color. "Ruby, let's not buy anything today. The clothes here are so-so. I'll take you to another store," Lauren said.

They left the store, slinking away as if afraid of being scolded for lingering.

...

Unlike Ruby and Lauren's predicament, Josefina was at the mall with Hattie. Looking around the dazzling mall, Josefina said to Hattie, "I really don't need to buy clothes. I have a change of clothes in my bag."

Hattie's voice was gentle, like a spring breeze. "Josie, I missed out on eighteen years of your life. I can't make it up, but let me do this small thing for you, okay?"

Meeting Hattie's warm gaze, Josefina nodded. But then Josefina sat in the store, watching Hattie take charge, and was stunned.

Was this a small thing? It looked more like her mom was planning to buy out the entire store!

Josefina was shocked. She walked up and whispered to Hattie, tugging at her arm, "We don't need so many clothes. They'll never get worn."

With her bright eyes and clear, expressive features, Josefina was truly endearing.

Hattie shook her head. "Don’t worry. If it's too much, you can change three times a day. Later, I'll buy you some bags, shoes, and accessories. Different outfits need different accessories to look better. Though you are already beautiful, and these clothes are just the icing on the cake."

Josefina hadn't expected Hattie to go on such a spree. At this rate, was she planning to take over the entire shop?

Even after Josefina objected again, Hattie swiped her card and had the clothes delivered to the Harrison family home.

...

After shopping for clothes, Hattie took Josefina to a bag store.

Hattie's phone rang. "Sweetheart, I need to take this call. Go on in and take a look. Pick what you like, and I'll pay for it later," she told Josefina.

Hattie answered the call and didn't follow inside, leaving Josefina to browse alone.

Josefina was admiring an expensive bag, thinking of getting gifts for Hattie and Garrett in return for their lavish presents. A salesperson approached her with a look of disdain and said snootily, "Miss,

if you're not buying, don't touch. You won't be able to afford it if you damage anything."

Josefina looked up, her eyes calm and clear. "How do you know I can't afford it?"

The salesperson sized up Josefina with contempt. "Well, the way you're dressed. These are all from some cheap online shop, right? All together, it probably doesn't even add up to a hundred bucks. You think I can't tell?"

Josefina crossed her arms, her expression clear and scornful, a smile playing on her lips. "Then you're really mistaken because what I'm wearing is indeed worth more than a hundred bucks."