Can't Afford It?

Madam Collins became a little flustered when she saw Bailey's appearance. She quickly shouted towards Hayley's back, "Hayley, how can you have such a dark mind at such a young age? Bailey and you are both my daughters, how could I not love you? I scolded you so harshly because I hate to see you not making progress. I hope to make you turn over a new leaf! Look at your current behavior and criminal record, which school would accept you?"

However, Hayley ignored Madam Collins' incessant chatter. After returning to her bedroom, she locked the door and took out the medicine that was prepared for her from the hospital. Soon, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. She gritted her teeth and endured the most difficult half hour silently.

Several hours later, Hayley's body was covered with a layer of ink-like black slime. She opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and then walked towards the bathroom. The toxicity in her body was too deep, and it was impossible to completely expel all the toxins with just one dose of medicine. It would take at least half a year for the toxins to be completely eliminated from her body.

However, as the toxins gradually cleared, her former strength was also slowly recovering. After taking a shower, it was already dawn.

She walked up to the wardrobe, ready to take a walk outside. However, upon opening the wardrobe, she saw a few scattered clothes from three years ago. The only thing she could fit into was her middle school uniform. She put on the uniform and went out for a run. As she passed by a breakfast stall, she had a bowl of wonton soup. When she returned to the Collins Family, she saw that Madam Collins and Bailey had already finished breakfast, and there was no portion for her. Madam Collins looked at Hayley with disdain, but she spoke up, worried that her words last night had affected Bailey's impression of her as a mother. "You came back just in time. You haven't participated in the jewelry exhibition yet. Let's pick out a set together!" Without waiting for Hayley's response, she walked out in her high heels. Hayley didn't say anything and followed Madam Collins quietly. After getting into the car, Hayley chose the passenger seat, which seemed to please Madam Collins. Today, for the first time, she didn't scold Hayley in public, but instead sat in the driver's seat with a cold face. Soon, the car stopped at the busiest commercial street in Donghua District.

Here, shops are everywhere, and Pearl City's famous shopping malls are almost all located here. Madam Collins took Hayley into a five-story old-fashioned jewelry store. After entering, Madam Collins took Hayley to the necklace area on the second floor. "Just pick one you like." Then, she looked Hayley up and down pickily and said, "Later, we'll go upstairs to buy a decent dress." Hayley wasn't interested in jewelry, so she randomly pointed to a diamond necklace in the counter. The clerk saw Hayley wearing a washed-out and shabby school uniform and her obese body, and showed obvious disgust in her eyes. However, because she saw Madam Collins standing next to Hayley, dressed in expensive clothes and looking like a wealthy lady, she cautiously took out the necklace. "This necklace is the new model of our store, and it suits you perfectly..." The clerk stared at Hayley's face, which was squeezed together due to her obesity, seeming to want to find a suitable adjective. However, before she could come up with one, Madam Collins' sharp voice suddenly echoed throughout the jewelry store: "Two hundred and thirty thousand?!" The smile on the clerk's face froze a bit. "Pick a cheaper one. It's useless for her to wear such an expensive necklace with that appearance!"

"Madam, you..." The cashier's expression became even more subtle.

At this point, she had already taken out the necklace, but upon hearing Madam Collins' words, she quickly retracted her hand.

"What is the cheapest necklace in your store? I want the cheapest one."

However, at that moment, a sarcastic voice suddenly entered Madam Collins' ears.

"Oh, the Collins Family has fallen to such a state? Can't even afford a necklace worth 230,000?"

Madam Collins angrily turned her head and found that it was Mrs. Harris.

"Who said I can't afford it? I just think it won't look good on her."

Madam Collins felt her blood pressure rising as soon as she saw Mrs. Harris.

"True, with her looks, what jewelry could look good on her?"

Mrs. Harris smiled faintly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

"Not like my daughter, every time I bring her to a jewelry store, I worry about which one to choose. After all, those expensive jewels are just perfect for her temperament..."

As Madam Collins' face grew darker, Mrs. Harris' excitement grew a few more notches.

"However, Mrs. Collins, don't be angry. Genetics, it's just something that can't be helped..."

Mrs. Harris was indirectly mocking her for being ugly!

Madam Collins was about to go crazy with anger.

At this moment, she deeply regretted not bringing Bailey with her.

"Genetics? Do you think I could inherit this kind of trash? We are sisters, but she doesn't even have one percent of Bailey's beauty. I even suspect that the hospital might have switched us at birth!"

"Oh? Then you should check it out quickly. If they really did switch you, you might be raising a child from the slums. Hehe..."

"..."

Madam Collins couldn't refute her at all.

She clenched her fists tightly, her nails almost digging into her skin.

In her anger, she could only vent all her frustration on Hayley.

"Have you picked one yet? You take so long just to pick a necklace. Why don't you spend this time on studying instead?!"

"I've looked at them all, but I didn't like any of them. Maybe you shouldn't buy one."

Madam Collins felt like Hayley was slapping her in the face in front of Mrs. Harris.

"Why not buy one? Can't the Collins Family afford a necklace worth tens of thousands?"

Note: I have translated the text as closely as possible, without adding any additional explanations or content.

"I just thought the one you picked wasn't pretty, so I purposely said it was expensive to make you choose a prettier one. Don't act like you've never seen the world before!"

"Welcome!"

As soon as Madam Collins finished speaking, a respectful voice from a shop assistant came from the store entrance.

"Dean Robinson, what brings you here today?"

The one who came in was none other than the Hunter Dean of Pearl City's top college, the Cloud City First Academy.

His family, the Robinson Family, was a hundred-year-old scholarly family in Pearl City, with several top scholars in the Qing Dynasty.

In Hunter's generation, he chose to devote himself to education, while his brothers chose business.

This jewelry store was opened by Hunter's brother, Hector.

Hunter nodded slightly at the clerk, then spoke.

"My wife's birthday is coming up, and I plan to buy her a necklace."

"Please let me introduce some to you."

"Sure, no problem!"

Hunter was like their half-boss, so the clerk was naturally very enthusiastic towards him.

Madam Collins straightened her back when she saw Dean Robinson. Hayley, that waste, definitely couldn't get into a family like his.

However,

Bailey is in the top class at the First Academy!

She cannot let Hayley affect Bailey's impression in Dean Robinson's mind.

Thinking of this,

she instinctively grabbed Hayley's hand, wanting to leave immediately.

However, as she was about to lift her foot,

"Ah!"

A sharp scream suddenly came from the opposite counter.