REBORN My Second Life I Became The Villianess (Nyxara) novel Chapter 51

The black SUV rolled through the city center like it owned the road, pulling right up to the main entrance of one of the biggest, most exclusive shopping malls downtown. The whole place was a multi-level palace of glass, polished marble, and high-end storefronts where normal people couldn't even afford to look at the window displays.

As soon as the car parked, a valet practically sprinted over to open the doors.

Grandmother and Mom stepped out first, looking immaculate as always. They took one look at the sheer scale of the mall, traded a glance, and decided they were way too old and important to be walking miles across slick floors for clothes they didn't even need.

"You girls go ahead," Mom said smoothly, adjusting her sunglasses as a couple of mall security guards rushed over to escort them toward a private, VIP lounge near the penthouse level. "Grandmother and I are going to grab some espresso and let you three handle the heavy lifting."

"Have fun, don't break my credit card," Grandmother added with a sharp, wicked grin before they both strolled off, leaving me, Ella, and Bianca to tackle the boutiques.

Ella linked her arm through mine, grinning like she was about to pull off a heist. "Alright, sis. Target acquired. Let's get you a wardrobe that screams 'I run this city.'" she said with a grin.

We hit up a few high-end designer stores, browsing racks of silk dresses, tailored suits, and heavy cashmere coats. Ella and Bianca were great, they didn't push me into anything flashy or tacky. They knew how to pick pieces that looked effortless, expensive, and quietly terrifying.

At one point, they wandered off toward a section of heavy evening wear on the other side of the boutique, leaving me alone to browse a rack of sharp, structured blazers. I was running my fingers down the sleeve of a black velvet jacket when a sharp, mocking voice sliced through the ambient store music.

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."

I didn't even have to look up to know who it was, but I turned my head anyway. Standing just a few feet away, crossing her arms over a designer shopping bag, was Lexi Rivers.

Lexi was Nysa’s ride-or-die best friend and partner-in-crime . In my last life, Lexi had been Nysa’s favorite attack dog. Whenever the two of them caught me out in public, Lexi would make it her personal mission to humiliate me, shoving me into display racks, spilling coffee on my clothes, and treating me like garbage while Nysa stood right beside her, laughing like it was the funniest thing on earth. Lexi thought she was untouchable because her family had money and connections.

She looked me up and down now, her face twisted into a cruel, fake-sweet sneer.

"I heard about the engagement party, and honestly, I thought it was a joke," she scoffed, stepping closer. "You? Marrying into the Valteri family? Please. Everyone knows Nysa was supposed to hook Dario. What, did you have to beg and cry your eyes out to get someone to settle for the family leftover?" she asked.

In my past life, hearing stuff like this would have made my stomach drop. I would have kept my head down, blinking back tears while Lexi tore me to shreds. But this wasn't my past life.

I didn't flinch or glare at her. I just tilted my head, gave her a slow, bright smile, and kept my voice completely calm and casual.

Lexi blinked, thrown off by my reaction. Her sneer faltered for a second before she doubled down, stepping right into my personal space.

"What are you smiling at, you pathetic little freak?" she hissed, her voice rising in pitch. "You think you're hot shit now that you're wearing nice clothes? You're still just Nysa's shadow. Nysa is going to rip you apart the second she gets out of that house…."

I cut her off smoothly, keeping my tone light and breezy. "Have you spoken to Nysa lately, Lexi?" I asked. She stopped dead, her mouth hanging open a fraction. "What?"

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