She waved the shoe in the air like a trophy. "This? Just another piece for my collection. You, on the other hand…" Her eyes flicked to Olaedo's hand, noting the absence of a ring. "Still alone, I see. Or did another man dope you?"
The murmurs around them grew louder, the gossip spreading like wildfire.
"Isn't that Lydia Williams? She's married to that oil tycoon, right?"
"And that's Anozie Olaedo… wasn't there a big scandal with her a few months back?"
"Poor thing. Mrs Lydia's really giving it to her," another customer whispered, eyes wide.
Olaedo felt the weight of the stares, the murmurs pressing in like a physical force. Yet she refused to look away. Her voice was calm, sharp, controlled. "You sound very proud of yourself, Lydia. Is your entire personality based on who you married?"
Lydia's triumphant smile flickered for a heartbeat, just long enough for Olaedo to notice, before she quickly recovered. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, darling."
