Chapter 36
Daphne’s nervousness suddenly melted away. She said, “Well, it’s hard to refuse when someone
else is treating.”
“I see…” Sebastian glanced around the table.
Without needing Daphne’s explanation, he knew Yvonne was footing the bill. Given Daphne’s personality, she would not miss a chance to set Yvonne up.
“Ms. Smith, you wouldn’t mind me joining in, would you?” Sebastian asked with a smile.
Yvonne awkwardly shook her head, “No, not at all. Then, as if remembering something, she shot a quick glance in Wilson’s direction.
She asked, “Mr. Turner, did you come with Daphne? You two seem awfully close these days. You’re always together
Her insinuation was clear to everyone at the table. Wilson’s gaze darkened with anger, and he chimed in, “Let’s eat. I want to see someone making a fool of themselves with their unrefined manners”
Daphne tightened her grip on the utensils. She was disappointed that Wilson did not know her at all
Later, Daphne cracked the shell, extracted the meat, and even reassembled the crab shell into its original form. She executed each step flawlessly.
To everyone’s surprise, she handled the crab with expertise, even showing remarkable skill. When she placed the final leg piece to complete the reassembled shell, even Jack could not help but applaud
He said, “Impressive! That was truly elegant, Daphne. You didn’t miss a single step. Mr. Farrell mentioned that you were from-”
“Yes, I come from humble beginnings,” Daphne admitted before Jack could finish
She added, “I grew up in the countryside, my parents were farmers, and I spent four years struggling as an extra in this industry before landing my first leading role. There’s a lot about high society I didn’t know–wine tasting, fine dining etiquette, appreciating jewelry and art. But that doesn’t mean I can’t learn
“Mr. Farrell probably hasn’t been home in so long that his memory of me is stuck in the past when I knew nothing. This past year, I’ve learned how to properly handle seafood, how to appreciate wine, how to smile graciously at social events…”
Then, Daphne set down the utensils, her smile confident yet cutting. “Mr. Harrington, etiquette can be learned, but talent can’t You must’ve heard about Ms. Smith’s acting abilities. If it weren’t
for Mr. Farrell’s backing, she wouldn’t even deserve a seat at this table with you.”
“Daphne. how dare you! Yvonne could not contain herself anymore.
She jumped up, scattering her half–assembled crab shell across the plate. “How is my acting inferior to yours? What makes you think I’m not worthy of dining with Mr. Harrington?”
She added, “Who knows how you really won those acting awards? I’m younger, prettier, and have plenty of opportunities ahead to become a star. What gives you the right to be so arrogant?”
“Hit a nerve, have I?” Daphne arched an eyebrow and calmly grabbed a napkin to wipe her hands.
She continued, “Mr. Harrington, you’ve seen it yourself. Ms. Smith’s composure hardly seems suitable for your film’s character. If I remember correctly, your female lead is supposed to be extremely emotionally stable.”
As soon as Daphne spoke these words, Yvonne realized she had fallen into a trap. She clicked her tongue in frustration.
She hurriedly clarified, “Mr. Harrington, let me explain–Daphne and I have some personal issues, but I’m usually very composed.”
“Enough,” Wilson rapped his knuckles on the table “It’s not your place to judge whether Yvonne is worthy or not, Daphne. If you’re smart, you’ll stay out of her way.”
