Chapter 26
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In Mabel’s previous life, she genuinely had feelings for Matthew, which was why she humbly pleased his family. Matthew had been very much in control of their relationship, enjoying her devotion without feeling anything wrong about it.
To save his family’s precarious business, she offered both money and her resources. He entire life, promising she’d be his only wife.
swore that he’d be good to her his
But she was soon disfigured, and then he slept with Rhea without the slightest intention of hiding it from her. When she walked in on them doing it, they weren’t guilty at all; instead, they mocked her with all kinds of harsh words.
Only then did it suddenly dawn on her that the two had been screwing behind her back all this time. In truth, Rhea, who had always seen her as an eyesore, was the one for Matthew.
They ruined her and ridiculed her together with their families, saying she was an ugly duckling who was stupid and over- confident enough to think Matthew would really fall for her.
It pained her to look back into the past.
Falling in love with the wrong person was the beginning of an irreparable tragedy.
Mabel stared at the backs of Aileen and Matthew, lost in thought
She pondered, ‘Aileen already lost it when sensing I’m not as obedient as before.
But I haven’t even started my real revenge yet. When the Preston family business collapses, they will be screwed. This time, I won’t give them a penny. How they’re going to make it by then
Aileen insisted on leaving, but Matthew didn’t want to. After all, it was Mabel’s birthday party today, and he was her fiancé- to–be. What if someone came on to her after he left and won her over?
Knowing she couldn’t change his mind, Aileen poked his head, frustrated. “Our family is way better than the Harpers. What’s gotten into you? What’s so good about Mabel anyway? Once you get married, I’ll be kicked out, won’t I?”
Some women were just so unreasonable. Matthew marrying Mabel was a long shot, but she had already regarded Mabel as her enemy.
Sensing Aileen had made a compromise, Matthew sweet–talked, “Come on, Mom. Even if I get married, you’ll still be the most important woman in my life.”
His words obviously worked. Aileen no longer looked that annoyed, but she still snorted, “That damned Mabel dared to disobey me today. I ought to discipline her after she marries you.
Matthew nodded ceaselessly, echoing, “Of course, you should. She’s been in a foul mood because we’re in the middle of a fight. I’ll make sure she apologizes to you someday.”
Only then did Aileen stay instead of having a total fallout with the Harpers.
Till this point, Matthew was still blind to the truth; he believed Mabel was just in a fit of pique, which she didn’t love him at all.
was
why she acted as if
After all, she was crazy about him not long ago. Of course, she wouldn’t stop loving him all of a sudden. Besides, he was outstanding, and she had no reason not to love him.
Meanwhile, Aileen was weighing up the pros and cons. For one thing, she knew Matthew couldn’t leave Mabel, and she had always doted on him and couldn’t get him to change his mind at all. For another, though she had her eyes on Rhea, the real
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Chapter 26
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laughter of the Harper family, after what had happened, she suddenly realized that compared to Rhea, Mabel was indeed a better choice to be her daughter–in–law. At least, Mabel’s kids would be much better–looking and well–proportioned than Rhea’s. What was more, she valued reputation. She’d be a laughingstock if Rhea, with all her scandals, really became part of he Preston family.
Neither of them knew they’d soon regret not leaving early tonight, or nothing afterward would have happened, and they wouldn’t have been haunted by Rhea, who later became a nightmare for the rest of their lives.
The dinner party went on. Many of the wealthy young people who had despised Mabel in the past were impressed by her onight. They came forward to congratulate her on her birthday, to befriend her, and to beat around the bush, asking her who had given her the expensive dress.
Mabel hadn’t avenged herself yet, so she didn’t want the others to know she was friends with the Bishops, one of the top elite Families in Linburn City.
Once Oscar was involved, he’d ruin all of them in the blink of an eye. It’d kill all the fun.
So, she just smiled and answered vaguely.
A friend who means a lot to me.”
Standing aside, Rhea heard her answer, too.
She wanted to blend in, becoming friends with those rich young people. However, after Mabel exposed her true colors in front of everyone, they clearly wanted nothing to do with her. When she stepped closer, they even walked away with obvious disdain on their faces.
closed t
Of course, Rhea was curious about who had given Mabel the dress. A shadowy figure flashed through her mind; the man in the back seat of the extended Rolls–Royce that day.
She thought, ‘Would it be him? But who is he exactly?‘
The question bothered her, and she couldn’t stop thinking about it at all.
She didn’t miss the gentle smile on Mabel’s face when Mabel gave everyone her answer.
For the first time, Mabel smiled genuinely tonight.
At the realization of that, Rhea had a bad feeling, and her heart started pounding. She thought, ‘Has Mabel gotten involved with a man with higher status than Matthew’s? Is that why Mabel suddenly becomes so indifferent to Matthew?
‘I was at the auction that day. Come to think of it, the mysterious VIP guest on the second floor seemed to be deliberately crossing us, doubling his offer as long as Matthew showed interest in a lot.
‘Linburn City is a place full of hidden bigwigs with money and power. Many of them are worth 600 million dollars, including the Prestons. However, few of them can spend that much on a dress. The buyer’s status must be terrifying; neither the Harper family nor the Preston family is his match.
‘Mabel’s vague answer and genuine smile are so unsettling. If she really gets to be with such a big shot, even if I marry Matthew, I’ll still be overshadowed by her for the rest of my life.
‘No way! That’s absolutely unacceptable. What I want is to see her get kicked out of the Harper family and leave with nothing. The more miserable she is, the better. If her life gets better after she gets kicked out, I, the Harper family’s real daughter, will be so bumiliated:
‘I no longer give a damn about why Aileen hates me. All I want to know now is who’s the man backing Mabel up and how do I find him.
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‘I know I’m not as pretty and stunning as Mabel, but ever since I was little, I know what men need the most. They yearn for considerate, gentle women who can soothe them, providing them with comfort. Mabel is far from that, whereas I happen to be her opposite.
‘I’ve stolen Matthew away from her. Of course, I can hurt her in the same way again.
‘Matthew is nothing; a pawn at most. I’m set to climb up to a much higher place. After I successfully seduce Mabel’s mysterious lover, no one will dare to look down upon me anymore!‘
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