Chapter
Maura lified a dress with a practiced delicacy, as if it were a rare and precious artifact. “Lloyd Group’s anniversary mom picked out the gown for you,” she said with an air of forced generosity.
party is in a couple of days. My
She let out a dramane gasp, her voice dripping with fake admiration. “This is a custom Thom & Gottex design, worth over 300 thousand dollars. Even my mom hasn’t splurged on something this extravagant for me! Her eyes widened theatrically, her words hanging in the air like the final flourish of a grand performance.
Aurora glanced at the dress in Masiras hands. It was undeniably luxurious. But Thom & Gottes was known for bold, mature designs, better suited for women in their late twenties or thirties. Aurora, just about to turn eighteen nest month, would look completely out of place in something v overtly mature—it would make her seem gaudy rather than graceful.
she saw right through Maura and Stacy’s little scheme. But still. Aurora took the dress, her expression one of feigned surprise, as if she were overwhelmed by the supposed generosity Her excitement was perfectly crafted.
Maura smirked with satisfaction. As a sociable, she understood the importance of fashion and image. If Aurora wore something that didn’t suit her. it could easily paint her as someone with tasteless and laichrom” sensibilities, reducing her to the image of a nouveau riche. That would be the first mail in the collm.
Moreover, the dress was incredibly expensive. If anything went wrong, no one could blame the Crawford family, leaving Aurora to shoulder the fallout
On the day of the party. Aurora played her role perfectly, slipping into the gown as planned. As she descended the grand staircase, Maura and Stacy watched with barely concealed delight. Aurora wobbled in the high heels like a newbom fawn, teetering with every step. More than once, the nearly tripped over her own feet.
Aurora had paired the luxurious gown with an ill–suited, furry shawl and had her hair done in a messy, half–hearted style. To make matters worse, her makeup was almost non–existent, a stark contrast to the dress’s opulence. The 300–thousand–dollar gown looked less like haute couture and more like something picked up at a discount store.
As Aurora approached them. Maura and Stacy exchanged a smug glance.
Maura stepped forward, her voice laced with phony admiration. “You look stunning tonight” she couldn’t wait for everyone to see Aurora’s ndiculous getup:
Maura herself wasn’t dressed in anything as costly, but her outh and makeup had been tailored to perfection, radiating an effortless elegance that was carefully calculated to impress.
Aurora, unfazed by Maura’s insincere flattery, barely acknowledged her with a glance. “Let’s go,” she said coolly, her voice betraying none of the emotions stirring beneath the surface.
Maura’s smile fahered for a second after she once again got brushed off. She watched Aurora walk away, her heart simmering with resentment. Keep your head up for now, she thought bitterly. ‘Let’s see who comes to your rescue when you make a foul of yourself later.
Stacy patted Maura’s hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry about her. Tonight, the Newton family will be there. You haven’t seen Mrs. Newton in ages. Make sure to catch up-
“And remember, Stacy added in a low voice, “if it weren’t for the Newton family needing a favor from you, this engagement might not have fallen into your lap. It won’t hurt to charm them a little more.”
Ashy smile crepe across Maura’s face at the mention of the Newtons. Don’t worry: Mom I know.”
Outside the opulent mansion, the driveway was packed with luxury cars, gleaming under the soft glow of the estate’s grand lights. It seemed like every high end vehicle in the city had come to rest here, their steek exteriors a testament to the wealth and status of the guests inside.
Damon stood at the entrance with his father, greeting guests as they arrived. When the Cranford family’s car pulled up, he straightened up immediately, a spark of excitement flashing in his eyes. He hurried over to open the car door, eager to impress
“Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, so wonderful to see you. Thank you for coming And Maura, Damon said, his voice softening as he extended his hand to her. Tm really glad you can make it”
Damon, with his sinking good looks, was already the school heartthrob. But tonight, in his element, he seemed even more dashing. The attention he, the charming heir of the Lloyd family, lavished on Maura didn’t go unnoticed by the crowd of girls nearby, their eyes gleaming with envy though they kept their feelings in check
Maura’s chin tilted up slightly as she took Damon’s hand, savoring the admiring glances thrown her way. She and Damon walked into the grand hall together, the picture–perfect couple that had everyone whispering.
“Maura, where’s Aurora?” Damon asked, scanning the crowd with a slight frown
Maura’s lips curled up into a subtle smirk. “She didn’t ride with us. I’m sure she’s on her way, though.”
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5.55PM
Chapter 7
Gathering their usual eres, Damon rouillic help but notice Alison Andrews eyeing Maura curiosoly “Maura, why aren’t you wearing that dress you
Maturity expression alimenei, a hint of foptration seeping through. “Well, Aurora picked a dress that cost over 300
100 thousand dollars, so. She left
“Oh, no morries, you look stunning in this one.” Alison chimed in, qark to comfort her. “But honestly, dropping that much on a single dress just for here!? She didn’t even consider yea
Mara sighed dramatic
“You know how it a. She used in live in the sticks. I guess the thinks expensive automatically means good. I even told un the Thim & Gottex gown wasn’t Aurora’s style, fout Aurora insisted, so what could I do! Plus, she was so focused on the dress that she ven bother picking mit my jewelry”
Damon softer, leaning in slightly. “Tveryone knows that cars are for the p
poor and watches are for the rich. But a dress without jewels? That’s just
Alison búnu mut laughing, saying, “Tamion, you’ve hit the nail on the head, She’s acclueless as they come.” Maura giggled, her eyes gleaming with
“But serumisly, Maura, where is Aumura? She hasn’t shown up yet, and we’ve been waiting for ages. You don’t think she’s chickened out, do your Alison piked, glancing around for signs of Aurora
Maurs mentally rolled her eyes. “Aurora” Nervous? Yeah, right, she thought bitterly, recalling how this girl, fresh out of the countryside, should’ve been vedooniand usecure. Instead, from the day Aurora had stepped into their house, she had carried herself like the owned the place.
And Maura hated that fierce, dehant gaze. She wanted to break that unyielding spirit, to see Aurora kneeling at her feet, no longer able to look at her with those proud eyes that made her feel so insecure.
“No” Maura replied, shaking her head with a forced smile. “Aurora’s never nervous. She’s got confidence.”
Alison snorted “Confidence! More like cluelessness.”
As they continged chatting, a sudden gasp echoed from the curance, “Oh my God, who’s that?”
The group who had been busy mocking Aurora, instinctively turned toward the doorways drawn by the stir at the door. Striding in was a girl dressed in a stunning Tham & Gottex gown, looking every bit like she stepped out of a fashion fairytale.
Her hair was riegantly swept up, exposing her long, graceful neck. While the deep V–neck dress was tastefully altered with a luxurious silk ribbon ted in a large bow, giving her an air of playful elegance with just a hint of allure. The only accessory she wore was a delicate tiara that glittered softly, completing her look without overpowering it.
“Wow… she’s gorgeous, someone whispered in awe.
I didn’t know Thom & Gottex could be worn like that,” another girl murmured, eyes wide with admiration.
A nearby guy couldn’t help but be captivated. “That tiara looks like it’s dripping with stardust.
But Maura’s face drained of color as she recognized the girl and froze in disbelief. It was Aurora.
Goor was the awkward; ill–firing country girl Maura had been counting on Aurora was breathtaking, radiating confidence with every step she took. Maura felt a jang of inadequacy as she watched lier, the insecurity she hated creeping up ‘Howe How could Aurora pull this off so effortlessly? she wondered desperately
And it wasn’t just the dress. Sure, it was a stunning Thom & Cottex gown, the kind that screamed wealth and status. But what really style the show was the way Autura carried herself like she was born to wear it. After living a whole other life, Aurora at Twenty–seven had learned to command any room, to own every inch of a gown like this one.
Aurora glided up to them, her high heels clicking softly against the floor. She looked like a princess stepping our of a forgotten era, her every muvement birmaning with regal charm:
“How did you.” Maura stammered, struggling to believe what she was seeing
“What What’s wrong?” Aurora smiled sweetly, but the mocking gleam in her eyes made it clear–Maura had been played, and she knew it Maura’s fare twisted in embarrassment, the gasps and murmurs of admiration from the crowd around them only adding salt to the wound.
She was furious, her eyes welling up with tears, but she stood her ground, refusing to be the first to retreat. Her fingers clenched so tightly around her dress that it crumpled in her grip. With a deep breath, she forced a smile, though her pride was shattered.
Looping her arm through Aurora’s, she tried to mask her frustration with fake enthusiasm. “Wow, this dress… you were right. Only you could pull off something this expensive,
555 PM
Chapter 7
She shot a glance over at Alison, who quickly caught on and looked toward Samara
Newton standing nearby.
The Newton family, one of the most influential in Merida, was no stranger to luxury. Samara Newton, the beloved heiress, was practically royalty. among their orcle, and a die–hard fan of Thom & Gottex Unfortunately for her she was also dressed in one of the brand’s gowns tonight. Aurora had nist completely stulen her thunder, and the icy look in Samara’s eyes said it all.
