Chapter 8
Alison instantly caught onder (Maura’s hint, chiming in smoothly, “Oh, you’re absolutely right. I just noticed Miss Newton is also rocking Thom & Gottes, but it’s nowhere near as creative as Miss Aurora Crawford’s look
Kamara, who had already been stewing from all the attention Aurora was stealing, practically exploded when she heard Alison’s words. She marched over, bristling with insilienation. “Every brand has its identity. When you mess with that by altering the design, you’re disrespecting the brand’s cubure. You have no business wearing Thom & Gottex
The Crawford and Lloyd families weren’t exactly at the same level as the Newtons, and everyone knew it. Though many silently disagreed with her words, jone were brave enough to speak out against her.
Aurora coolly pulled her hand away from Maura’s grip, dropping it like a dead weight. Fashion is subjective, and so is style she said with a casual shing. “Tersonally, I’m not a fan of your necklace, Miss Newton. Doesn’t do much for your look.”
Samara’s face flushed with fury. A nobody like hirt, daring to insult me? she fumed inwardly. She clenched her fists and scoffed, exasperated, “Do you have any slea who designed this necklace? How dare you criticize inf
Her glare flicked to the top of Aurora’s head. “And that tiara you’re wearing–it’s not from any brand I know. Looks like cheap trash. Pairing t with Thom & Gones? Now that’s a real insult to the brand.”
Aurora faltered for a second, the tiara’s origin still a mystery to her. She hadn’t even picked it out herself
Just half an hour ago, Harry had stopped her at the door of this mansion, saying Daxon wanted to see her. She knew what that meeting was about and followed him. After they wrapped up, Daxon, noticing her lack of accessories, casually handed her the tiara as a sort of down payment.
Maura quickly jumped in, offering Samara a glass of juice. “Don’t be mad, Samara Aurora just got back. She doesn’t know much about these things
She then turned to Aurora, her expression full of faux concern. “Samara is one of Thom & Gottex’s brand ambassadors. She gets invited to all their new collection launches and has first pick on the haute couture Thom & Cottex even said on their official blog that Samara’s the best at styling their designs”
Maura shot Aurora a conflicted look, as if she hated to say it but had no choice. “So, if Sagara says your look isn’t appropriate, she’s probably right.” Damon, ever the gentleman, offered a solution with a polite smile. “We have backup gowns ready, Miss Aurora Crawford. Perhaps you’d like to change into that Everyone knne Aurora’s dress looked stunning, but they also knew better than to upset Samara.
“Backup gowns? Aurora’s thoughts churned. “They’re probably some last–season, bargain–bin disasters
Samara looked at Aurora with disdain, fully expecting her to cave. After all, she figured no one would dare stand up to her in front of everyone. But Aurora merely smiled. Instead of backing down as expected, she met Samara’s gare head–on. “So, you’re a brand ambassador? I thought I was speaking to the designer. Even if I was, once the dress is made, it’s up to the wearer how to style it. Maybe stick to your own wardrobe, Miss Newton, instead of policing mine”
The final words came out slow and deliberate, each syllable dripping with cool defiance.
like I don’t exist. Well, I’ll make her regret that, she
Samara’s face turned beet red. “No one’s ever dared to speak to me like this. This girl’s acting like I bellowed internally
Without another word, Samara lifted her glass of juice, aiming to drench Aurora…
But before she could move, Aurora swiftly yanked Maura in front of her. The juice splashed all over Maura’s pristine white dress, leaving a glaring. sticky stain Maura stood frozen in shock, unable to process how she had been dragged into this mess so quickly. Even with her efforts to distance berself, she’d been hauled back into the fray.
“You…you actually dodged!” Samara stammered,
and trembling in disbelief
Aurora raised an eyebrow, a mocking smirk curling her lips. “Did you think I’m stupid, Miss Newton?”
The not–so–subtle insult hang in the air, and Samara’s anger boiled over. She’d been pampered and praised her entire life, feared even. In Mereida, she could walk all over anyone she pleased, and they’d let her.
But now Aurora, a country Lumpkin in Samura’s eyes, was treating her like a joke. Samara’s knuckles whitened as she prepared for her next tantrum, silendy vowing that Aurora would pay for this humiliation.
Samara was just about to lose her cool when her mother, Beatrix Newton, appeared, flanked by a group of high–society women, Beatrix, dressed in
chic Chanel suit, looked every bit the part of old money. The diamond bracelet on her wrist easily cost tens of millions of dollars, and lier
perfectly maintained face didn’t show a single wrinkle.
Chapter &
But there was something else about Beatrix–her sharp, no–nonsense expression gave her an aura of authority. The women around her greeted her with flattering smiles, but she barely acknowledged their presence, her icy demeanor hard to ignore.
“Moni” Samara ran over, clinging to Beatrix’s arm like a lifeline. “This Aurora’s a bully”
Maura, standing nearby with her head lowered and her face pale, chimed in, her voice shaky, “Mrs. Newton…”
Samara wasted
time twisting the narrative. “You have no idea, Mom. Aurora’s been awful. Look at this dress. It costs more than $300,000. And poor Maura’s dress is just a measly $70,000
“I was trying to get Aurora to change into something more appropriate, so the Crawfords wouldn’t get a reputation for playing favorites. Hut instead, she wrecked Maura’s dress and had the nerve to insult me”
She was spinning the story so fast that one would think she was auditioning for an award. Meanwhile, Aurora stood her ground, watching the theatrics unfold.
Beatrix didn’t bother fact–checking, not even sparing Aurora a glance. Her cokl gaze shifted to Stary as she questioned in an icy tone. “Mrs. Crawford, Maura as our chosen bride for our son. Are you really going to let some outsider you dragged in from who–knows–where upstage her! What does that say about our fanuly?”
Damon’s expression darkened at the mention of “chosen bride, but he forced a polite smile, thinking. The Newtons are far more powerful than my
family
Stacy, however, was practically giddy inside, though she played her part well. “Aurora is Esme’s daughter, and she’s only just returned from the countryside. I… she said, playing the victim.
With a sigh. Beatrix cut her off, with an air of faux sympathy, “Exactly. Since she’s fresh from the sticks, she needs to learn some manners. Right
she’s all rough edges. If she doesn’t shape up, she’ll be a lost cause.”
now.
Together, Beatrix and Stacy turned their verbal daggers on Aurora, painting her as if she were nothing more than gutter trash
Beatrix’s eyes flicked to the tiara on Aurora’s head, her lips curling into a condescending smile. “That tiara you’re wearing? It debuted last week in Desucia. It hasn’t even hit the shelves here yet. If you can’t afford real jewelry, line, but wearing a knock–off? That’s just tacky.”
Aurora’s heart skipped a beat. A knock–off? There’s no way Daxon would give me a fake.”
Sensing her disbelief, Beatrix briefly explained the origin of the tiara, her tone growing even more smug. “What? You think I’m lying? This tiara is from Lavalier Jewels, a brand exclusively for royalty. Only families with centuries of power can even dream of owning one. Ordinary people don’t even know it exists”
Samara perked up, her eyes gleaming with wicked delight. “Wearing fake jewelry, huh? I’ve seen it before, but girl, this is a new low. You’ve officially embarrassed yourself on an international level”
A ripple of laughter followed, with Alison eagerly chiming in, “No wonder she couldn’t name the brand earlier.
Beatrix glanced at the ruined, wrinkled gown of Maura, who was hiding behind her with a pitiful look, then at Aurora’s. Although Aurora’s and Samara’s dresses were from the same collection, it was undeniable that Aurora’s styling was far more elegant and eye–catching
“Til make this easy for you, Beatrix declared, her voice cutting through the tension. “Apologize to Maura and Samara, change your dress, and we’ll forget this ever happened.”
Samara lifted her chin proudly, while a glimmer of satisfaction danced in Maura’s eyes. She subtly inched forward, positioning herself directly in
front of Aurora.
y reasonable”
“Aurora, be a good girl and apologize, Stacy cooed, her voice dripping with false affection. “Mrs. Newton is being very
Aurora had been quiet, her head bowed, and everyone assured she was too afraid to speak up. In reality, her mind was racing. Beatrix wasn’t some untouchable queen–Aurora knew her true background despite everyone else being kept in the dark. Beatrix was nothing more than a disgraced illegitimate child, banished from the Chapman family to live in Mi
In Aurora’s past life, when Beatrix had tried to use the Chapman name to bully others her arrogance had backfired spectacularly. The Chapman family matriarch had uncovered Beatrix’s true identity and the truth had blown up in Beatrix’s face. And then she had become the biggest joke in
Mereida
