“Aelfric is unwell today and won’t make it,” Trenton managed to say, his smile strained. Glenn looked puzzled. “But isn’t he always in perfect health, trained in martial arts since childhood? It’s peculiar he’d fall ill today of all days.”
“It’s merely a coincidence,” Trenton replied awkwardly. Uninterested in the men’s conversation, Arabella took Marissa’s hand and suggested they sit elsewhere. “Come, sit with me over there, my sweetie.”
“Of course, Grandma.” Marissa then assisted Arabella to a nearby sofa
Once seated, Arabella expressed her disappointment. “You’re dressed so beautifully today, yet you’re hidden under that shirt because you’re cold. Perhaps we should turn off the air conditioning?”
“That wouldn’t be wise, Grandma. It would get too hot for everyone here,” Marissa responded. Arabella frowned, clearly bothered. “All the other women are dressed so elegantly, and here you are in plain attire. As Connor’s wife, you should be the most radiant and distinguished at the party!”
Just then, Melinda approached, followed by a cluster of female guests. Upon noticing Melinda’s attire, Arabella realized something and whispered, “I see, my sweetie. Your dress is the same as Melinda’s. That’s why you’ve covered it up, isn’t it?”
Marissa offered a small, acknowledging smile. Arabella’s mood shifted to indignation. “You are Connor’s wife, and she is just your future niece-in-law. What right does she have to wear the same dress as you? I’ll have her change immediately!”
“No, Grandma!” Marissa intervened quickly. “She’s the bride-to-be and the focus of today’s event. It’s right for me to step back. Besides, if you intervene on my behalf, it might lead to criticism of my behavior as overbearing.”
Arabella was reluctant but eventually conceded to Marissa’s reasoning. Marissa had hoped for a peaceful time to chat and enjoy some refreshments with Arabella, but her plans were interrupted as Melinda approached, accompanied by a group of women. As they drew closer, Marissa’s heart sank when she spotted two individuals among the group whom she least wanted to encounter
After Sansa was forced to divorce Rex, she returned to her family of origin. Having been absent from public events due to her damaged reputation in high society, her appearance at Melinda and Derek’s engagement party was somewhat expected. Marissa wasn’t shocked to see her there; it was inevitable that Sansa would reenter society at some point. What did surprise her, however, was Ayla’s presence. Marissa quickly messaged Ferris: “Didn’t we sue Ayla for selling fake medicine? How is she out already?” Ferris replied, “Here’s the situation. The investigation revealed that Ayla wasn’t involved in manufacturing the counterfeit medicine. She was actually duped into buying it on the black market. So, they fined her and let her go.” Understanding the explanation, Marissa put her phone away
Although Ayla was free, her reputation had suffered greatly. This setback severely limited her prospects in the medical field
At that moment, Melinda approached Marissa, accompanied by Chloe and some other women. Chloe smiled warmly at Marissa. “Tiffany, you chose such a subdued outfit today. Are you trying to avoid overshadowing Melinda? That’s very thoughtful of you. I really admire that.”
Marissa merely looked at her and stayed quiet. Chloe, feeling snubbed, pretended to be hurt and bit her lip. Melinda felt sorry for Chloe and gave Sansa a conspiratorial wink. Sansa quickly took the cue to mock. “Trying to avoid overshadowing Melinda? Connor doesn’t even care for her. He didn’t bother to provide a dress for her tonight. Miss Brock, please stop with the empty compliments.”
Ayla joined in. “Tiffany, aren’t you the hostess of the Daniels family? How can a family’s hostess appear so underdressed?”
Arabella was furious and about to respond when Marissa touched her hand to soothe her. Encouraged by their apparent success in upsetting Marissa, Ayla and Sansa ramped up their taunts
“Tiffany, I bet you, an ignorant failure, don’t even know how much Miss Warren’s dress cost. It’s a creation of the renowned international designer Sara, priced at thirty million dollars. And your shirt? It might be worth thirty dollars at most. What a gap!”
“And look at Miss Warren’s necklace. It was Mrs. Lorna Daniels’ personal collection and is valued at three million dollars. Mrs. Lorna Daniels gave this expensive piece to Miss Warren today. She hasn’t even married into the Daniels family yet, and she’s already cherished by her future in-laws. Tiffany, you’ve been married to Mr. Connor Daniels for a while now, yet you wear no expensive jewelry nor do you own a proper formal dress?”
“It’s because Miss Warren’s marriage has been formally arranged by both families, while you, Tiffany, snagged Mr. Connor Daniels through shameless tactics. Miss Warren’s wedding will be graceful, and she will be treasured. You, on the other hand, deserve nothing but disdain.”
With a subtle smile, Marissa observed Sansa and Ayla, recognizing them as Melinda’s eager pawns. She understood why Ayla, having hit rock bottom, would try to curry favor with the Warrens to secure a future in their circle. Yet, despite being older and presumably wiser, Sansa had also allowed herself to be easily manipulated by Melinda. It was both foolish and embarrassing. Sansa, sensing Marissa’s judgment through her steady gaze, shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. Her circumstances were dire. After the Nash family disowned her, she and Ayla had no choice but to return to her birth family, where they faced constant mistreatment from her brother and sister-in-law. Desperate for a better life, they clung to Melinda’s kindness, hoping to gain the Warren family’s favor. Ayla, on the other hand, wore her bitterness like armor. She was determined to make Marissa the target of her frustrations. Even if Melinda hadn’t specifically instructed her, Ayla would have opposed Marissa out of spite
As Marissa’s gaze landed on her, Ayla’s resentment peaked. In a sudden, spiteful act, she grabbed a goblet of wine, intending to throw its contents at Marissa. It was actually part of Melinda’s plan to humiliate Marissa, hoping it would force her to reveal the ugly dress she was hiding under her shirt
“What are you staring at, Tiffany?” Ayla called out, her tone sharp and challenging. “Others might cower because you’re the wife of the wealthiest man in the city, but I certainly won’t! Today’s the day I expose you for who you really are.” With a sudden motion, Ayla swung her hand, splashing the glass of red wine toward Marissa
Despite her outward bravado, Ayla was indeed intimidated by the status of Connor’s wife. However, she had grown accustomed to dominating Tiffany, and even with rumors of Tiffany gaining Connor’s favor, Ayla couldn’t shake off her old belief that Tiffany was weak. Besides, Ayla now depended on Melinda, who leaned on Aelfric, an influential figure in Doomsday Base. Ayla convinced herself she had nothing to fear as long as she kept Melinda content
Marissa, perceptive as ever, saw right through Ayla’s transparent tactics. She sidestepped gracefully, allowing the red wine to sail harmlessly past her. Though she managed to avoid most of the splash, a few droplets marred her white shirt, creating stark red blotches on the fabric
“Oh!” exclaimed Chloe, feigning concern. “Tiffany, your shirt is ruined. Come, let’s go change it.”
Marissa merely gave Chloe a quick glance and remained silent. Melinda, with a smirk, teased, “Tiffany, surely you have a dress on underneath that, don’t you? Why not remove your shirt and show us the fabulous dress Connor gifted you?”
With a serene smile, Marissa slowly turned to Melinda and responded, “Do you truly wish for me to remove my shirt? If I overshadow you and spoil your engagement party today, don’t claim I am being cruel.” Melinda’s gaze darted to the hem of Marissa’s dress. Though modestly revealed, the fabric was clearly refined, much like her own attire
Before Melinda could make sense of it, Ayla scoffed. “Stop your pretense. You must be hiding a worn-out dress underneath, too embarrassed to show it!” Sansa added with a sneer, “I know your tricks, Tiffany. Always stirring trouble since your childhood. Wearing such a shoddy shirt on this significant day suggests you’re hiding something. Perhaps you’re concealing a cursed object meant for Miss Warren.”
Ayla supported her claim. “Certainly. Your envy of the favor Miss Warren receives from the Daniels family is obvious. You must be carrying something to curse her. Now, we must see it. Remove your shirt!”
Marissa found their theories increasingly ludicrous. To force her to undress and embarrass herself, they resorted to inventing absurd excuses. Yet, Marissa stayed calm, not succumbing to Sansa’s and Ayla’s provocations. She faced Melinda again and inquired, “It’s your engagement party today. What’s your decision?” Secretly, Melinda clenched her fists, containing her frustration
Marissa’s composure unsettled her, but after a moment of thought, Melinda convinced herself that her own attire must be superior. Melinda was adorned in a dress called Purple Angel, designed by Sara, valued at thirty million dollars. Her necklace alone was worth three million. In her eyes, Marissa was no competition. Having scrutinized the visible part of Marissa’s dress, Melinda noted its striking resemblance to her own. She speculated that Marissa might be wearing a counterfeit Purple Angel, cleverly concealed under a shirt to avoid direct comparison
The notion that Connor’s wife might be exposed for wearing a fake at such a gathering thrilled Melinda. Such a scandal would ruin Marissa’s reputation among the elite forever
With a malicious grin, Melinda said, “Since there are doubts about your integrity, the best way to clear your name is to remove your shirt right here!”
“Very well,” responded Marissa calmly. Without hesitation, she stood up and began to unbutton her shirt…
At Melinda’s behest, Sansa and Ayla created a commotion that drew everyone’s attention to Marissa, expecting her to embarrass herself. Connor watched from a distance, choosing not to intervene. Marissa was Black Snake-she had faced far more formidable adversaries than a few spiteful women. This petty squabble did not rattle her, and he was confident she could handle the situation on her own. Domenic, Marc, and Terry shared Connor’s perspective and stayed by his side, eagerly anticipating the spectacle at the expense of the troublesome trio
However, the onlookers misunderstood the dynamics at play. Seeing Connor’s apparent indifference to his wife’s predicament, they concluded he didn’t care about her. This misunderstanding further emboldened Melinda, Sansa, and Ayla. Initially, Marissa had no intention of causing a scene. She had shown respect but received only disdain in return. Deciding she had endured enough, she was ready for a direct confrontation. In a bold and defiant move, Marissa removed her shirt right in front of everyone, revealing a stunning dress underneath. The crowd gasped in astonishment
“Oh my God! She’s so gorgeous. She’s like an angel,” someone exclaimed
“Although Tiffany has a bad reputation and is a good-for-nothing, you cannot deny that she is really beautiful,” another person remarked
“Indeed. She looks very attractive even in simple attire without makeup. Now, adorned in such luxurious clothing, she dazzles us,” a third observer commented
Standing amidst the crowd, Marissa looked breathtaking. Her posture was graceful and poised, with a hint of wild charm in her expression. The stunning dress, paired with the glittering diamond necklace, made her appear as though she were radiating light, casting a glow over the banquet hall. With such brilliance, she overshadowed the other female guests. It was an engagement party with Melinda as the intended star. Although she was surrounded by many guests and had initially captured all the attention, Marissa now stole the spotlight. People who didn’t know it was an engagement party might mistake the event for a beauty pageant award ceremony
Connor, observing from afar, was visibly displeased. He had chosen Marissa’s outfit, but the sight of many men admiring her sparked jealousy to the point where he wished he could redress her himself. He desired Marissa to revel in the prestige of being his wife while not drawing the gaze of other men. He felt torn
Marissa, oblivious to the surrounding stares, simply smiled faintly at Melinda after removing her shirt. At that moment, Melinda’s anger was palpable. Tears welled in her eyes, and her clenched hands hung at her sides. She bit her lip nearly to the point of bleeding
She and Marissa were dressed identically in style and color. Yet, Marissa’s attire, though a replica, looked more flattering on her than Melinda’s original, making Melinda’s own dress seem like the imitation. This situation was a stinging humiliation for Melinda, a scenario she had unwittingly orchestrated
“Bitch! Whore! Shame on you!” Melinda screamed, her jealousy and hatred contorting her face
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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