Leila confirmed the troubling news, and Rachel’s frown deepened. “What on earth is Tiffany thinking, faking something as significant as a marriage? I’m really worried she’ll end up hurt deeply in the future.”
“I’m worried too,” Leila admitted, her brow furrowed. “Look how plainly Tiffany is dressed today. It’s obvious Connor doesn’t care about her. Even for a fake marriage, he should make an effort to keep up appearances. Isn’t he just making her lose face?”
As Marissa drew near, Rachel sighed. “Let’s drop the subject. We might be overheard.”
Leila clamped her mouth shut. When Marissa reached them, Rachel put on a warm smile and inquired, “Tiffany, why aren’t you wearing a dress? Did you forget? I could have someone bring you one.”
Marissa quickly clarified, “Rachel, I am wearing a dress. It’s just under this shirt. I put it on because it felt a bit chilly with today’s wind.”
With the bright sunshine proving otherwise, Rachel and Leila believed Marissa had just chosen to cover what was evidently a shabby dress with a plain shirt
Chloe, who was eavesdropping from behind a nearby tree, shared the same thought. Without dwelling on it, Marissa suggested, “Rachel, Leila, let’s go inside.”
Sympathy struck Rachel and Leila. They considered having someone send over a dress to spare Marissa the embarrassment, but since she declined, they respected her wishes. Together, the trio headed toward the villa. Chloe, adorned in her finest, slowly stepped out from behind the tree, her lips twisting into a knowing smile
She had envied Marissa, that simple village girl, but she discovered that Connor’s affection was all an act. Relieved she hadn’t done anything reckless at the hospital the previous day, she felt she had dodged a major mistake. This was exactly how things were supposed to unfold. Connor would never take an interest in someone as plain as Marissa
With that thought, Chloe exhaled a deep, relieved sigh and felt a surge of contentment wash over her. She then made her way toward the villa
Once inside, Chloe headed directly to the lounge where Melinda, the bride-to-be, was preparing. Melinda sat in front of a large mirror, her brow furrowed in concentration. She was looking at several veils spread out before her, unsure of which one to wear. Each one was an elegant option yet somehow not quite right for her dress. The dress in question was the lilac creation that had become a sensation online. It was identical to Marissa’s, though Melinda was blissfully unaware that her version was a copy. Her immediate problem was choosing a veil that would complement the dress designed by Sara. Derek’s family had recently acquired a significant fortune. To honor the Warren family, Neil had invested thirty million in the dress crafted by Sara, making Melinda swell with pride. Derek’s presence suddenly didn’t seem so annoying
Originally, Melinda had planned to forego a veil, opting instead for an elaborate hairstyle adorned with fine jewelry. However, the unexpected incident with Riss, who had shaved her head the previous day, left her with no option but to choose a veil to cover up. The veils, hastily prepared and undoubtedly costly, did not seem worthy of pairing with Sara’s design
Sara, renowned as the chief designer for the Sarth Group, was a beacon of fashion worldwide. Her creations were sought after by a global clientele of wealthy women, queens, and princesses, who flaunted them at high-profile gatherings. Over time, Sara’s designs had become synonymous with luxury and exclusivity. A dress of such distinction naturally demanded accessories of equal grandeur. Yet, these veils seemed inadequate
As Melinda agonized over her choice, Chloe entered the lounge. Spotting her, Melinda eagerly sought her opinion. “Chloe, take a look, please. Which of these veils do you think pairs best with Sara’s dress?”
Chloe looked at the dress, her inner envy clashing with her outward composure. She picked up the least fitting veil, her smile masking her deceit. “This one seems to match perfectly.”
Melinda trusted her completely and immediately tried on the veil. After a short silence, Chloe leaned in closer. “Melinda, I’ve just stumbled upon a shocking secret about Tiffany.”
Melinda had once sneered whenever she heard Tiffany’s name. Now, after Marissa’s harsh lesson, she clenched her teeth with fury at the mention of Tiffany
“Chloe, what did that bitch do this time?” asked Melinda
“I overheard Rachel and Leila mentioning that the marriage between Tiffany and Connor is a facade. They’re just acting, showing affection in public when there’s none,” Chloe replied
Chloe mimicked a look of concern as she spoke. “Melinda, I’m truly worried for Tiffany. It’s troubling to think she doesn’t take her marriage seriously. She’s already broken off five engagements before marrying Connor. What happens if they divorce? Who would marry her then?”
Unlike Chloe, who appeared worried, Melinda grinned broadly. “I always suspected as much. Connor is a man of distinction, akin to royalty. It is unlikely he’d fall for someone like Tiffany. It turns out there’s a hidden story.”
Melinda laughed robustly, then added, “That bitch has always been flippant about serious matters. Taking her marriage lightly seems par for the course. Chloe, why waste concern on her? Whatever happens to her is entirely her own doing.”
“We are best friends after all,” Chloe maintained her act
“Best friends? Please! Chloe, remember how she treated us? You’re too compassionate. My brother was right. A woman like Tiffany doesn’t deserve your kindness.”
Chloe sighed deeply. “It’s tragic, really. Her marriage to Connor is nothing but a charade. No wonder he neglects her needs. Did you notice her outfit today? He didn’t even bother to buy her a decent dress.”
Melinda’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Do tell, what is she wearing?”
Chloe showed Melinda the photos she had taken. “Look, Melinda. Tiffany is just in a shirt, claiming there is a dress underneath. If the dress was any good, why keep it hidden under a shirt?”
“Obviously, the dress under that shirt must be terribly flawed, more embarrassing than the shirt itself,” Melinda gloated. “I’d love to rip off that shirt in public, just to show everyone how disgraceful her dress is.”
“Don’t do that, Melinda. It would embarrass Tiffany too much,” Chloe feigned a plea. She knew Melinda’s disdain for Tiffany ran deep, so she subtly egged her on, fueling her animosity. “Melinda, Tiffany represents the Daniels family at the engagement ceremony. Wearing an ordinary shirt can be explained as being frugal, but if anyone saw her in a dress with flaws, she’d be the laughingstock of the town. She’s made a fool of herself too many times. You can’t let her become the butt of jokes again. It might just break her. You understand, Melinda? You can’t let that happen.”
“I understand, Chloe. Don’t worry,” Melinda responded, but her mind was already weaving a sinister plan inspired by Chloe’s caution
When Chloe saw her manipulation take effect, her eyes narrowed with a malevolent glint. “Remember, Melinda, Tiffany might not be the Daniels family’s real hostess, but she is still Connor’s wife in name. And you’re engaged to his nephew. You mustn’t oppose her openly,” Chloe advised, worried that Melinda might personally sabotage Marissa. If she upset Connor and canceled the engagement, it would be disastrous
Chloe had a lot riding on Melinda’s successful marriage into the Daniels family. She could use the perfect excuse of visiting her best friend to stay close to Connor. She couldn’t afford for anything to jeopardize that
As Chloe’s naive follower, Melinda took her every word to heart. She quickly crafted a flawless plan
When Marissa entered the banquet hall with Rachel and Leila, she noticed Connor engaged in a conversation with several influential figures. Opting not to interrupt, she continued on her way. Arabella and Glenn arrived at that time, so Marissa approached them
“Grandma, Glenn, here you are.”
Rachel and Leila also extended their polite greetings to Arabella and Glenn. Arabella, examining Marissa, voiced her confusion. “My sweetie, why are you still wearing that shabby shirt?”
“It’s quite chilly with the air conditioning, Grandma,” Marissa explained
Arabella felt it was a great pity to waste the beautiful dress. “If only I’d known, I would have brought you a shawl. Shall I have someone fetch one?”
“No need to trouble anyone, Grandma. I’m managing fine,” Marissa quickly assured her
At that moment, Trenton, Melinda’s grandfather, approached and greeted Arabella cheerfully. “Mrs. Daniels, how have you been?” Arabella offered only a cold nod in response, not particularly fond of Trenton
Despite being Melinda’s grandfather, Trenton, belonging to a younger generation than Arabella, refrained from taking offense
Glenn then inquired, “Mr. Warren, I heard that Aelfric would attend the engagement party today. Why isn’t he here?”
Trenton’s demeanor shifted noticeably, hinting at unspeakable troubles. Marissa couldn’t help but smile inwardly. Having given Aelfric a thorough thrashing the previous evening, she knew his absence was due to his miserable condition. Yet, this was a private affair within Doomsday Base, unlikely to be disclosed externally, and for the sake of maintaining their dignity, the Warren family would not tell anyone either
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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