Chapter 135

aring a previously worn dress was a huge embarrassment in high society. If it were true, the reputation of the Chambers family’s Yvette, who had just been found in the countryside, would be ruined, and she’d be utterly humiliated.

Nellie and Winona stood by eagerly, watching Lana. ‘It’d be great if she really had seen it before. That would mean Yvette is just wearing a hand–me–down dress, and there’d be some real drama to watch!

Winona’s lips curled into a mocking smile. Her previously gloomy mood had lifted. She thought maybe Sienna had just grabbed a second–hand dress to deal with Yvette: ‘If that’s the case, today... Yvette will be the biggest joke!‘

All eyes were on Yvette, who stood in the center of the garden.

Yvette looked up slightly, her expression calm. Her deep eyes were cold and mysterious, like dark ink hiding a vast whirlpool. Her long, veil–like lashes cast shadows, and she swept her gaze lightly over the crowd without saying a word.

Once again, her beauty stunned everyone. However, some thought her silence meant she was admitting the girl’s accusation, that the dress really was second–hand.

Holding back her excitement, Winona stepped forward. “Wearing a second–hand dress is a big taboo at our high–society events.

How about this, I have an unworn dress in my room. Why don’t you come with me and change into it?” Winona spoke with sincerity, acting as if she was doing Yvette a huge favor.

Yet, the people around her found her words odd. She claimed to be helping her sister, but if Yvette wore one of Winona’s dresses, she’d be even more humiliated, always a step behind Winona. The girls who usually got along with Winona knew who to help, urging Yvette to go change.

“Winona is so kind, being so thoughtful of her sister at a time like this.”

“I think you should go change, Ms. Zeller.”

“Yeah, go on, change.”

****

Some people, afraid of offending the Chambers family, muttered quietly.

Zeke looked at Yvette, standing there alone, and felt proud. ‘If I don’t take a shot at her now, when will I?‘ So, he stepped forward and joined in. “Go change with Winona. The banquet’s about to start, and we’re running out of time.”

Nellie didn’t say anything this time, seeing that Zachary was growing more and more upset. “There’s no need for me to get involved when these people are doing it for me. I don’t want to make him mad No one noticed that Lana, who had started all of this, was sweating profusely, trying to speak but unable to get a word in.

Richard was also watching Yvette with a smug grin, as was Robert. ‘It’s a good thing I was smart enough to break off the engagement with Yvette early and switch to Winona. Otherwise, our whole Carter family would’ve been humiliated today!

Yulia couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Yvette, but then again, she thought it was Yvette’s own fault. ‘She’s been back with the Chambers family for so long, how does she still not understand the rules?‘

Zachary’s face had darkened considerably, feeling suffocated by the scornful looks around him. He also believed that Sienna might’ve just grabbed some dress that had been worn before to deal with Yvette. ‘If it weren’t for me, Yvette wouldn’t be so humiliated. “Enough! My daughter from the Chambers family can wear whatever she likes! There’s no need for everyone to be so judgmental!”

Winona’s eyes grew fierce. ‘Dad is siding with Yvette again, even at the cost of offending so many people!

Seeing that Zachary was genuinely angry, people began to feel uneasy. Though the Chambers family had declined, they were still one of the four major families, and not someone these small families could mess with.

Yvette looked up at Zachary, her face composed and calm, seemingly unaffected by the people around her. She slightly furrowed her brows, then turned her blank expression toward Lana, who had claimed to have seen the dress before. Her voice was cold and distant, like a feather brushing over a mountain stream. “Where did you see it?”

Everyone’s attention shifted to Lana, who was drenched in sweat and looking nervous.

Winona purposely walked over to Lana and said gently, “Lana, right? I remember you. You said you’ve seen this dress before, so who wore it?” She gave Lana an encouraging look.

Finally given a chance to speak, Lana thought to herself, ‘If I had known one comment would cause such a misunderstanding, I wouldn’t have said anything!‘ Fearing she might be interrupted again, Lana took a deep breath and blurted out everything in one go.

“You’ve misunderstood me! I said I’ve seen this dress, but I never said I saw someone wear it! I saw this exact dress last year at the Mysonna Art Gallery exhibition. It was one of their collection pieces. At the time, I thought it was so beautiful that I asked if it was for sale. The gallery staff told me it wasn’t, because it was a unique piece designed by Sienna, the designer from ‘Vibe, for her muse. The gallery’s director had to beg Sienna to display it for two days. Since I loved the dress so much, I asked about it in detail. The fabric is pure silkworm silk, and it took 135 hours to make, all by hand, with over a hundred workers. Did you notice the diamonds on the dress? They’re the world’s purest diamonds, privately owned, and each one alone costs over 3 million. And even if you wanted to buy it, you couldn’t–it’s only available at auctions...”

Lana paused, her eyes filled with envy. “The gallery staff told me Mrs. Mith from Mysonna offered 70 million for it, but Sienna refused to sell. So this dress isn’t just incredibly expensive, it’s one of a kind in the world.” Lana let out a deep breath after finishing her explanation. ‘Finally! That was exhausting. Huh? Why’s it so quiet?‘ She cautiously looked around.

Everyone was staring at Yvette in the center of the garden, mouths agape. The place was dead silent, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the thousand–square–yard garden.