Chapter 75:
“Shall we look at Petalpoly first?” Paola asked, gesturing toward a nearby boutique. “Their latest pieces would suit the charity gala beautifully.”
“Alright,” Rylie replied, her voice light, her gaze moving past the dresses in the window, each bearing eye-watering price tags.
The young women exchanged glances, a quiet amusement shared between them. Isabella Olson, dressed sharply in luxury clothes, tilted her head. “Miss Owen, have you ever attended a gala of this caliber before? Would you like us to explain the dress code?” She emphasized the word “before,” her tone sharp.
Rylie answered with a half-smile. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Oh my, Isabella, that was a bit harsh,” Paola remarked with a playful tone. Then she added, “Still, she has a point, Rylie. Events like this have their own rules. Take that one, for example.”
She nodded toward a gown on display, the hem covered in glimmering crystals. “It’s the highlight of the store this season and would be perfect for the event.”
A few of the other young women exchanged looks, then spoke up.
“Paola’s choice is excellent! That gown could have been made just for you, Miss Owen. It suits your elegance perfectly!”
Paola gave a small nod to a staff member, who carefully took the gown off the rack. She turned to Rylie. “Go ahead and try it on. If it suits you, we’ll find jewelry to match.”
“The jewelry here is surprisingly impressive,” Isabella said, holding up a striking pink diamond necklace. She lifted it to Rylie’s collar with an exaggerated grin. “Look at this. Isn’t it just perfect?”
The praise from these women filled the air, but Rylie could tell it was nothing more than thinly veiled ridicule.
She ran her eyes over the extravagant dress, her gaze pausing at the fine print on the tag. It read: “For costume parties only.”
A soft scoff lingered behind her lips. Did they honestly think she was naive enough not to notice?
Latest chapters uploaded gαℓησvℯ𝓁s․com
Wearing something meant for a theme party at a charity gala? She wasn’t that easily fooled!
And that flashy diamond necklace? If she wore that, she’d be the subject of every joke at the gala.
Rylie’s lips lifted in a cool, cutting smile. “I thought women from your circles had refined taste and a talent for pairing garments with style.”
She let her fingers brush a crystal on the dress and added, “Turns out I was wrong. Calling this cheap knockoff haute couture? You’re all so tacky.”
The group fell silent. Isabella’s face tensed as she fired back, “We’re helping you find a dress, and you call us tacky? What’s your deal?”
Without blinking, Rylie shoved the dress into Paola’s arms. Her tone remained unchanged. “You’d be better off distancing yourself from people with such poor taste. They’re dragging down the Owen family’s reputation. It’s embarrassing.”
Paola’s temper flared, but when she met Rylie’s sharp stare, her voice caught in her throat. She knew then that Rylie had figured her out.
“I’ll choose my own dress. You don’t have to trouble yourself,” Rylie said with a slight smile. “You can enjoy your afternoon. I’ll browse elsewhere.” She turned and walked away, not once looking back.
.
.
.