One year on Isabella's birthday, Eleanor custom-made a hairpin from the gemstones of a ruby necklace she brought with her as dowry. Mrs. Ada made a fuss about it, and in the end, Eleanor ended up buying a ruby necklace for Aria with her own money. Eleanor often cried due to Mrs. Ada and her granddaughter's unreasonable demands and insatiable desires. David, being overly filial, didn't side with Eleanor. Later, Eleanor divorced David, and Charlotte married into the family. Charlotte was a shrewd woman. She persuaded Mrs. Ada to send Aria abroad to study. Although Mrs. Ada had limited experience, she agreed to let her granddaughter study abroad, but she insisted on accompanying her, worried about leaving her alone in a foreign country. After Charlotte arranged their departure, Mrs. Ada and Aria happily went overseas. After their departure, Charlotte managed the household alone. Now, with Mrs. Ada and Aria back, Isabella expected that life might become difficult. Isabella felt ther
David nodded after listening. Aria was his niece, and he had no reason to disregard her. With a warm smile, he asked, "Aria, what are your plans for the future?" David, being the Deputy Mayor, could easily arrange for his niece to find a leisurely job. However, Aria responded, "Uncle, I majored in performing arts in college. I want to enter the entertainment industry." Aria's statement surprised him. She seated herself beside David, holding his arm with a hint of coquetry. "Uncle, you must help me." "When Aria was at school, she played some roles. Her teachers praised her talents, saying she was a rising star. She loves performing, and as her uncle, you must support her," Mrs. Ada chimed in. David slightly furrowed his brow. With two daughters already in the entertainment business and now his niece aspiring for the same, this was becoming quite a pot of stew. "So, Aria wants to become a star. That's not a problem. I'll ask Robert to arrange for a competent agent to guide you,"
Having nearly finished their drinks, Andrew took out his wallet, extracted some bills, and settled the tab. Exiting the bar, it was already dark outside. As they had both been drinking, they couldn't drive, so Andrew called for a ride. The car stopped steadily in front of the apartment building, and the two of them stepped out. Isabella, having had a bit too much to drink, felt a bit dizzy. She clung to Andrew's arm, allowing him to guide her to the elevator. They stopped in front of the elevator, only to see a yellow maintenance sign on the floor. The elevator was under maintenance, so they had to take the stairs. Midway through climbing, she started to pant, whereas Andrew, beside her, showed no signs of fatigue, walking effortlessly. "Tired? Should I carry you?" his deep, gentle voice murmured. She readily agreed, jumping onto his back. With her on his back, he proceeded steadily up the stairs. The first ten or so floors had motion sensor lights, but the last two floors' l
Victoria just smiled shyly and remained silent. However, Emily couldn't help but curse in her mind: "What an idiot." She didn't want to continue eating with such a fool. She lazily put down her chopsticks and said, "I'm full." After that, she got up and left. Following suit, Victoria also set down her chopsticks. "Grandma, Dad, I'm done eating. I'll go to my room first. Take your time." In comparison to Emily, Victoria always maintained the manners and composure of a refined young lady. Both sisters entered their rooms successively. Emily sat on the soft princess bed and couldn't help mocking, "A rustic person from the countryside. She thinks she can make it big in the entertainment industry just because she's somewhat attractive. It's laughable." "Keep your voice down. If Grandma hears that, it'll cause trouble again," Victoria warned. "That old hag, nearly at death's door, still throws her weight around in our family. I want to see how many more years she can hold on," Emily g
Isabella sat on the sidelines watching the excitement, not saying a word, and yet managed to gain two sets of clothes for free.However, accompanying Aria to select a gown was no easy task. Aria had average taste and was incredibly picky, refusing to listen to advice, which gave Isabella a headache just thinking about it.Aria attached great importance to the charity auction, dismissing high-end fashion in malls and opting directly for a custom-made gown.Emily was particularly enthusiastic today, busy helping Aria choose her gown. Isabella was left idle on the side.She casually strolled around the clothing display area. The custom-made clothes were stunning, but of course, the prices were equally so. Even a pair of pants could sell for thousands, while the gowns were mostly around forty to fifty thousand.It seemed David was going to bleed financially this time."Isabella, what do you think of this long dress? Emily says it suits me." Aria called her over while she was daydreaming.
Isabella quietly made her way downstairs, skirting around the pillars. As she reached the door, she unexpectedly saw James leaning against a wall, a lit cigarette held between his fingers, his head slightly bowed as he smoked. Seemingly hearing the sound of high heels on the floor, he subconsciously lifted his head, his gaze briefly meeting Isabella's. Her gaze was calm and clear, with a touch of surprise in her golden eyes. James raised a somewhat helpless smile. He just wanted to see her, that's why he waited here. Originally, it was just to try his luck, never expecting to truly encounter her. At least, greeting her was the right thing to do. "Isabella, what a coincidence," James stubbed out the cigarette, stepping toward her. "Yeah, I came to pick up a dress. I didn't expect to find you here," Isabella replied with a smile. Her tone while speaking to him was calm, as if he were just an acquaintance to her. "I came to get a dress for tomorrow's company celebration. Would you
As soon as the three entered the venue, they attracted numerous stares. The reason was simple: Aria's outfit in red and white was simply too eye-catching. Although the charity auction had turned into a sort of matchmaking event, it was still under the guise of charity. Aria's flashy attire for a charitable event seemed oblivious to worldly hardships. What she didn't know was that Mrs. Hannah from the Turner family was a werewolf of the shadow clan, particularly averse to animal skins. Unaware of the attention she drew, Aria flaunted her dress's vivid colors in front of everyone's gaze. Isabella could only accompany her by her side. As they arrived, several familiar girls approached. As per the protocol, these young girls had to greet the attending elders before they could freely mingle. Mrs. Hannah held the highest seniority and status among them. Whether known or unknown, everyone had to pay her respects. Mrs. Hannah maintained an aloof demeanor towards everyone. However, her
Aria bit her lip, feeling both distressed and helpless. The price remained at 200,000, and faint whispers were heard around. "Can't even afford 200,000, such a poor look." "Poverty isn't her fault, but parading it around is just annoying." ... Aria's face turned pale, her emotions becoming increasingly agitated. Watching her, Isabella sighed in resignation. "Words come from others; don't mind them." Initially, when she was mocked for being raped by a stranger, the comments were far more hurtful than these. If she had taken it to heart, she'd have been devastated. However, Aria's pride was too strong, lacking Isabella's good mindset, and with Emily adding fuel to the fire. "Words can be dreadful. Losing face at the auction means never being able to hold your head up high in these circles again. Forget about marrying into prestigious families." "Enough!" Isabella interrupted, slightly annoyed. Truly, she was just enjoying the show, adding fuel to the fire instead of trying to