Chapter 16
La Reverie store was in a prime location, with one entrance facing the bustling street and another opening into the mall. The boutique was spacious, about 120 square yards, and its minimalist decor spoke of understated luxury. Despite its simplicity, the space exuded a grandeur that was impossible to ignore..
However, the store didn’t feel like a typical fashion boutique. It was more like an art gallery. Inside, there were only three evening gowns on display, each draped over custom–made metal mannequins, encased in glass, as though they were too precious to be touched.
The gowns themselves were modern with a touch of timeless elegance–classy, sophisticated, yet dated
Hannah and Emily had been standing in the store for what felt like ages, but no one had come to greet them. Finally, the sound of soft footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Chloe descended from the upper level, graceful and poised in a black evening gown with white stripes. Her figure was flawless, her long hair swept into an elegant updo adorned with a delicate hairpiece. She had a presence about her, with a face so refined that it was hard to guess her age.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, ladies. Chloe greeted them politely, her voice soft but firm. All of our evening gowns are custom- made. It typically takes one to two months, and we’re already booked through the end of the year. Would you be willing to wait?”
Emily and Hannah exchanged glances before Emily let out a small sigh of disappointment. That’s quite a long time. I think we’ll have to pass.”
“What about these three?” Hannah pointed to the gowns on display. There aren’t any price tags”
“These three are for rent only,” Chloe replied smoothly.
“Rent?” Emily thought with disdain, her eyes scanning the three gowns once more. Me, renting a gown? For my birthday party. I have two other gowns, each tailor–made just for me. How could I possibly wear a rented dress?
Chloe added. “Though, only two are available. The one in the middle has already been rented out by Mrs. Carnegie.”
Emily’s eyes widened as she quickly realized who Chloe meant “Mrs. Carnegie? You mean the Carnegie family, one of the three most prestigious families in Dellanex?”
“That’s right, Chloe said.
Folding her arms with a huff, Hannah scoffed, “The Carnegies are loaded. Why on earth would Mrs. Carnegie need to rent a gown? If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable.”
Her words, though rude, mirrored Emily’s doubts.
“Suit yourself.” Chloe’s tone cooled as she dismissed their skepticism, no longer interested in indulging their disbelief
Just as Hannah was about to open her mouth for a furious retort, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor turned their attention to the staircase once again. Down came Bethany Carnegie herself, looking as regal as a queen. Her presence radiated wealth and influence.
“Chloe, I’ll be heading out. Don’t forget to have my gown delivered in a few days, Bethany said with a contented smile. Tve had my eye on that gown for ages. It’s from the same collection as the one worn by that Yoskela royal family member, right? At seventy thousand dollars a day, it’s worth every penny.”
“Mrs. Carnegie… It’s really her.” Emily’s face froze, her mind spinning. She had seen Bethany before at the charity auction, but the reality of the situation had just slapped her in the face.
Hannah, on the other hand, hadn’t met Bethany, but from Emily’s expression, she quickly realized this was no act. She could practically feel the embarrassment creeping up her neck like a blush she couldn’t hide. Thankfully, Bethany hadn’t overheard
her earlier remarks.
Chloe accompanied Bethany to the door, her polite smile unwavering as she saw her off
Oner Bethany had disappeared from view, Emily’s thoughts began to shift. If someone as powerful as Mrs. Canegie can rent a gown for her high society events, why can’t I Even celebrities rent their red carpet gowns, don’t they?
Chapter 16
With this new line of thinking, she relaxed. Td like to rent that one, Emily sail, pointing to the white lace gown with gold
The gown’s neckline and bodice were adorned with delicate ivory pearls, and what caught Emily’s attention most was how closely it resembled the gown from the charity auction she’d been eyeing.
Chloe handed her a contract. “Please fill in your details. No deposit is necessary, but any damage to the gown will result in full price compensation
Emily skimmed through the document before signing her name on the final page.
Once the two left. Chloe ascended the stairs once more, contract in hamil.
Upstairs was a design studio, where Ophelia sat comfortably on a plush sofa, dressed in an all–black dress, nibbling on a pastry from a delivery box while playing chess against herself. Despite her youthful appearance, there was a calm maturity about her that didn’t belong to someone of her age.
“Everything’s signed and settled, Chloe announced, her tone strictly professional as she handed over the contract.
“Good,” Ophelia replied, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. She spoke with the spoon still in her mouth, her smile bright and carefree.
On the chessboard in front of her, a lone pawn was positioned to challenge the king
Beside the board lay a DNA test report, the truth printed boldly across its pages.
As expected, Emily was indeed Owen’s illegitimate daughter. The mystery that had lingered in Ophelia’s heart in her last life had finally been unraveled.
At the same time, a video was going viral online entitled “Hall family heiress runs her mouth–poor people should stick to street food, they don’t belong in fancy restaurants.”
The clip sparked a frenzy of discussion across the internet. Within no time, eagle–eyed netizens had tracked down the restaurant in question–none other than a high–end chain owned by the Hall family.
Comments flooded in. “Ah, so it’s that place. I went there once–they claimed their desserts were Michelin–level, but the cream was terrible, and the quality was a joke.”
Another chimed in, “I ate there once and found a fly in my food.”
Someone else added, “With prices that high, you’d think they’d keep the flies out. Glad I’m broke. Never heard of this place, and now I’m never going.”
More comments piled on. “Disgusting. They make money off us and look down on us? Insulting their customers? Let’s see how long they stay open. They better start preparing for bankruptcy.”
Some netizens commented, “Agreed. Let’s see them close up shop for good.”
The situation quickly spiraled out of control. Soon, people were sharing pictures of unsanitary food served at the chain, while others accused the brand of false advertising. The heat attracted the attention of market regulators, who launched an investigation into the company.
Meanwhile, a group of anti–rich protesters, their faces covered with ski masks, stormed one of the restaurants and smashed the windows. The Hall family was suddenly caught in the eye of a public relations hurricane.
Hannah, blissfully unaware of the growing scandal, was out shopping for handbags with Emily when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and saw it was her father, George Hall. “Hey, Dad,” she answered casually, holding her latest purchase in one hand,
“Where the hell are you? George’s voice boomed on the other end, filled with anger.
“I’m just shopping with a friend, Hannah replied, oblivious to his fury.
George clenched the phone so hard he nearly snapped it in two. How did I raise such a spoiled idiot? he bellowed inwardly
“Do you even know what you’ve done?” George growled, his voice barely controlled. “Get your ass home. Now.”
5:44 PM
Chapter 16
Confused and not quite understanding the gravity of the situation, Hannah hailed a cab and headed home. The moment she stepped through the door, George stormed toward her, and before she could react, he slapped her across the face so hard she stumbled back
“You useless, good–for–nothing brat!” he roared, his face twisted with rage. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You’re ruining our company, and you’re out shopping?”
He snatched the shopping bags from her hands and hurled them at her. One of the handbag’s sharp corners struck her on the head, instantly raising a bump and knocking loose a few strands of her perfectly styled hair.
“Dad, what the hell? What did I even do? Hannah’s eyes welled up with tears as she tried to defend herself, her voice shaking with a mix of confusion and indignation.
George was livid. “You stupid, careless moron. Do you even know what kind of mess you’ve caused out there? Thanks to your big mouth, two of our restaurants have been shut down.”
“L…What did I say?” Hannah asked, completely bewildered.
George shoved a phone into her hands, his face flushed with fury. Hannah stared at the screen and watched in horror as the video played the very one of her insulting Ophelia in the restaurant earlier that day while standing up for Emily.
She had completely forgotten about that moment. Now, seeing her words replayed on screen, magnified by the Internet’s scrutiny, it hit her like a ton of bricks and she finally realized what she had done.
Scrolling through the comments, she saw nothing but waves of hate directed at her. To make matters worse, the news had broken that two of the Hall family’s restaurants had been shut down for health code violations, and the rest of their locations were suddenly empty, with no customers in sight.
‘Health code violations?‘ she thought bitterly, seething with rage. “What does that have to do with me?‘ But she didn’t dare say it out loud. Instead, as she read through the angry comments, her hatred for Ophelia grew. In Hannah’s mind, all of this was Ophelia’s fault and everything had spiraled out of control because of her.
