Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother novel Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Briena Wants Natalie’s Dress

"We just don’t want beggars here. You may be the daughter of the Ford family, but you were kicked out for secretly marrying someone and betraying your fiancé."

Everyone now recognized Natalie—the woman surrounded by scandals.

"And who are you?" Natalie countered. "A leech from a poor family who clings to her wealthy friend, boosts her ego, acts like her servant, and then deludes herself into thinking she’s rich as well? Wasn’t the dip in the swimming pool last time enough to clean your brain of such delusions?"

Lily was left speechless, and Briena finally spoke up. "Natalie, what are you doing here?"

"Just ordered a tasty meal in this shop and waiting for it to arrive," Natalie replied sarcastically, almost making Julia laugh, while others suppressed their smiles to avoid angering any customers.

They knew Briena well, but seeing Natalie for the first time in person—their very own scandal queen—no one dared to meddle between the two daughters of wealthy families.

"Briena, isn’t this the same dress we came here to buy after seeing it in the brand’s magazine?" Lily asked, trying to divert everyone’s attention from her own embarrassment.

Natalie didn’t react, as she didn’t fancy the dress at all.

"It is," Briena replied and turned to the salesgirl. "Didn’t I make an appointment beforehand and request all the new designs of this brand?"

The salesgirl hesitated but said, "Ms. Briena, when other customers are here for these designs as well, we can’t keep them from purchasing."

Briena sighed and looked at Natalie. "See, I had already chosen this dress. Please take it off so I can try it and buy it. I’m sure you can’t afford it with your current situation anyway."

Natalie chuckled. "I’m not surprised that, once again, you want what I have. But I don’t plan to give it to you. I’m buying this one."

Briena glanced at the salesgirl. "Think about what’s better for your shop and who you want to sell this dress to."

The salesgirls exchanged uneasy glances and then looked at Natalie. "Ms. Natalie, would you like to check other dresses?"

"Unfortunately, I’m only interested in this one," Natalie said, her gaze icy. "Make a bill."

"No need, I’ve already paid for it," Julia announced.

While everyone’s attention had been on the young women, Julia had quietly gone to the billing counter and, with the help of her attending sales associate, paid for the dress.

Natalie hadn’t planned for Julia to pay for the dress, but at this moment, she just accepted it and decided to pay her back once they left the store.

"That was a good call, Grandma."

"All those dramas with evil step-sisters finally came in handy today. I knew she’d want Natalie’s dress, so I paid for it beforehand. So smart of me," Julia commented loudly, making Natalie smile.

"How can you take away what belongs to Briena?" Lily exclaimed.

"For your information, it’s always been the other way around," Natalie sneered. "Get your facts straight in that non-existent brain of yours."

"You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?" Briena asked, suddenly putting on a sad face. "Just because Ivan chose me, you want to take away everything I like." Tears welled up in her eyes. "I never think badly of you, but why do you have to hurt me like this all the time? If you want, you can go to Ivan and try to convince him to come back to you."

Natalie, Julia, and everyone else were taken aback by this sudden change in Briena’s demeanor.

"Briena, what happened?" a man’s voice interrupted, his tone concerned.

"Ivan, Natalie is... she’s doing it again..." Briena choked out, her voice trembling.

Natalie understood the reason of Briena’s sudden pitiful act. ’Damsel in distress and her saviour.’

Ivan held Briena closer, his gaze searching for Natalie, whom he hadn’t seen before due to a clothing stand blocking his view.

But now, as she stepped into the open, the words he’d planned to confront her with were swallowed back. He could hardly believe that this breathtakingly beautiful woman with a perfect figure and captivating presence was the same Natalie he once knew.

In all these years, he’d only ever seen her in professional attire, and now this dress perfectly showcased her slender figure. Compared to her usual dullness, this contrast made her look incredibly fresh and radiant.

He almost swallowed hard at the alluring sight.

Briena noticed how Ivan looked at Natalie. ’It must be the dress that makes her look beautiful. If I wear it, he’ll look at me the same way.’

"Grandma, I’ll change, and then we can leave," Natalie said, dismissing herself from the drama as she walked towards the changing room.

Julia followed her, smiling ear to ear.