Agnes' Awakening: From Zero to His Whole World novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63 The Price of a Stain

A chill ran up Gabrielle’s spine. She made an attempt to sound calm.

“You… You’ve got to be kidding. That’s impossible. 100 million for a dress? What, are you trying to play us?”

Agnes didn’t even blink. “You don’t recognize this fabric? That explains a lot. You remind me of something that’s spent its whole life at the bottom of a well, convinced the sky is a coin.”

“What did you say?!”

The others turned their eyes to Agnes’s gown, as if seeing it for the first time. The silk shimmered with an iridescent glow, the kind of textile that seemed to breathe. Every seam caught the light like a whispered secret.

Agnes reached into her bag with unhurried ease, pulled out her phone, and brought up a photo. She held it out in front of Gabrielle. A few others leaned in.

There it was, printed in crisp black ink: the dress’s price, the date of transaction. A collective inhale moved through the group. 100 million. No exaggeration. No mistake.

Hillary’s eyes went wide. 100 million. Raymond had spent 100 million on Agnes for a dress.

Then someone noticed the brand name printed at the top. “Tidewhisper Lily?”

“That brand,” a voice murmured. “I know them. They won first place at the Grandridge WOW Fashion Competition a while back.”

“Oh, that’s hers? I looked into commissioning something once, but the price was diabolical. I also heard they’re nearly impossible to book now. You can’t just walk in and ask.”

A flicker of movement in the group. A few sidelong glances toward Hillary. Then a few whispers broke out.

“Didn’t Hillary compete in that same event? I remember her saying Raymond invested a billion into her entry… Wasn’t it this one?”

“Oh, right! That’s the one. Wait, then how did she not win?”

“Shh. I watched the livestream. She messed up. There was that whole scandal about her trying to buy first place. It was all over social media for a while, then the posts just vanished overnight.”

“A billion down the drain…”

“Quiet. She’ll hear. We’re supposed to be helping her, aren’t we? Isn’t that why we’re here?”

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The whispers were soft, but not soft enough. Hillary heard every word. Color rose to her face, then drained just as quickly, leaving something strained and brittle behind. She stepped forward, forcing a gentle smile, smoothing over the tension.

“Agnes, Gabrielle really didn’t mean it. But your dress is extremely expensive. There’s no way she could afford to compensate you fully.

“I know a high–end cleaning service that specializes in delicate fabrics. They might be able to restore it.”

Agnes watched Hillary play the peacemaker, her voice suddenly pitched into a honeyed sweetness that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Hillary,” she said, saccharine soft, “you know how much Raymond spoils me. He bought me this gown because he loves seeing me in something beautiful. Only one like it in the world.

“And now it’s ruined by someone’s red wine, just like that. You know how stubborn wine stains are. You can’t just toss something like this into a wash cycle.

“But since it’s you asking, and since she’s Raymond’s classmate, I’ll make it easier. 99 million will do.

The dress itself was originally a prototype, Agnes’s own design, already listed on Tidewhisper Lily’s site at that exact price point.

The materials alone had cost 30 million. She hadn’t even needed to take a custom order.

When Gabrielle’s wine had splashed across the silk, Agnes had already texted Rebecca to send over the receipt. She knew exactly what kind of game they were playing.

Hillary’s fingers curled at her side. A single million shaved off. It felt less like a concession and more like a deliberate insult.

She swallowed her anger and kept her voice gentle.

“Agnes, that’s still far too much for Gabrielle. Could you…”

“No,” Agnes’s smile didn’t waver. “I thought you said anyone who goes to St. Austen University comes from old money or influence. A little thing like this shouldn’t be a problem. Or is it only convenient when you’re insulting someone else’s background?”

“That’s not what I meant. I just think asking her to pay that much isn’t very reasonable. She didn’t do it on purpose.

“If Raymond were here, he wouldn’t make an issue out of this.”

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Chapter 63 The Price of a Stain

Finished

Agnes tilted her head, as though considering something faintly amusing. “Oh? And how exactly would you know what my husband thinks?

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