Ophelia Gets Thrown Out (Ophelia) novel Chapter 35

**Paths Lead To Purpose — Kevin Masters**
**Chapter 35**

“No, this cannot be happening,” Zoe exclaimed, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of disbelief and jealousy.

The scene before her felt surreal, like a cruel twist of fate that she couldn’t comprehend.

*Why would Caterina send Ophelia all these exquisite collectible evening gowns?* Zoe’s mind raced, her heart pounding with a sense of unfairness.

What made the situation even more unbearable was the sight of Ophelia effortlessly slipping into the dress, the fabric hugging her curves as if it had been tailored specifically for her. She was the only one who had ever managed to wear it with such grace.

In that moment, Zoe’s pride crumbled, shattered into a million pieces beneath the weight of Ophelia’s quiet triumph.

“Ms. Rowle, please, do try on the others as well,” Lily urged, her eyes twinkling with surprise and delight.

One could only imagine how breathtaking the other dresses would look on Ophelia, each one a masterpiece in its own right.

“Ophelia, come on, give the others a go,” Victoria chimed in, her excitement bubbling over.

“You’ll look incredible in any of them, Ophelia,” Owen added, his chin lifting with an unmistakable hint of pride in his voice.

Ophelia smirked playfully, reaching out to lightly tap Owen on the forehead. “Cute boy.”

“I’m not a boy, Ophelia. I’m twelve!” Owen protested, his cheeks flushing with indignation.

Laughter erupted around them, the atmosphere lightening momentarily.

As Ophelia tried on several more gowns, each one more stunning than the last, Victoria nodded with approval. “They’re all wonderful. They suit Ophelia perfectly. Let’s keep them all.”

“Keep them all?” Zoe’s complexion drained of color, her heart racing.

*How much money is this going to cost?* she thought, her mind spiraling into panic. *Mom and Dad must be extraordinarily generous to spend this much on Ophelia!*

“Samuel,” Victoria said with a wave of her hand, “you and Lily can take care of the bill.”

“Yes, Mrs. Rowle,” Samuel replied promptly, his demeanor professional.

Zoe felt a surge of urgency and blurted out, “Wait, hold on a second.”

Everyone turned to her, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity.

The sudden hush in the room allowed Zoe to gather her thoughts, her heart racing as she tried to regain her composure.

*God, I can’t believe I’m losing my cool over this,* she thought, taking a deep breath to steady herself. “I mean, Grandpa’s seventieth birthday is significant, but it’s just a party. Isn’t it a bit excessive to buy so many dresses?”

Each dress was worth more than all of Zoe’s clothes combined, and purchasing them all would exceed her entire yearly allowance.

*Why does Ophelia deserve all these extravagant gowns?* Zoe’s mind churned with frustration.

“Then let her keep them and wear them over time,” Victoria replied nonchalantly, brushing off Zoe’s concerns.

“Ophelia’s been through so much over the years; it’s only fair we make it up to her. But buying this many at once, spending more than our yearly budget, I just worry Ophelia might feel overwhelmed,” Zoe softened her tone, attempting to sound caring and compliant.

Ophelia raised an eyebrow, her thoughts racing. *Pressure from a few dresses? She must be joking,* she mused, suppressing a smile.

“It’s alright,” Victoria said, her smile warm and reassuring. “Ophelia looks absolutely stunning in all of them. It’s hard to choose just one, and we can afford to keep them all.”

“But—” Zoe attempted to argue further, but Victoria’s resolve was evident.

Lily interjected, “Miss, please don’t worry about it.”

Zoe turned to Lily, confusion clouding her thoughts. *What does she mean by that?*

“With the Rowle family’s resources, purchasing these dresses is no issue at all,” Lily paused for a moment, then added, “Besides, our VP mentioned that since Ms. Rowle can fit into these collectible gowns, they will all be provided to her at no cost.”

“What?” Zoe gasped, her voice rising in disbelief.

Victoria’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You mean free?”

“Yes. Our VP issued that directive,” Lily confirmed with a nod.

“Ophelia, even though you accepted the dresses due to their policy, I’ll make sure to arrange a return gift,” Victoria said, fully aware that these weren’t just any ordinary gowns.

“Mom, I’ve got this handled. Don’t worry,” Ophelia replied with a sweet smile; it was just a matter of calling Ella.

Seeing her daughter’s confidence, Victoria nodded approvingly. “Alright then.”

“Ophelia, you’re incredible! Not only did you get Caterina to create your designs, but they even gifted you several gowns!” Owen exclaimed, admiration spilling from him without a second thought.

Ophelia reached out, ruffling Owen’s hair affectionately. “When you grow up, you’ll be even better than me.”

Zoe muttered under her breath, her dissatisfaction evident. “Incredible? Do you even deserve it? You just happened to fit into Caterina’s collectible gowns.”

“What did you say?” Ophelia’s eyes narrowed, her glare piercing through the tension.

Zoe felt a shiver run down her spine and quickly shook her head. “N-nothing.”

Ophelia turned away, indifferent to Zoe’s attempt at confrontation, choosing instead to focus on her own thoughts.

“Ophelia, what do you want for dinner tonight? I’ll have the kitchen prepare something special for you,” Victoria offered, her smile warm and inviting.

“No thanks. I have plans with Mr.—oh well, a friend tonight,” Ophelia nearly let Alaric’s name slip but caught herself just in time.

To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, she decided to keep it vague.

“A friend?” Victoria asked, her brow furrowing with curiosity. “Who?”

Ophelia quickly fabricated a story. “I met her while I was with the Vossen family. I promised to take her out to dinner.”

“Oh, well, make sure to come home early afterward,” Victoria reminded, her tone motherly.

“Okay,” Ophelia nodded, her mind already drifting to the evening ahead.

She didn’t expect much conversation with Alaric over dinner, and she would likely return home sooner than later.