Why is she even pretending? Does she think her intentions aren't obvious to me?
“You—”
Jennifer was livid.
“What about me? Am I not speaking the truth?”
The gall she has to try and lecture me! Who does she think she is? What gives her the right to spew such nonsense at me?
“You're utterly shameless.”
“It's none of your f*cking business!” Sophie cussed.
“Stop trying to act holy in front of me. I've seen plenty of your type!” Sophie sniped back.
Right then, Ysabelle emerged from the changing room and walked up to Sophie.
“Sophie, do you think this dress suits me?” She liked the outfit but wanted a second opinion on whether she looked good in it.
“Ysabelle, you look great in it, as it brings out your charm.”
Jennifer preempted Sophie's reply, rendering Ysabelle speechless.
Since when did I ask for her opinion? She's such a busybody!
“It looks really good on you. Since you like it, why don't I buy it for you?” Jennifer intended to pay for it.
From her perspective, building a good relationship with other girls was just a matter of giving them presents.
Instead, Ysabelle responded with a frown.
“Ms. Whitley, you should mind your own business. We'll buy whatever we want, as the Lombard family has no problems affording something as trivial as this!”
“Try something else! This dress makes you look old.” She's only nineteen. The color doesn't suit her age.
“Okay.”
Ysabelle had already felt weird wearing the dress. Hence, Sophie's words further cemented her apprehension toward it.
“But Ysabelle, it's such a gorgeous dress!”
“Since you like it so much, shall I buy it for you instead?” Ysabelle snapped back.
Cognizant that Ysabelle was upset, Jennifer held her tongue.
Thereafter, the former returned to the changing room, leaving Sophie and Jennifer outside.
“You did it on purpose! You had to go against me just because I said it looked good, am I right?”
“Who do you think you are?” Why should I be bothered on her account? “Anyway, I have to remind you that Tristan is mine, and I'm not going to allow anyone else to wrest him from me.”
“Haha, yours? Who gave you the right? Do you really think you can marry into the Lombard family?”
“Why can't I? Do you think it's impossible just because you have the support of the Whitley family?”
“You're welcome to try!”
There's no way Old Mr. Lombard would approve of a girl like her. Her efforts will be nothing but futile.
“In that case, you'll have to eat your own words soon.” She's such a deluded person.
Upon emerging from the changing room, Ysabelle returned to Sophie's side.
“All right now, let's take a break. I'm exhausted after shopping for so long.”
“Sure!”
“Ysabelle, let's have afternoon tea together.”
Ysabelle's brows furrowed at Jennifer's refusal to leave.
“Jennifer, isn't my resentment for you not obvious enough? Do you think I can stomach my food at the sight of you?”
Jennifer's treatment of Sophie had decided Ysabelle's attitude toward the former.
Naturally, Jennifer was bereft of words.
“Let's go.”
Without giving Jennifer a second glance, Sophie left with Ysabelle.
Once they were gone, Jennifer smashed everything in the shop hysterically, to the extent of paying millions in compensation before she was allowed to leave.
At a milkshake bar, Ysabelle bought some cake and two milkshakes.
“Jennifer is such a disgusting woman. Women who are jealous of you are truly terrifying!” Ysabelle remarked with disdain.
“She does make me nauseous.” To have the cheek to accuse me of being improper? Who does she think she is to judge me from her high horse?
Coincidentally, Ysabelle noticed the hickey on Sophie's neck.
“Where did you go with Uncle Tristan last night? You didn't return to the condominium, did you? Also, I can clearly see the hickey on your neck!” With a lecherous glint in her eyes, Ysabelle questioned, “Come clean with me. Have you both done it?”
Sophie was stumped for words.
Why is everyone so sensitive to hickeys? It's not like I'm flaunting it on purpose.
“Why aren't you saying anything? I'm really curious as to whether both of you have done it?” Even though she's almost twenty, she still hasn't lost her virginity yet. Is she being too conservative?
“No!”
“Really? I'm surprised Uncle Tristan can hold himself back.” This is truly mind-boggling.
“Why would I lie to you? Enough about that. Let's eat!”
Meanwhile, Jennifer headed straight to the Lombard residence after leaving the mall.
There, William received her in the living room.
“Jennifer, I hope you don't mind what happened the last time. It was my fault for not preparing properly.”
“Old Mr. Lombard, don't say that. I have no reason to blame you for the incident back then. It's just that Tristan likes Ms. Tanner very much. Today, at the mall...”
Jennifer twisted the facts as she related what happened earlier to William.
“Jennifer, didn't I tell you that you're my daughter-in-law of choice? Therefore, you shouldn't be too focused on the present.”
“Old Mr. Lombard, is it really possible? Mr. Tristan, he—”
“Have some faith in me. All right, off you go. Otherwise, Tristan will resent you more if he learns of your visit.”
What's wrong with this girl? Does she need me to handhold her in pursuing a man?
“Of course.”
Jennifer had no choice but to leave when she sensed William's reluctance to continue the topic.
In spite of that, she didn't walk away empty-handed—she left with the knowledge that William would definitely not accept Sophie.
Sophie's smugness will be short-lived.
When Sophie and Ysabelle emerged from the milkshake bar, they ran into Nicholas.
“We have met this man before.” Nicholas was someone who wasn't easy to forget.
“Yea.”
Just when I enjoyed a few days of peace, he insisted on making his presence felt again.
Intent on avoiding Nicholas, Sophie led Ysabelle in a different direction. Along the way, her attention was captured by a man's suit displayed in the shop window.
Noticing that Sophie had stopped abruptly, Ysabelle turned around and saw her staring at the display.
“What is it? Do you want to get Uncle Tristan something? Why don't we go in and take a look?”
The suit does look appealing. However, Uncle Tristan's clothes are all tailored by luxury brands. Hence, I'm not sure if he's into this style.
“Sure!”
Sophie readily agreed. Ever since we got together, I have never bought him a gift before.
As for Nicholas, he felt unsettled watching Sophie enter a men's boutique.
I have never received a gift from her before. I'm surprised someone as reserved as she even knows how to get one for her boyfriend.
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