Chapter 31 Public Humiliation
The banquet hall.
After Octavia presented the gift, she assumed this matter was over. After all, people wouldn't especially prepare a gift for someone at birthday parties like this unless they were particularly close.
However, Caspian's wife, Arabella, suddenly spoke up, "Great, it just so happens that I prepared a gift for you too, Mrs. Lockhart."
Genevieve was touched. "You are all too kind."
"It's nothing much, just a small gesture," Arabella said, taking out a gift box from her exquisite little bag, opening it as she spoke, "I noticed you weren't wearing anything on your wrist, so I picked out a bracelet for you as Mrs. Kingsley did. Take a look and see if you like it."
Arabella opened the box and took out a sapphire bracelet that instantly caught everyone's attention. With just a simple glance, all those present could tell that this was an extremely valuable bracelet and that Octavia's gift was nothing compared to it.
Octavia, too, was stunned.
"Do you want to try it on?" asked Arabella.
"It's too valuable." Genevieve quickly declined.
"Oh no, not at all. You look so beautiful today; I'm afraid this bracelet won't match your elegance," Arabella said deliberately. Though her remark seemed innocent, it instantly caused Octavia to feel a bit uncomfortable.
It was as if Arabella was mocking her, implying that the bracelet she had given couldn't compare to Genevieve's standards.
Octavia felt extremely embarrassed at that moment.
"Come on, you're really flattering me." Genevieve seemed a little shy.
"Here, let me put it on for you," Arabella proposed.
"Thanks." Genevieve could only accept.
Though this bracelet ended up on her other wrist, Octavia's bracelet still paled in comparison. It now seemed like the latter was way too shabby and inappropriate for such a grand event.
Octavia was drowning in embarrassment.
"It's beautiful, and it matches perfectly with your Crown," Arabella quickly praised, "I didn't expect my youngest son to have such good taste."
"Did Alaric pick this?" Genevieve asked in surprise.
At this moment, Alaric was socializing with his two brothers some distance away.
Cecilia, on the other hand, couldn't help but glance in that direction.
The man who was chatting and drinking suddenly looked over as if he had been paying attention to her all along, meeting her gaze as soon as she looked over.
Cecilia averted her gaze and continued listening to the elders' conversation without saying a word.
"I didn't expect Alaric to be so considerate, even accompanying you shopping. I heard that boys at his age usually don't want to accompany their parents," Genevieve chatted casually.
"Only the immature ones would do that. Dominic always makes time to accompany me," Octavia praised her son.
"So, did Dominic also pick my mom's gift?" Cecilia asked innocently.
The look on her face was so pure, yet her question made both Octavia and Dominic feel awkward.
One did not need to be an expert in aesthetics to know that Octavia's bracelet was so mediocre it even lowered the wearer's elegance.
"Dominic has been busy lately. He just attended the Forbes Celebrity Selection yesterday, so he didn't have much time." Octavia quickly brushed it off, trying to gloss over the matter.
"Oh, that. Alaric participated in that event, too." Cecilia pointed out directly, even though her expression was innocent.
"That kid just got lucky. He attended only for fun. Both his father and I never held any hopes of him winning anything," Arabella said casually, "but who knew? He and Dominic were both selected."
Though she sounded modest, it was an apparent attempt to humiliate Dominic.
Since they both got the same nomination, when put this way, it seemed like Dominic was far inferior to Alaric. After all, what he had put in tons of effort to achieve was achieved by Alaric effortlessly.
Cecilia couldn't help but smile inside.
It would be nothing to be alarmed about if Arabella's words were unintentional, but if she said those things deliberately... she would be quite a character! She basically insulted the entire Kingsley family in just a few words!
Fortunately, Octavia was good at socializing and knew best not to dwell on topics that were unfavorable to her. Thus, she quickly pulled her daughter aside and said, "Penelope, didn't you have something to say to Cecilia?"
Penelope hadn't wanted to come today.
Though the many scars on her face were now covered by makeup, she still refused to apologize to Cecilia!
However, her parents and her brother forced her to come. At first, she thought that since she was here, she would enjoy seeing how her mother would humiliate Genevieve. Yet, in reality, it went completely the other way around! Her family was utterly ridiculed!
She was now filled with fury, and now her mother wanted her to apologize?
Clearly unpleased, Penelope shook her body, silently protesting against the idea.
Octavia immediately pinched her from behind.
Penelope endured the pain without making a sound. After all, as a high society heiress, she couldn't afford to completely lose her composure in public.
She maintained a smile while Octavia said, "Yesterday, Penelope was being childish, feeling jealous because she thought Cecilia took away Dominic. So she said something offensive, which upset Cecilia. She felt guilty all day and insisted on apologizing to Cecilia in person."
Cecilia was somewhat impressed by Octavia, whose words, though sounded simple, conveyed so much information.
Octavia was implying that Dominic and Cecilia's bond was so deep that even Dominic's sister Penelope got jealous, while at the same time conveying that Penelope was a kind girl who didn't want to upset others, thus deciding to apologize to Cecilia regardless of who was in the wrong.
Cecilia didn't point it out; she only watched Octavia put on a show with a cold expression.
To make Octavia's story seem more realistic, Penelope had no choice but to put on a pitiful façade, saying to Cecilia, "Cecilia, I'm sorry. I said those things because I was afraid of having my brother snatched away. I know I made a mistake. You marrying him isn't stealing him away from me; I should be happy now that there's one more person who loves me."
Cecilia couldn't help but wonder how Penelope could say such revolting words with a straight face.
Back then, Penelope deceived her the same way. She used to think that Penelope was simply a little spoiled but not inherently evil. Now, however, she had realized that Penelope was more evil and malicious than the devil.
Nonetheless, Cecilia put on a kind face and said, "I know you didn't mean it."
A hint of sarcasm flashed in Penelope's eyes.
Although she was unhappy about apologizing to this bitch, the fact that this bitch forgave her so easily made her despise Cecilia even more.
Once Cecilia entered their Kingsley family, Penelope swore to get back at her!
"However, you threw away Seraphina's phone, which was really your fault." Cecilia brought up yesterday's incident directly.
Penelope's expression visibly stiffened.
Had this woman lost her mind? Why would she bring up such a thing in front of the elders of the four major families?
"What?" Atticus, upon hearing his daughter's name, spoke up in surprise.
"Mr. Atticus, it was just a small misunderstanding. It wasn't a big deal, after all. Penelope is younger than all of us, and we didn't hold it against her. But since Penelope has decided to apologize, she should apologize to Seraphina first," Cecilia explained, looking very righteous.
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