Chapter 88 Disdain
Lily leaned in and whispered, her breath tickling my ear, "Jane, I've got a secret. This is the first time my brother's brought a girl I barely know to a formal event. I really like you, so keep it up. I hope you become my sister-in-law."
I looked at Lily, surprised, and she nodded, confirming it.
Louis, in a good mood, shooed Lily away and stared at my blushed face. He leaned in and said, "Jane, you have no idea how cute you look when you blush. Like two red apples, and I just want to take a bite."
"Stop talking nonsense, or I'm tuning you out." His sudden intimacy made me even more embarrassed.
Louis watched my face turn redder and chuckled, his steps lighter.
"Dad, Mom, I'm back." Louis led me to the living room entrance, beaming.
Several socialites and ladies were on the sofa. When they heard Louis, they smiled, ready to greet him, but their smiles froze when they saw me. Two middle-aged women secretly scrutinized me, their faces showing disdain.
That look was so insulting. If it weren't for the need to keep my cool, I would have left.
Mindy was there too, sitting with a well-dressed woman in a more secluded spot. She was momentarily stunned but quickly smiled and nodded at me.
In such a setting, I couldn't be too obvious, so I subtly smiled back.
The large living room suddenly fell into an eerie silence. The glamorous woman in the main seat, who looked a bit like Louis, must be his mother.
Megan Anderson seemed surprised to see me. She looked me up and down without saying anything, but the contempt in her eyes was hurtful.
On the other side, a tall, slightly overweight man in a black suit glanced at us indifferently before turning back to his conversation.
Everyone was discreetly sizing me up with looks of suspicion, disdain, indifference, disgust, contempt, and curiosity.
I felt like an animal in a cage, being watched. It was a terrible feeling.
"Dad, Mom, meet Jane Hanks, the girl I'm into," Louis said.
The living room was eerily quiet, and everyone was shocked, as if Louis's simple statement was outrageous.
"Louis, why are you back so late? Go check the banquet area to make sure everything is in order. Today is your father's big day, so we can't afford any mistakes." Megan didn't respond to his introduction, instead giving orders with her chin slightly raised, not even bothering to smile at me.
I suddenly felt like I wasn't here for a birthday party but to be humiliated.
I was extremely embarrassed and felt the urge to leave. Although I grew up in an ordinary family with no power or influence, I understood civility and respect. These wealthy women, adorned with gold and jewels, had such narrow mindsets. Being looked down upon by such people was humiliating.
I took a deep breath, trying to suppress my rising anger.
Louis's hand was protectively behind me, blocking my way out. He whispered, "I've never brought a girl home before, so my mom might be a bit surprised. Don't take it to heart. I'll take you home after the banquet. Just stay with me for a bit."
In such a stifling environment, I didn't want to stay any longer. "I don't feel very welcome here. It's better if I leave now, so I don't ruin your dad's birthday party. You don't need to..."
Before I could finish, a commotion in the corner of the living room drew everyone's attention.
A middle-aged woman helped up a girl in a long dress, "How could you be so careless? Are you hurt?"
Louis turned to me and seized the moment to change the subject, "Mindy fell. Jane, let's go check on her together."
Without giving me a chance to refuse, Louis took my hand and led me over. He stood next to the middle-aged woman, two steps away from Mindy, keeping a gentlemanly distance.
Megan saw us holding hands, and a look of disgust crossed her meticulously made-up face.
My anger kept rising, and I wanted to throw something at that annoying face.
"Mindy, are you okay? We have a family doctor," Louis said, bending slightly, his concern evident, performing his host duties impeccably.
"Louis, help Mindy to the backyard to check if she's hurt," Megan said, looking at Mindy with concern and instructing Louis.
Louis reluctantly declined, "Mom, Mindy is a girl, so it's not appropriate for me to take care of her. It's better if Auntie accompanies her."
Megan insisted, "You two grew up together, what's inappropriate about it? Go on, be quick, I'll take care of Ms. Hanks. Are you afraid I can't take good care of her?"
Now she even remembered my last name, and her smile changed so quickly.
Louis helped the reluctant Mindy out, leaving me alone under the watchful eyes of the others. "I'll be right back, stay here with my mom for a bit."
There wasn't a single friendly face in the entire living room.
Standing there, I felt like a lone boat in the ocean, facing unknown storms alone.
I considered sending Louis a message on Facebook and leaving, but Megan came over, took my hand, and led me to the sofa.
The temperature in Regalia in October was nice, neither too hot nor too cold, the most comfortable season. But Megan's hand was cold and clammy, completely at odds with the warmth of her smile.
"Ms. Hanks, where are you from? You look like a delicate Northern girl," Megan said, signaling the butler to pour me tea and asking gently.
Beneath this gentle facade was the arrogance and condescension of a life of privilege.
I was very unhappy, but since she was Louis's mother and an elder, I couldn't lose my composure because of their impropriety.
"Thank you. I'm from Sunhaven, a true Southerner," I replied.
"Why do I hear a bit of a Northern accent in you?" Megan asked.
I forced myself to smile, "I went to college at the Northern Institute of the Arts."
A woman in a dark blue velvet dress sitting nearby had been watching me with unfriendly eyes. When she heard I went to the Northern Institute of the Arts, she sneered. Her voice was thin and sharp, very grating, "Northerners are generally uncouth, so what can they learn? National Capital University is where real ladies are cultivated now. Mrs. Flores, I remember Mindy goes there too, right?"
"She's doing her master's there. It's not easy to get into National Capital University for graduate school. Mindy has always been smart, so it wasn't too hard for her," a mother said proudly.
"Everyone knows how excellent Mindy is. You're lucky to have such a thoughtful and smart daughter. Me? I'll never have that kinda luck," Megan said, picking up the conversation and chatting with the other ladies.
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