Chapter 399 Slaying
Today, Jane opted for a black chiffon jumpsuit instead of a dress, and the wide-legged pants produced a visual effect akin to a long skirt. It added a touch of queenly elegance, grace, and danger to her.
Although Oliver did not like Jane, he trusted her in situations like this. He had somehow overlooked the fact that his wife was equally formidable in combat.
By the time most of the guests had arrived, Oliver had become the focal point for many of the male attendees.
Helen took it upon herself to attend to the other women while Susan was seen mingling with her peers. Samuel, meanwhile, was tasked with entertaining the younger men.
The unspoken rule of the party was for peers to socialize with peers, men with men, and women with women. At best, the younger men and women would interact, but only those who shared a close private relationship.
Natalie only caught a fleeting glimpse of Samuel before he was whisked away by a group of young men.
To Natalie, most of the socialites present were strangers. After sharing a few polite exchanges with Susan and wishing her a happy birthday, she left with Jane, leaving a number of puzzled socialites behind.
The art exhibition was set up in the western hall, showcasing mainly paintings and photographic works from emerging artists.
Susan had thoughtfully provided the names and contact details of the artists beneath each piece, facilitating a network of mutual admiration among the artists and the guests. This move reflected Susan's sophisticated taste.
Among the participants, Jane had three photographic pieces selected—all highly praised and award-winning, positioning her at the forefront among her contemporaries.
"I thought you wouldn’t lend your works to Susan," Natalie remarked as they perused the paintings.
Jane replied, "That was the plan, but sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do."
She was no longer a socialite, and without her three celebrated works, she doubted she would have made any impression at this party.
Jane said with a shrug, "In the end, they are meant to be sold. If I can make money through Susan, then why not? Moreover, she stands to gain no profit from it."
Natalie found herself torn between laughter and tears at Jane's pragmatism.
As they meandered through the exhibition, Jane and Natalie heard some disparaging comments regarding the photo of the Aurora Borealis captured by Jane.
"Can you believe this photograph won a gold prize? Were the judges blind?" one socialite said with a sneer.
"Let's not even talk about the quality. Does anyone seriously believe Jane took these photos herself? She’s really delicate and spoiled. Can she endure the hardship in the Arctic Circle?"
These remarks were not whispered; they were loud enough to draw the attention of several other attendees who had been admiring the paintings, leading them to turn their gazes toward Jane.
The pair found it impossible to remain unnoticed. One was the formerly undisputed top socialite, a position unfilled since she left. The other was the recent sensation in the fashion world and Oliver's wife.
Both of them had not been in the public eye for some time. Their presence alone was enough to captivate and mesmerize the crowd!
"It's a good thing they don't frequent these gatherings. Otherwise, it would always be a contest for the spotlight, and we’ll all be overshadowed."
Catching each other's eye, Jane and Natalie decided to approach the group of socialites.
Nearby, a Paykston socialite, observing the unfolding scene, whispered to her companion, "It’s over for those people. This is going to be quite the spectacle."
"Why do you say that?" her companion inquired, intrigued.
"If you missed Natalie and Jane's confrontation with Hailey, you missed out. It was nothing short of impressive!" the Paykston socialite explained.
Her companion, somewhat skeptical, remarked, "I'm familiar with Jane, but Natalie seems rather… meek."
The experienced Paykston socialite retorted, "Looks can be deceiving. In any case, with Jane in the mix, how could this end well? Just watch."
Meanwhile, the other socialites carried on with their insults until one of them sensed the changing mood and discreetly tugged at the person she was talking to, who was none other than Susan.
"Natalie, Jane, she didn't mean it. Please..." Susan began, attempting to defuse the situation with an apology.
Natalie interrupted, "Didn’t mean it? Of course, she meant it.”
Susan's face turned ashen, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Joanna rolled her eyes, completely fearless in the face of Natalie. She said sarcastically, “She’s already fallen to the bottom, but she still thinks she can regain her former glory. Am I wrong for saying that?”
Natalie feigned curiosity and asked, “You seemed very knowledgeable. Is it because you’ve always been at the bottom?”
The bystanders could not contain their amusement, hastily covering their mouths to stifle their laughter.
"Natalie, how can you talk like that?” another socialite asked.
"Miss, did you leave your eyes at home? I obviously used my mouth to speak," Natalie retorted, quickly shifting her attention to this new person. She noticed the other party was one of those who had insulted Jane’s work earlier. She continued, “By the way, is it so difficult to appreciate the efforts of others without resorting to negativity? Did no one teach you manners?"
The laughter around them grew louder.
A Paykston socialite, impressed, silently commended Natalie's wit with a thumbs-up.
Susan tried to intervene, tugging at her friend's sleeve in an attempt to calm the situation.
However, the more Susan tried to stop Joanna, the angrier Joanna became. She felt Susan was too kind and easily bullied. She pointed at Natalie and scolded, “Do you think you’re above us? What right do you have to be arrogant? You and Jane are cut from the same cloth. She’s trash, and you’re just an opportunist with an unknown origin!”
At that moment, a waiter happened by.
Jane, seizing the opportunity, took a glass of champagne from the tray and doused Joanna with it.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Joanna was caught off guard, her makeup and hair instantly ruined, staining her white dress in an unsightly manner.
"I'm merely teaching you a lesson in proper speech and conduct. Isn't that clear?" Jane retorted with a smirk, looking extremely beautiful.
As Joanna stepped forward, intending to retaliate, Jane remained unflustered, her expression dismissive.
"I've heard of talks of your possible engagement. Behaving like this isn't becoming. Your potential fiancé might leave you due to how ugly you are. You can do whatever you want….”
Jane paused dramatically before she continued, “However, if you really confront me, you’ll only get beaten.”
Jane's advice, delivered in an earnest voice, could easily be mistaken as genuine by those who were not in the know.
Joanna, rendered speechless by rage, found herself unable to retaliate. Her humiliation was compounded by the realization that she stood no chance against Jane. This only served to exacerbate her humiliation.
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