Chapter 15
Cecily didn’t even spare it a glance. Ophelia was just showing off.
Aurelie's lips curled into a smirk as she examined the card, "Wow, such a beautiful invitation."
Ophelia's lips quirked with satisfaction.
Aurelie arched an eyebrow, "It'd be a shame for such a pretty card to end up in the trash."
Elegantly, she flicked the invitation into the garbage bin and wiped her hands with a disinfecting wipe, an expression of distaste on her face. Cecily chuckled at the gesture.
Ophelia furrowed her brows, and a chill flashed in her eyes.
Elysia stepped forward, pulled the invitation out of the trash, and slammed it down in front of Cecily, "What's with the attitude? Ophelia was being kind by inviting you bumpkins, and you can't even appreciate it?"
"Do you smell that, Cecily?" Aurelie teased, fanning the air with her hand, her voice thick with mockery.
"What?" Cecily asked, playing along.
"That stench," answered Aurelie with a clear, scorned tone.
Elysia clenched her teeth with fury, "Aurelie, you—"
"What? Can't handle the truth?" Aurelie rolled her eyes and glanced at the invitation again, "Oh, having it at the Star Rise Group Haven Hotel? Must be quite the affair."
Ophelia stood her ground, with her arms folded. Her engagement party was meant to be nothing short of magnificent. "Of course, Darian cherishes me. He said he wants to give me nothing but the best."
Elysia continued, "I mean, Ophelia deserves the best. I remember, sis, when you married Mr. Darian, there wasn't even a wedding. Haha, what a joke! That's the difference between love and the lack thereof. Mr. Darian wants to give Ophelia everything, while you got nothing. How about it, are you dying of envy yet?"
Ophelia cast a mocking glance at Cecily, clearly satisfied by Elysia's remarks.
A chill flickered in the corners of Cecily's eyes. Indeed, that was the difference between being loved and not.
So what? It was all in the past, and she couldn't care less. Even if they held their engagement party at Star Rise Group Haven Hotel or if they bought the place outright, it meant nothing to her.
"Your engagement party does need to be grand," Aurelie remarked with biting sarcasm. "Otherwise, how can you make sure the whole town knows about the adulterer and the mistress finally tying the knot?"
Ophelia turned sharply, glaring at Aurelie with annoyance.
Even if she wanted to tear Cecily and Aurelie apart right there and then, the presence of so many others made her hold back.
Elysia asked, "Aurelie, what's that supposed to mean?"
"No deep meanings," Aurelie replied coolly, "just noting how today's mistresses have the audacity to brag about their affairs as if they were commendable achievements, even throwing a lavish engagement party as if they're afraid others might not realize that they were the other woman."
Their conversation quickly drew the attention of most people in the vicinity.
Cecily tugged at Aurelie's arm, not wanting to prolong the confrontation, "Aurelie..."
Yet, Aurelie brushed off Cecily's gesture, continuing coldly, "Do you think these mistresses who wreck marriages feel particularly proud?"
Aurelie stood up, raising her voice, "Do you know how this future Mrs. Fitzgerald got her position?"
The crowd listened intently, curious about what Aurelie had to say next.
"She schemed against Mr. Darian and his wife during their marriage, took advantage of Mr. Darian while he was drunk, climbed into his bed, got pregnant, and then plotted to drive away the lawful wife. Tell me, isn't that both vile and reprehensible? These people have no shame, and now they even parade around proudly. How utterly shameless!"
Aurelie's voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
The previously quiet setting was suddenly abuzz with whispers and gossip.
Darian's marriage was no secret.
Ophelia clenched her lips, and her whole body began to shake. "Shut up, I didn't."
"You didn't? You've got no shame, huh?"
Aurelie's rage was unabated as she continued, "A mistress is a mistress, even if you end up as Mrs. Fitzgerald, it's a tainted title. The two of you flaunt it like it's some kind of trophy. It's laughable, disgraceful, and cheap."
Everything she said made Ophelia tremble with fury.
But the thing was, Aurelie wasn't wrong, leaving Ophelia unable to utter a word in her defense.
"But hey, it's a happy occasion, after all—trashy guys and sleazy girls are a perfect match. People attract their own kind."
Ophelia turned pale with rage.
Elysia, ever the loyal maid to Ophelia, stepped forward to defend her. "Enough, Aurelie. Mr. Darian has always had eyes only for Ophelia. They were engaged from the start; they were childhood sweethearts. It was Cecily who wedged herself into the picture and took the title of Mrs. Fitzgerald. We all know who the real mistress is."
"Speak again, you shameless thing! When Darian was near death, she broke off the engagement and ran faster than a rabbit. If Cecily hadn't donated—"
"Aurelie!" Cecily grabbed Aurelie, stopping her mid-sentence.
Aurelie, fuming, bit her tongue but couldn't resist one more jab. "The love of shamelessness runs in the family, doesn't it? Your mom was the other woman, and now, you're best friends with one. How fitting!"
"You!" Elysia was seething.
Cecily held Aurelie back, intent on avoiding more drama. "Let it go, Aurelie. Ophelia came looking for trouble. She's probably up to something. Let's just leave."
Persuaded by Cecily, they summoned the server to pack up their barely touched meals.
"With such little left, they still pack it up. Some people really can't afford it and have to pretend otherwise," Elysia sneered.
Cecily kept her cool, signaling Aurelie to not react impulsively.
The security and waitstaff at the restaurant could sense a brawl brewing and rushed over, trying to defuse the situation, "Ladies, please. Let's take it down a notch."
Elysia cut the waiter off, "These two can't pay; they're gonna ditch the bill. Keep an eye on them."
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