I watched this unfold with no amusement, but before I could react, Caden took a long stride forward, slipped an arm around my waist, and said, “Roseline just got to Rivemon. I’ll be showing her around.”
Wendy and Eleanor’s faces fell. Playing along, I leaned into him with a playful smile. “You promised to take me shopping, too.”
Caden looked down at me with ‘adoring’ eyes and nodded. “Of course.”
What a fake!
Taking advantage, are we?
I pinched Caden hard on his back, but he didn’t even flinch; instead, he pulled me closer. This guy was too good at putting on a show!
But with Richard watching, the act had to go on, and honestly, seeing Wendy’s forced smile was worth it.
Wendy’s expression flickered, but she pled on a strained smile. Then she presented a gift she’d brought for Richard. She smiled sweetly, doing her best to look gentle and considerate. “Mr. Richard, this is the finest Vivara Snow. It’s very nutritious and perfect for someone your age. My grandfather personally sourced it.”
She paused, casting a glance my way. “Ms. Sinclair, I’m not sure they have things like this up in Winterfell, way up north. You probably haven’t come across it before. I’d be happy to bring you some next time.”
Oh, I caught the snide remark loud and clear. I replied coolly, “No need.”
But Wendy still needed to be finished. “Ms. Sinclair, did you bring anything for Mr. Richard?”
Wendy looked at me challengingly, probably thinking that, as a country bumpkin Omega, I hadn’t bothered to bring any gift at all. She was relentless in her attempt to put me down.
Her whole plan was as clear as day: a little competition for gifts to show off who the real lady from a prestigious family was, the one fit for Caden. Tonight’s visit to ‘see Richard’ was just an excuse to outshine me.
From her meticulously chosen dress to the thoughtful gift, everything was designed to win over Richard, leave me embarrassed, and position herself as the ideal future Luna of the Eclipse Pack.
But a gift showdown? Against me? She’d seriously underestimated her opponent.
With a calm smile, I motioned for the butler, Leslie, to bring over my case. I opened it carefully, took out a framed painting, and presented it to Richard. “Mr. Richard, this is Picara Voss’s original Le Rêve. My grandfather wanted you to have it.”
Richard’s face lit up as he accepted the painting, examining it closely. “Picara Voss! A true masterpiece. Thank your grandfather for me.”
Wendy’s expression froze in disbelief as she looked at the painting. On the canvas was a serene young woman with closed eyes and golden hair flowing behind her – a piece of artwork capturing the pinnacle of Picara Voss’s genius. Just one glance revealed its priceless value.
Richard, a lifelong art lover passionate about famous paintings, was utterly delighted with the gift. With this world-renowned masterpiece in his hands, I’d hit the mark perfectly and earned his sincere approval.
Compared to my Picara Voss, Wendy’s Vivara Snow looked trivial. Her face paled, and she blurted out, “Ms. Sinclair, what’s the meaning of bringing a fake painting for Mr. Richard?”
I inwardly laughed. My grandfather himself had entrusted me with this gift – it was no fake. She just assumed that someone from the remote Frostmoore couldn’t possibly come up with an authentic masterpiece.
“Ms. Crawford, are you implying that Mr. Richard’s judgment is so poor he can’t tell real from fake?” I smiled, adding a touch of mockery.
Wendy flushed with embarrassment. “That’s not what I meant. But Picara Voss’s original works are priceless. Where did you get it?”
“Oh, I see. Are you suggesting I stole it?” I replied icily.
Before Wendy could respond, Caden spoke up. “The painting is authentic.”
She hadn’t expected Caden to defend me, and her face twisted with frustration. “But … “
Caden cut her off, “Grandpa’s expert eye has already confirmed it’s real. Are you questioning him?”
Wendy clammed up, though she shot me a look full of resentment.
I raised an eyebrow and smiled. “The painting, Ms. Crawford, is undoubtedly genuine. Now, as for your gown … “
She froze. “My gown?”
My lips curled in a mocking smile. “Now that Ms. Crawford is definitely a fake.”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Wendy shouted, her voice rising in anger. “This gown was designed by the international master Loe! You probably don’t know who Loe is, so stop spouting nonsense!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. If I didn’t know who Loe was, no one would.
The gown Wendy was wearing was indeed well-made and beautiful. But when she had just stood there mocking me, I had already noticed the flaws in the craftsmanship and details.
This dress my studio had only ever produced two of these. One was bought by Goldenwood star Ada, and the other was purchased by the Queen of Yelvia. So, Wendy’s dress could only be a high-quality imitation.
Judging by her confident stance, she probably didn’t even realize she had bought a fake.
“As far as I know, the genuine Loe pieces have a heart-shaped tag stitched into the lining at the hem. Ms. Crawford, perhaps you’d like to check if yours has one?” I smiled, ready to deliver the slap in the face.
The heart-shaped tag was something I personally designed, and each one was hand-sewn by Yura. It was impossible to replicate.
“What heart-shaped tag? I’ve never heard of it! Stop talking nonsense and trying to irritate me!” Wendy sneered dismissively.
I pulled out my phone and waved it in front of her. “Ms. Crawford, you might want to check Twitter’s trending topics.”
“Trending topics?” Wendy paused, confused.
“Loe just released the new Alice Signature Collection today. The heart-shaped tag is mentioned in the details,” I said with a smug smile playing on my lips.
Perfect timing.
I had arranged for Yura to launch the Alice Signature Collection, which immediately shot to the top of Twitter’s trending list. The post clearly explained Loe’s design philosophy, including the heart-shaped tag.
Wendy hesitated before unlocking her phone, and the trending news about Loe popped up.
Sure enough, Yura had explicitly stated that every piece from Loe’s studio carried the heart-shaped anti-counterfeit tag.
But the dress Wendy was wearing? It didn’t have one.
Wendy’s face turned pale, shifting between shades of blue and white. I smiled, enjoying her discomfort.
It was unbelievable that the daughter of the Wild Pack, Wendy, had such poor judgment – spending a small fortune on a counterfeit! She had truly lost all face in front of Caden today!
Even Eleanor looked at Wendy with a trace of doubt in her eyes.
Wendy glared at me with frustration, her expression a mix of anger and disbelief, but she couldn’t find a way to respond.
As I relished her awkwardness, Caden suddenly leaned in and asked softly, “How did you know about that? Loe’s studio has never mentioned anything about a heart-shaped tag.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I just heard it from a friend.”
Caden didn’t comment, but there was still a hint of suspicion in his gaze.
Before the conversation could continue, Eleanor swiftly changed the topic, trying to diffuse the tension. “Alright, Leslie, let’s start dinner.”
Leslie looked to Richard for approval, who gave a slight nod, signaling that it was time to begin.
The dinner at Eclipse Pack was naturally lavish. As I sat down at the table, I casually glanced over at a nearby shelf where I noticed a photograph placed on top.
In the photo, Richard was holding a small white dog.
That dog looked familiar.
I turned to Caden beside me and asked, “Is that dog in the photo Mr. Richard’s?”
Caden glanced at the picture, and a shadow of sorrow crossed his handsome face. “That was the dog my grandmother kept when she was alive. Its name was Dulce. When Grandma passed away two years ago, Dulce ran away. I had people search for it for a long time but never found it. Grandpa has always missed it.”
So that’s the story. I stood up and apologized, “I’m sorry, I need to step out for a moment.”
“Where are you going?” Caden frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure. “Dinner’s about to start.”
“It’s something urgent. I’ll explain when I get back,” I said as I walked toward the door, quickly dialing the number of the pet hospital doctor. “Mr. Zeriah, it’s Roseline. How’s the dog I dropped off last time?”
“Ms. Sinclair, it’s fully recovered,” came Franc’s voice from the other end of the line.
I was overjoyed and immediately replied, “That’s wonderful. I’ll come pick it up now.”
Earlier, I had noticed the dog in the photo looked familiar. It resembled the stray I had rescued before, and the collar around its neck matched perfectly. This dog was likely the one Richard had lost.
Richard had such a deep bond with the dog. I knew I had to hurry and bring it back to him so there wouldn’t be any more delays or complications. The longer I waited, the more chances there were for something to go wrong.
I didn’t care about the displeased expression on Caden’s face. I rushed out of the Holbrooks home and told the driver to take me to the animal hospital.
Everything went smoothly. The dog had been well cared for and was still energetic. When it saw me, it happily ran around. I thanked the staff and left double the payment as a tip, then quickly instructed the driver to take me back.
I knew that as soon as I left, Eleanor and Wendy would seize the opportunity to plot against me. Sure enough, as soon as I stepped back through the door, I could hear their voices mocking me, one after the other.
“What was so urgent that it was more important than your grandfather?” Eleanor’s voice was sharp and disdainful.
“Typical of someone from the countryside – no manners at all. Wendy, on the other hand, is refined, polite, and graceful.”
“Ah, Auntie, you flatter me.”
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