"Much better now, thank you for asking, sister-in-law."
Elly Campbell: "..."
He always managed to overthink things.
At that mont, Mia Brown finished chatting with the village chiefs and was walking toward her.
"Mrs. Jones."
Mia greeted Elly first, her deanor calm and graceful.
She carried an air of an artist. If not for knowing she was a notorious mistress, it would be hard to tell.
Quite unlike the mistresses Elly was familiar with.
This woman had an extraordinarily high emotional intelligence, even Elly had to admit.
Being a mistress but managing not to invite disgust — Mia was truly clever.
"Ms. Brown."
Elly nodded at her, her attitude neither overly cold nor excessively friendly.
Mia often accompanied William Hall to various business functions. Back when the Old Master of the Hall Family was still alive, William exercised more restraint, bringing Leanne Richards to important occasions.
But ever since the Old Master passed away, William had let himself go.
Aside from attending particularly etiquette-sensitive places, such as the Presidential Palace or high-status hos like the Jones Family or Campbell Family, William always brought Mia to other events.
Mia never let him down; regardless of the occasion, she adeptly handled anything that ca her way.
So people trying to placate her, or ingratiate themselves with William, occasionally even directly called her Mrs. Hall.
At first, when people addressed her as Mrs. Hall, Mia still felt awkward and unnatural, but over ti, as more people called her that, she grew accustod to it.
It had been a long ti since anyone called her Ms. Brown.
Mia’s expression subtly lingered on Elly.
Often, won instinctively compared themselves to one another.
Though Mia had seen plenty of coverage about Elly on television, this was her first ti formally eting her face-to-face.
While Mia considered herself beautiful and refined, she had to admit, standing in front of Elly, she fell short.
Especially the commanding aura Elly exuded — confident and dignified — a kind of presence Mia knew she could never fully achieve, no matter how hard she tried.
Despite Mia’s fa and recognition within her circle as the presud "Mrs. Hall," she remained, in essence, a mistress. Even if she might one day beco legitimate, the stain of being a mistress would never completely fade.
Elly, however, was different. She was Adam Jones’ legally wedded wife, acknowledged by the governnt, and adored by him to the heavens. How could she not be confident, how could she not be proud?
Mia was fully aware that Elly would inherently look down on her.
After all, it was the nature of being a mistress.
And considering Elly’s father had himself taken a mistress, one who even entered their ho, it wasn’t surprising Elly held disdain for mistresses altogether.
Mia might straighten her back in the face of won inferior to her, but in front of Elly, she knew she couldn’t.
"I’ve long admired your reputation, Mrs. Jones. Never expected to et you here today."
Elly responded with a faint smile, not taking Mia’s flattery at face value. Instead, she seamlessly changed the subject and said:
"I didn’t expect to see Ms. Brown here either."
"I happened to have so free ti recently, so I thought I’d co to the mountains to teach children how to play piano. There’s not much I can do, but at least I can teach piano — a small gesture of goodwill."
Mia spoke humbly, but no sooner had she finished than Leo Hall let out a laugh instead of Elly.
The lack of face-saving made Mia sowhat unhappy.
She glanced sideways at Leo with a hint of reproach, prompting him to stifle his laugh imdiately.
However, the mischievous defiance in his gaze still lingered.
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