It turns out that Mr. Langley had long remarried, making the Third Miss Sinclair’s earlier triumph appear utterly ridiculous at this mont.
The smile on Isabelle Sinclair’s face completely froze, as if she had been slapped in the face in public, her eyes filled with embarrassnt and resentnt.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Mrs. Sinclair, Sean Paxton smoothly invited Elias Langley to the backstage to appreciate so precious donation items that had arrived early.
As soon as they walked away, Isabelle Sinclair couldn’t wait to turn her attention to Juliana Jacobs.
She raised her voice to ensure everyone around could hear.
"Juliana, your dress is indeed unique, but it looks sowhat familiar..."
She pretended to recall, then showed an expression of surprise.
"Could it be that you don’t even have a dedicated designer and had to rent your dress?"
As soon as she said this, everyone’s eyes imdiately focused on Juliana’s dress.
In such a setting, wearing a rented dress was already inappropriate, even sowhat disrespectful.
Reaching her goal, Isabelle Sinclair stroked the necklace on her neck, her tone boasting.
"To show my respect for this charity gala, I specifically wore this necklace my mother gave . It’s a one-of-a-kind piece from a renowned designer. Attending occasions like this ultimately requires so real substance, so as not to embarrass Elias."
Juliana’s eyes landed on the necklace around Isabelle Sinclair’s neck, and her breath hitched.
She recognized this necklace.
The center is a moonstone emitting a gentle blue glow, adorned with so diamond chips.
What made this necklace unique was not the gemstones, but that the chain used an exceptionally rare mory tal, giving it extraordinary resilience and a unique texture beyond ordinary jewelry.
The moonstone was given to her by Elias Langley when she was a child. Mrs. Sinclair, seeing how she couldn’t bear to part with it, had her husband find special tal materials and hired an expert to carefully design and craft it into a necklace, giving it to her as her 10th birthday present.
At this mont, her unique birthday gift was being worn by Isabelle Sinclair around her neck.
A mixed feeling of coldness and bitterness gripped Juliana’s heart.
This relic carrying the past was so easily transferred to Isabelle Sinclair by her mother.
So, the motherly love she once cherished could also be given away lightly to anyone.
Truly... Motherly love knows no bounds.
A sarcastic smile appeared on Juliana’s face, just as Mrs. Paxton walked over, stood beside Juliana, and looked at Isabelle Sinclair.
"Third Miss Sinclair, your words are mistaken. The charity gala is about goodwill, not competing for wealth. If you treat this as a stage for flaunting jewelry, you’re missing the point. I believe Mr. Langley’s perspective isn’t that small."
Her words drew nods of agreent from the surrounding guests.
Isabelle Sinclair’s face turned red and then white, finally unable to hold it, she turned to Mrs. Paxton and said lowly, "A woman who’s supported by her husband, if not for your husband’s sake, who would attend your lousy banquet?"
With that, she left in irritation.
Juliana, though disdainful of Mrs. Paxton’s defense, still gave her a thankful smile.
"Thank you, Mrs. Sinclair. It’s best to ignore people like Isabelle Sinclair."
However, Mrs. Paxton stared at her blankly and softly called out, "Are you... Helena?"
Juliana’s heart skipped a beat, yet her face showed no surprise, and instead, she asked with fitting puzzlent, "Who is Helena? Sorry, I don’t know this person."
The light of expectation in Mrs. Paxton’s eyes dimd instantly, and she said, disappointed, "Sorry, I was being presumptuous. You just look so much like a friend from my childhood. She disappeared when she was twelve and was later declared dead. Recently, I heard she might still be alive, and I thought..."
She didn’t continue, rely shaking her head bitterly.
Only then did Juliana vaguely rember having a close childhood playmate.
She suppressed her emotions and gently comforted, "I hope for a miracle, that she can... return soon."
"Thank you, you’re truly a kind person."
Mrs. Paxton quickly composed herself.
At this ti, the charity donation ceremony was about to begin, and she hurriedly headed toward the stage.
Watching her back, Juliana’s eyes were filled with a black whirlpool.
The kind Helena Sinclair was already dead; she would not return.
She then picked up a glass of champagne, expressionlessly waved over a waiter.
"Excuse , I can’t drink cold, could you please heat it up for ?"
A few minutes later.
On stage, Mrs. Sinclair was introducing the Sinclair Family’s donation, a precious bracelet.
In the audience, Isabelle Sinclair was surrounded by a few socialites, boasting in a low voice, "My necklace may not be gold, but it’s more expensive than gold, made of materials ordinary people can’t get."
Just as she finished, a glass of champagne was splashed over her through the crowd, landing precisely on her neck.
More specifically, it was poured on that necklace.
"So hot."
Isabelle Sinclair exclaid, her eyes locking onto Juliana, imdiately accusing, "Juliana, what are you doing!"
"Sorry, the carpet’s uneven, I almost tripped, I didn’t an it."
Juliana feigned ’panic,’ hastily grabbing a slushy white towel from the waiter’s tray.
"Let help you clean it!"
"Don’t touch it with your dirty hands..."
Isabelle Sinclair was too late to stop as the icy, bone-chilling towel was pressed firmly onto the hot, wine-soaked tal necklace.
Instantly, she was frozen to her teeth.
Juliana knew this tal material too well.
By using intense thermal expansion and contraction to create destructive stress within the necklace, making the most precise clasps and adhesives break apart instantly.
The huge moonstone burst from its base, with so diamond chips falling to the ground, shattered beyond recovery.
Isabelle Sinclair was stunned.
Mrs. Sinclair rushed forward, seeing the broken necklace on the ground, she turned her eyes to Juliana.
At the sa ti, Elias Langley also ca over, stepping in front of Juliana, blocking that sharp gaze.
"The gemstone isn’t damaged, it can be made into another one."
"Elias," Mrs. Sinclair struggled to suppress her rising anger, "do you know the significance of this necklace? It’s not an ordinary piece of jewelry!"
Juliana stepped out from behind Elias Langley, her gaze calmly eting Mrs. Sinclair’s.
"Since it’s so valuable, it shouldn’t be worn out to show off. Besides, if it can be casually given away, then your so-called ’significance’... probably doesn’t hold much true sentint, it’s quite cheap."
Mrs. Sinclair looked at Juliana, a surge of indescribable emotion arose.
If it were anyone else, she would have slapped them already.
But facing Juliana, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Slap!
That slap ant to vent emotion finally landed on Isabelle Sinclair’s face.
"Mom!" Isabelle Sinclair, holding her face, scread in disbelief, "The necklace was ruined by her, why did you hit ?"
Mrs. Sinclair, breathing heavily, didn’t imdiately respond to her words.
Juliana lightly took over the conversation, her words venomous.
"You’re just not hit enough usually, that’s why you can’t recognize your place, bringing disgrace to the Sinclair Family, flaunting your intelligence in front of outsiders. Before you desire sothing, think first if you deserve it. Coveting what isn’t yours—wishful thinking, self-inflicted ridicule!"
Perhaps it was her overwhelming presence; Isabelle Sinclair was trembling with anger, but couldn’t curse back.
But Juliana didn’t plan to let her off just yet.
She turned to face the entire audience, her voice clear and pleasant.
"Earlier, Third Miss Sinclair had quite a few criticisms about my rented dress. She’s right, tonight is Mrs. Paxton’s charity gala, and indeed I shouldn’t have worn a rented dress, but it’s because..."
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