Aria bit her lip, feeling both distressed and helpless.
The price remained at 200, 000, and faint whispers were heard around.
“Can’t even afford 200, 000, such a poor look.”
“Poverty isn’t her fault, but parading it around is just annoying.”
…
Aria’s face turned pale, her emotions becoming increasingly agitated.
Watching her, Isabella sighed in resignation. “Words come from others; don’t mind them.”
Initially, when she was mocked for being raped by a stranger, the comments were far more hurtful than these. If she had taken it to heart, she’d have been devastated.
However, Aria’s pride was too strong, lacking Isabella’s good mindset, and with Emily adding fuel to the fire.
“Words can be dreadful. Losing face at the auction means never being able to hold your head up high in these circles again. Forget about marrying into prestigious families.”
“Enough!” Isabella interrupted, slightly annoyed. Truly, she was just enjoying the show, adding fuel to the fire instead of trying to calm Aria down at this critical moment.
They came together; if Aria lost face, their reputations would be affected too!
Isabella initially held onto Aria’s hand, but at this moment, Aria, nearly losing her mind, forcefully shook her off. “Mind your own business.”
After saying that, Aria immediately raised her number, “300, 000.”
The bidding war between Aria and Mrs. Hannah escalated to 600, 000.
When the auctioneer hammered down, Aria slumped in her chair as if all her strength had drained out of her.
Beside her, Emily grinned maliciously while Isabella could only sigh helplessly.
“Let’s go back first,” Isabella stood up from her chair, and seeing Aria’s state-legs giving way, walking becoming a challenge-she reached out to support her.
As they stood up, auction staff approached, holding a jewelry box containing the gold-inlaid jade bracelet, indicating it was time for them to pay.
None of the three had enough money on them. Trembling, Aria signed a document promising to pay the next day, a simultaneous exchange of money and goods.
Those attending the charity auction were prominent figures, not afraid of defaults. The staff politely accepted the signed document and left.
Isabella, Aria, and Emily returned to the Harris family. When Mrs. Ada learned that Aria had spent 600, 000 on a bracelet worth less than 60, 000, she was almost beside herself with anger.
Nestled in her grandmother’s arms, Aria cried, feeling so wronged as if the mistakes were not her own but caused by others.
“Do you not know that Mrs. Hannah dislikes fur? How could you encourage Aria to wear it!” Mrs. Ada slammed her hand on the table, making a loud thud.
Emily and Isabella were both present. Emily rolled her eyes, while Isabella hung her head slightly; neither of them spoke.
Mrs. Ada grew even angrier, pointing directly at Isabella, “Isabella, Aria went to the charity auction with you. Why didn’t you take care of her properly, letting her suffer so much?”
Faced with Mrs. Ada’s questioning, Isabella instinctively frowned. In this household, she stood alone, and Mrs. Ada’s anger directed towards her was like picking on the weakest link.
Such occurrences weren’t unheard of in the past. Charlotte had always taught her to respect and be dutiful to elders, even when they were wrong; that’s filial piety.
So, when Mrs. Ada unreasonably directed her anger at Isabella, she had chosen to endure silently, without retaliating, for Aria and Emily.
But what was once was once; now was now. If they still considered her a scapegoat, they were deluding themselves.
“When Aria was choosing her clothes, I advised her that this outfit was unsuitable, but she insisted on wearing fur. At the auction, I tried to stop her, but she insisted on going her own way. I think it’s better for her to avoid such occasions in the future. If she doesn’t attend, she won’t lose face.”
“You…” Mrs. Ada never expected Isabella to retort so sharply. She suddenly flared up, pointing at Isabella’s nose, scolding, “You’re really ill-mannered! Is this how you treat your elders?”
“Isabella, what’s wrong with you today? With such a temper, if you upset Grandma, what are we going to do?” Charlotte intervened timely.
She was quite skilled at speaking, delivering beautifully constructed words while pouring fuel on the fire.
Isabella looked at her coldly, a cold smile playing on her lips as she retorted, “Auntie, I didn’t upset Grandma. It was Emily who suggested Aria wear fur, perhaps forgetting that Mrs. Hannah dislikes it. At the auction, she strongly supported Aria against Mrs. Hannah.”
Anyway, the relationship was already broken, so there was no need for Isabella to cover for Emily.
“Grandma, it was Emily who encouraged me to wear a low-cut dress and fur. I don’t know what she was thinking,” accused Aria, crying.
Now, Charlotte and Emily couldn’t just watch from the sidelines anymore. Mrs. Ada’s glare could freeze.
Emily, unconcerned, sneered, “If I told you to jump off a bridge, would you? You’re such a fool.”
“Emily,” Charlotte scolded her, “just because it was unintentional doesn’t mean you don’t have to apologize.”
“Dear cousin Aria, I’m sorry,” Emily said in a sarcastic tone.
This made Aria cry even harder.
Mrs. Ada, with a cold expression, couldn’t continue. After all, Charlotte was the mistress of this household now, and she might not gain anything from arguing with her and her daughter.
So, she used to target Isabella to warn Charlotte. But who would have thought that Isabella was now beyond her control?
How infuriating.
Mrs. Ada was astute enough to realize that pursuing responsibility was meaningless at this point. What mattered was how to settle the 600, 000. She had no idea how to come up with that sum.
“David, how do you suggest we handle this?” She asked her son.
David was also irritated, feeling that both his daughter and niece had acted foolishly, offending the Turner family over a trivial matter.
“Charlotte, prepare a generous gift. Tomorrow, go to the Turner family and apologize. ” he advised.
“Alright, I understand,” Charlotte nodded repeatedly.