Chapter 54
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54
"Oh, really? Thinking of others first... how unexpected. Did she truly find enlightenment at the convent?"
"I can’t say for certain, but she’s definitely being extremely careful about her associations with men."
"Hurt by love, and then abandoned by her own family... Ah! My mistake! Haha!"
Bella found the growing public sympathy for Harriet absolutely nauseating.
She had worked so hard to paint Harriet as a pathetic, ugly wretch—someone far beneath anyone’s pity—yet only a year later, the girl was being treated like a tragic heroine 'hurt by love.' To make matters worse, people were now saying the Listerwell family had 'abandoned' her.
Of all things, why does Harriet have to be the topic of conversation at my party!
Bella clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.
She excused herself, pretending to have urgent business, and sought out Caroline.
"Caroline. Bring out the gifts."
"Huh? Already? Weren't we supposed to give those out when the guests left?"
"Can you just do as I say?"
"Oh... alright."
Noticing the dark cloud over Bella’s expression, Caroline hurried to the preparation room.
A moment later, the Cheslow servants began distributing gifts to the guests one by one. Handing out favors in the middle of a party felt awkward and out of place.
Once Bella confirmed everyone had received a package, she tapped a thin wine glass with a silver spoon. The clear, bell-like chime cut through the chatter.
"These gifts are a small token of my gratitude to all of you for attending today. Inside, you’ll find the bestselling cream from Labonaz, a brand renowned for its luxury beauty products."
Exclamations of "Oh!" rippled through the room.
After all, Labonaz cream was not only expensive but notoriously difficult to acquire due to its popularity. Bella smiled, satisfied with her clever maneuver.
"Gentlemen, if you gift this to your mother, sister, or lover, you’ll surely earn quite a few points. And ladies, I’m sure you all know the quality of this cream firsthand."
A single jar cost five hundred dirhams. Providing full-sized versions for every guest would have been a massive financial burden, so Bella had struck a deal with the owner of Labonaz.
They had agreed that Labonaz would produce special half-sized versions for the party to lower the cost; in return, a Labonaz promotional pamphlet was tucked into every gift bag. It was a calculated move that allowed Bella to cut costs while still putting on a grand show of generosity.
"Labonaz is a brand I’ve used for a long time. Their products are truly excellent, and I wanted to share my personal recommendation with all of you. I hope you enjoy them."
A round of applause followed.
Bella expected the talk of cheap soap and Harriet to vanish, replaced by praise for her and the luxury of Labonaz.
However, an unwelcome undercurrent of murmurs began to stir.
"Are we supposed to carry these around for the rest of the night?"
"Right? It’s a bit inconvenient..."
Harriet had also distributed gifts during her tea party, but the guests there had been seated, allowing them to simply set the gifts on the table. At an evening gala, however, it was a different story. If they put the bags down, they might lose them, but carrying them around was a nuisance.
In the end, Bella had to send the servants back out to collect the gifts, informing the guests they could pick them up at the exit when they left.
James chuckled awkwardly beside her. "Why on earth did you hand them out so early?"
"I was worried some people might leave before the end. I was foolish."
Bella forced a smile for James, though she was seething at his tactless prodding. She knew perfectly well that mid-party distribution was a mistake.
But I had to cut off the talk about Harriet somehow!
The only way to divert the crowd’s attention had been to bring out the gifts. She would endure this minor humiliation as long as she didn't have to hear another word about that damned soap.
Just then, she overheard Viviana speaking to another lady nearby.
"If you like Labonaz, you can have mine when we leave. It doesn't really suit my skin."
Bella’s sharp gaze shot toward Viviana, but the girl didn't notice.
I wasted so much money on Labonaz thinking I’d end up with skin like Bella’s, but it didn't do a damn thing for my acne.
Viviana realized now that the only "benefit" of using such expensive cosmetics had been the ability to puff out her chest in front of others. Thinking back, she wondered how many people had laughed at her behind her back. Now that she had found products that actually worked for her, she didn't regret giving away the expensive cream at all.
Caroline, who had approached unnoticed, poked Viviana in the side.
"Still, this is a gift Bella gave to thank her guests. Do you really need to say something like that right now?"
Viviana frowned at the rebuke.
"If not now, then when? It’s a product I won’t use even if I take it home, so it’s better if someone else gets some use out of it. It’s not like I said anything insulting..."
"Honestly, Viviana. I’ve thought this before, but you really lack tact. Just like when you went to Harriet’s tea party."
"Other girls went there besides me, you know."
"Enough."
Viviana’s temper flared at Caroline’s condescending tone. The girl always acted as if she were superior.
She’s always like this. Does she think she’s someone important?
Viviana decided she needed to have a word with Bella about Caroline’s attitude. But when her eyes met Bella’s for a brief second, she froze. Bella’s gaze was chillingly cold—so cold that Viviana wondered if this was truly the friend she knew.
It wasn't even a misunderstanding. Bella, who had been glaring with pure venom, abruptly turned her head away the moment Viviana tried to speak.
Suddenly, Harriet’s words echoed in her mind.
"Why is Bella watching me? Since when has she ever done that? Don't you agree?"
It was true. Bella had never been mindful of anyone’s feelings—not Harriet’s, and certainly not her friends'. She always acted exactly as she pleased, and it was her "friends," Viviana included, who had spent years sugarcoating her behavior.
Is Bella actually a good person?
The doubt that had been creeping into her mind unearthed buried memories.
She remembered how Bella, knowing full well that Viviana liked Adam Hofner, had placed a bouquet she received from him in the center of the tea table. She had spent the whole afternoon boasting about how Adam preferred women with "beautiful skin."
Everyone else had been mindful of Viviana’s feelings that day, but Bella hadn't cared at all. Viviana had convinced herself there was no malice in it back then... but was that really true?
Feeling uncharacteristically hot-headed, Viviana let the words fly.
"What is this place? Is this a party, or a minefield where we’re all terrified of upsetting Bella? Are we guests, or just her stage props?"
At her outburst, Caroline and the rest of the circle turned to Viviana in shock. But she didn't stop.
"Oh, that’s right. We’ve always been Bella’s props, haven’t we? And as a mere prop, I haven't been singing her praises loudly enough. My apologies for such a 'grave sin.'"
"Viviana! What is wrong with you? How can you be so rude?" Caroline hissed.
But Caroline’s scolding didn't scare her anymore.
"You’re the rude one, Caroline! You call me tactless? Fine! Let’s say I am. But why should I have to be mindful of your feelings, or Bella’s?"
Viviana spat the words out, venting years of accumulated resentment.
In truth, Bella’s friends were all ladies from respectable families in their own right. While they enjoyed the status of being grouped together as 'pretty and proper young ladies,' it wasn't as if they owed their entire social existence to Bella.
Viviana, who had long been whispered about as 'the ugliest of Bella’s entourage,' no longer wanted to live like Bella’s maid.
When Viviana refused to back down, Bella finally approached, her eyebrows drawn together in a look of hurt innocence.
"What’s going on, Caroline? Why is Viviana so angry?"
Viviana let out a hollow, bitter laugh.
Just a moment ago, she looked at me like I was an insect. Now look at her.
Why hadn't she seen through this before? No, it wasn't that she hadn't known. There had been plenty of times she had felt that same chill. She had simply lied to herself, telling herself she had seen it wrong or misunderstood.
The other friends began nudging Viviana, whispering urgently.
"Viviana, what on earth is wrong with you? Bella’s going to cry."
"It’s Bella’s party. Raising your voice like this isn't right. Apologize, quickly."
Viviana looked around at the circle. Bella was on the verge of tears; Caroline had a comforting arm around Bella’s shoulder; her friends were staring at her with accusatory glares; and the rest of the guests were craning their necks, whispering about the scene.
It was absurd. And yet, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
When was it?
Viviana searched her memory, and the realization hit her like a physical blow.
Ah. Back then, Harriet was the one standing right where I am now.
It had been about a year and a half ago. At a tea party hosted by Bella.