Chapter 717
Shelia was there, draped in a floor-length mermaid dress, but something was off. The dress looked stiff and cheap, the hem overloaded with a chaotic mess of rhinestones that caught the light in all the wrong ways. The fabric pooled awkwardly around her feet, the weight of it too much for her thin figure to carry gracefully. Her makeup, rather than enhancing her features, only served to accentuate the awkwardness of the ensemble.
The guests began to whisper among themselves, “What on earth is she wearing? Who even uses that kind of fabric for a mermaid gown? It’s ridiculous.” “I just came over from the Houstons’ engagement party, and Ms. Frazier was wearing the same dress. But the difference is so great.” “Can’t she tell what looks good and what doesn’t? The Nichols are losing face big time.”
Melody felt her head spinning with embarrassment. Shelia, however, remained oblivious to the scorn. In her mind, the dress was worth seven figures. There couldn’t be anything wrong with it. She had seen extravagant, avant-garde designs on the international runway shows: each high-end designer brand aimed to stand out with bold, personalized choices. Wanting to make sure everyone knew this was a top-tier piece, Shelia had even requested the designer to slap the brand’s logo onto the gown. But she never anticipated the mockery and disdain it would draw.
Melody, nearly fainting from frustration, grabbed Sophie’s arm. “Go get her back. Does she not realize how humiliating this is?” “I’m on it.” Sophie rushed upstairs to stop Shelia. But by then, Shelia had already made her grand entrance, gliding down the stairs.
The atmosphere in the room shifted palpably when Declan arrived with a beaming smile. He soon noticed the odd glances cast his way. Declan ground her teeth, snapping at him, “You’ve raised a good daughter.” Declan frowned in confusion. “Mrs. Nichols Sr., today’s a day of joy. What are you getting at?”
Not far from them, a girl tugged on her mother’s sleeve and pointed at Shelia. “Mommy, why does that lady look so strange?” Her words shattered the fragile illusion that had been maintained thus far. Shelia, still smiling, crouched down and patted the girl’s head. “This dress was custom-made by a famous designer. It’s very expensive.” The girl tilted her head and said, “But the lady next door looks much prettier than you.”
The smile froze on Shelia’s face, and a ripple of laughter spread through the crowd. When she turned, she caught glimpses of people stifling their amusement. Everyone was hesitant to speak openly about the unflattering dress due to Juan’s status. The mother, embarrassed by her daughter’s bluntness, quickly pulled her away. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Blair. She’s just a child. Please don’t take it to heart.” Then she led her daughter to leave, unwilling to stay a moment longer in the increasingly awkward party.
Shelia’s antics had drained the energy out of the event. Many guests, worried about their reputations, made excuses to slip away and head over to the Houstons’ party instead. Melody’s face darkened further, and Declan also felt a deep sense of shame. It was unbelievable that Shelia had chosen such a ridiculous dress for this important occasion. Sophie stepped forward and gently suggested, “Ms. Blair, let me take you to change into something else.” Shelia bit her lip and stormed upstairs, dragging the ill-fated dress behind her. Sophie quickly ordered the staff to find a different gown. Anything else would help salvage the situation.