Chapter 0242

Natalie had long been accustomed to Susan’s sharp tongue and didn’t take it personally. She responded with a smile. "It’s just that staying home all day can get boring, so I thought organizing a tea party would be a nice way to pass the time. Tea culture has become quite popular lately, so I chose this theme."

“Susan, you rarely attend events, so it’s an honor for me that you made the time today. Please, come inside.”

Natalie’s words were pleasant and her attitude was sincere, making it hard for even someone as critical as Susan to find fault with her.

Not long after, Evelyn arrived with Ingrid in tow. A new face at such an event quickly attracted the attention of other ladies.

“Evelyn, who is this?”

“Who is this young woman? She looks so young!”

Evelyn had already prepared an explanation beforehand and introduced Ingrid with a smile, “She’s a daughter of a friend of mine. Her name is Ingrid York. She’s currently studying at the Institute of Technology.”

Ingrid immediately greeted the ladies present with a smile.

“Oh my, you’re still a student! No wonder she looks so fresh and vibrant.”

“Exactly, she’s even a student at the Institute of Technology! There aren’t many young women who manage to enter that college these days.”

Indeed, the Institute of Technology focused on the field of engineering and technology, which was generally male-dominated. Typically, male students who applied there faced stiffer competition. It was easier for female students to get in since not many women were interested in these fields.

It was clearly not a compliment.

Unfortunately, everyone caught the underlying tone of sarcasm, except for Evelyn and Ingrid who remained oblivious.

The other ladies exchanged meaningful glances. They seemed to be smiling and speaking kindly about Ingrid, but their knowing looks betrayed them, and their eyes were filled with silent ridicule.

“Isn’t the dress that she’s wearing from Celine’s collection three years ago? It’s so outdated. Where did she even dig that up? It’s hideous.”

“Exactly! She clearly doesn’t know what kind of occasion this is. What a tacky and tasteless young woman."

“It just goes to show that birds of a feather flock together! She’s just like her mother-in-law.”

Did they really think the elite society were fools? The gossip about the Johnson family’s heir getting a college student pregnant had spread like wildfire within the upper crust.

Now, Evelyn had the audacity to bring this young woman out in public and tried to pass her off as a friend’s daughter? It was nothing more than a flimsy excuse to salvage her reputation.

But the other ladies chose not to call her out on it. They wanted to see how Evelyn would continue with this charade. This was prime gossip material, and they were more than happy to indulge her. Later, they could share this story with their relatives as a source of amusement over tea time. Why wouldn’t they enjoy the show?

Evelyn was completely oblivious to the fact that the others were there for entertainment. She genuinely believed that their praises were sincere.

Ingrid felt a little giddy with excitement. It was her first time navigating a high-profile event. The experience was nothing like what she had felt before.

“Oh, aren’t you Mrs. Susan Kane?” Evelyn walked over to Susan and sat down with a broad smile. “You’re here today as well?”

She had heard about the tension between the sisters-in-law of the Jefferson family. The enemy of one’s enemy could be a friend, so Evelyn tried to butter Susan up. “That silk brocade maxi skirt you’re wearing is lovely! The color really suits your complexion.”

Susan glanced at her and said coolly, “This is mulberry silk.”

Evelyn was taken aback.

It was clear that Susan wasn’t interested in engaging in conversation, but Evelyn pretended not to notice and continued, “So it’s made from mulberry silk! This is truly worth its weight in gold. Only something as precious as this could match up to your elegance.”

Then, she added with a glint in her eye, “I recall that Natalie also has a similar maxi skirt like mine. I think she had more than one, in fact!”

Susan raised an eyebrow and finally met Evelyn’s gaze directly. “And you are…”

“I’m Mrs. Johnson.”

Susan replied, “Oh, Mrs. Johnson. You seem quite interested in the maxi skirts Natalie and I own. Perhaps one day you could visit the Jefferson family’s home, and we can take a little tour of our wardrobes just to see how many of these skirts we have!”