Chapter 28: What's There to Be Proud Of?

Doris strutted into the venue with Stuart by her side, ready to soak up all the admiration and praise. But instead of the warm reception she expected, she was met with snickers and judgmental stares.

Stuart had just stepped away for a moment when she started hearing the whispers.

"Did you see that? Mr. Haustia and his wife are a joke. He's here with his mistress, and his wife is all alone."

"Isn't that woman with Mr. Haustia his kept mistress? And did you notice? Her dress looks just like the one Josephine wore at the last auction."

"Yeah, same designer, I bet. She's totally doing it on purpose to provoke Josephine. If my husband pulled that, I'd lose it."

"Seriously, wearing the same dress as the wife? That's just low."

"But let's be real, Josephine rocked it way better. She looked like a goddess, and this one's just a cheap knockoff."

"Shh, keep it down. Word is Mr. Haustia is really into his mistress, bringing her to all these events. She doesn't care about Josephine, and he's trying to give her some status."

"What are men thinking these days? Anyone with half a brain would pick Josephine."

Doris tried to keep smiling, but soon her eyes welled up, and she bolted to a corner to hide.

When Stuart came back and saw her, he rushed over. "What's wrong, Doris?"

She bit her lip, trying to be tough, but the tears gave her away. "Nothing, Stuart. Maybe I should just leave?"

Stuart could tell something was off. "We just got here. Why do you want to leave? Did something happen?"

"No, it's just... I feel suffocated. Don't listen to them." Doris's words were jumbled, and she looked like she was about to break down.

She hoped Stuart would stand up for her, proving her place was secure.

"They?" Stuart's eyes narrowed.

He knew how these high-society women could be and realized Doris wouldn't be this upset without a good reason.

Doris quickly tried to cover up. "I'm fine, really. They didn't say anything."

Stuart had a hunch and scanned the room, locking eyes with Josephine. Her cold, mocking gaze made his blood boil.

He grabbed Doris and marched to the center of the room, declaring, "Who dares mess with my peeps?"

His voice was just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

Doris swelled with pride, believing that Stuart's backing rendered her invincible. Little did she know that in this social circle, status reigned supreme.

People might respect Stuart, but their disdain for her only grew.

"They say Mr. Haustia is the top dog among the Hustalia trust fund babies, but with his thing for side pieces, he really can't keep it classy."

"Yeah, I used to look up to him, but now I think my son is better off without that kind of example."

"Let's not even talk about it. We don't want any trouble."

Everywhere Doris went, she felt the judgmental eyes and heard the whispers.

Meanwhile, Josephine, even in her wheelchair, was the center of attention, effortlessly mingling with everyone.

Claudia, busy with the competition, didn't notice the drama. As the event was about to start, waiters guided the guests to a different area with a large T-stage and rows of white chairs, each marked with a name tag indicating their status.

Josephine was wheeled in by Claudia, but her seat was in the second row, not the best spot. Meanwhile, Stuart and Doris occupied prime seats in the front row, closest to the T-stage. This fueled Doris' sense of superiority, convinced that she had already one-upped Josephine.

The competition was about to kick off. Models would soon strut down the runway in the contestants' designs, and the audience and judges would score them.

Claudia's dress design, much like herself, was stunning and elegant. It caught everyone's eye and stood out among the other designs, eventually winning the best design award. This wasn't her first rodeo; she had already made a name for herself at sixteen with a set of vintage evening dresses in a world-class fashion competition. Back then, her family was still well-off, and designing was just a hobby.

At the insistence of her parents, Claudia gradually faded from the design scene, while industry rumors suggested she might have lost her talent..

Now, only a few knew she was making a comeback. She had invested a lot of time and money into further studies and competitions to announce her return in a big way.

Claudia returned to Josephine with the trophy in hand.

"Claudia, congrats!" Josephine said warmly, pulling her into a hug.

"Josephine, I did it!" Claudia whispered back, "Now let's hope the auction goes well. I need it to sell for a good price."

There was a 30-minute break before the auction of the competition pieces, which was crucial for determining the designers' market value. Claudia was short on funds and needed money to expand her studio and stores. That's why she had agreed to design a dress for Doris at Josephine's persuasion.

"Don't worry, it will," Josephine assured her. Being a supportive friend, Josephine understood the significance of the competition for Claudia. She covertly resolved to assist her friend by placing the highest bid for Claudia's design. After all, Stuart had said she could spend his money, and if he could splurge on his mistress, she could certainly buy a dress at a high price.

But if no one else bid, the dress wouldn't sell for much. JJosephine's eyes drifted to Doris beside Stuart, sparking an idea as she noticed Doris occasionally glancing her way. She nervously checked her phone, whispered something to Claudia, and quietly left.

Doris, out of jealousy, followed her. She hid behind a potted plant and eavesdropped on Josephine's phone call.

"Liam, I forgot my card. Can you transfer some cash? Claudia's dress won, and I need it for the banquet next month. It's a real head-turner."

"Claudia designed it for me. I love it, and it'll benefit her while boosting my image. Stuart's in on the bidding, and I can't let him outdo me."

"Okay, hurry up!"

Doris thought, 'So that's her plan.' If Josephine set her sights on the dress, Doris was dead set on outbidding her. Whatever Josephine coveted, Doris was determined to snatch away—be it a man or the coveted title of Mrs. Haustia.

Josephine hung up, and Doris had to pretend to bump into her. "Hi, Josephine, what are you doing here?" Doris asked, feigning innocence.

Josephine's eyes swept over Doris, a faint smile on her lips. She hummed in response and gracefully walked away.

Doris glared at Josephine's retreating figure, a sharp glint in her eyes.