Chapter 150 Who is Prettier?
Natalia's voice brightened immediately. "Could you take me to visit the Gonzaga house? I've never actually been inside—I've only ever hung out in the gardens when I've visited."
Juliana paused before responding. "Let's not rush into that. How about we grab coffee after work? We can talk it over."
...
At the coffee shop, Juliana and Natalia sat by the window.
Natalia asked, confused, "Why did we need to come here for coffee? Did you live abroad too long and forget we have good coffee here too?"
Juliana lifted her cup and took a sip. "It's quite good, actually."
"But I want to visit your place. Are you going back to the Gonzaga house tonight?"
Juliana set down her cup and studied Natalia for a moment.
"You still haven't given up on Wentworth, have you?"
Natalia bristled. "I just can't stand seeing someone from such a lowly background marry Wentworth! What makes her so special?"
"And what advantages do you think you have? Are you breathtakingly beautiful? Extraordinarily talented? Can you help the Gonzaga family in any meaningful way?"
Natalia felt stung by the directness. "So you think Matilda's better than me in every way too?"
"Answer my question first," Juliana said calmly.
Natalia swallowed her anger. "Fine. Looks-wise, I'm not inferior to Matilda at all. I'm a hundred times prettier."
"Beauty isn't something you can judge for yourself. Other people have to evaluate that. If you get a chance, go ask around—but not your friends or family, or the answers won't be objective."
"Fine, I will." Natalia's defiance was clear.
"Second question—are you exceptionally talented?" Juliana pressed.
"Well, at least I studied abroad. Matilda's never even left the country, has she?"
"You studied abroad because you bombed your SATs and your family paid a fortune for you to polish your resume. That's different from someone who earned a scholarship. Academic achievement-wise, Matilda got into an Ivy League school."
Natalia fell silent.
"So what? I still graduated from a prestigious university."
Juliana continued, "As a graduate of a prestigious university, what exactly can you offer the Gonzaga family? Why would Wentworth divorce his wife for you?"
Natalia was speechless again.
She'd been unemployed for years. Not that she needed money—she spent her time eating and partying with other socialites. She called it 'expanding the family's social network,' but realistically, the family business didn't need her networking. Her parents and older brothers handled everything.
Juliana said evenly, "Everyone in our circle knows you like Wentworth, but you don't actually love him. If you loved him, why have you gone through a new boyfriend every six months? When you truly love someone, shouldn't you stay devoted like Charles did—staying faithful all those years?"
Natalia remained silent.
"You don't love him. You're targeting Matilda because you can't face your own failure. Why can she have him when you can't? Am I right?"
Natalia felt completely humiliated. She snapped angrily, "Who's actually your cousin—me or Matilda? Why are you taking her side like this? Or is it because you made Amelia your godmother, so now you're loyal to the Gonzaga family? Don't forget, when your family was in trouble, my family helped you out."
"Your family did help, that's true. But it was your parents who helped, not you. And I'm just pointing out the reality of the situation. Whether you accept it or not is up to you."
Natalia finally lost it. She stood abruptly, dumped her coffee all over Juliana, and stormed out.
Juliana didn't react. A nearby staff member saw what happened and rushed over with napkins and a towel, asking nervously, "Miss, do you need our help?"
Juliana took the napkins and wiped her face, her expression remarkably composed. "I'm fine, thank you. I'll just have one less idiotic relative going forward."
...
Natalia went home, stewing in resentment.
What gave Juliana the right to say she was inferior to Matilda in every way?
She refused to believe it.
She wanted to ask people who was actually prettier, but remembering Juliana's warning not to ask people she knew, she posted on social media instead.
One photo was a heavily retouched image of herself. The other was a distant candid shot of Matilda where her face was barely visible.
[Can everyone help me out—which woman in these two pictures is prettier? Anyone who comments gets a free skincare gift.]
Because of the promised reward, responses came quickly.
[Not sure why you're comparing, but honestly, the second one is prettier. Even though it's blurry, you can tell from the facial structure and figure that she's absolutely stunning.]
[The first one is obviously retouched and clearly had work done. Looks totally unnatural.]
[The first one's whole vibe can't compete with the second. Picture two has this elegant yet alluring quality. Picture one? Looks petty and mean-spirited.]
Natalia furiously deleted the post.
Skincare gifts? In their dreams. She wasn't sending a single bottle!
...
Zoey had been married for a month now.
Spring came early to Phoenix City. In just a month's time, the weather had warmed considerably.
"Charles, we haven't gone on our honeymoon yet. When do you have time? Let's go together."
Zoey looked at Charles expectantly.
Traveling together was the best way to deepen a relationship.
Even though this past month they'd been like any normal married couple, she felt like they'd skipped a step—the romance, the butterflies, the excitement.
She wondered if maybe Charles was just too mature for all that.
Either way, their life together was warm but bland. No passion.
Charles was eating. He thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'll arrange my work schedule next month. I probably can't take a full month off, but twenty days should work."
Zoey was already thrilled.
"That's perfect! Charles, do you have anywhere you want to go?"
"I don't have any preferences. You decide," Charles said.
"Then..." Zoey wanted to go somewhere far. "How about Europe?"
"Whatever you want."
Zoey felt slightly annoyed—when she traveled with her parents, they planned everything and she just packed her clothes.
But since Charles had finally agreed, she wouldn't complain. "Okay, I'll plan out an itinerary and you can just follow my lead."
"Sounds good."
The thought of traveling with Charles made Zoey giddy with excitement.
During that period, she posted daily Facebook updates: [Countdown to my trip with Charles: 15, 10, 5... days left.]
Basically just showing off.
It was absolutely infuriating to everyone who saw it.