Chapter 17 Not Your Puppet Anymore
Chapter 17 Not Your Puppet Anymore
Yvonne’s smile froze as her fingernails dug hard into her palm, nearly breaking from the pressure.
How could Claudia be dressed like this!!
Seeing the way everyone in the ballroom was clearly stunned by her appearance, Yvonne nearly ground her teeth to dust.
Someone beside Summer said in surprise, “Your stepdaughter actually looks beautiful when she puts in some effort? What was up with her looks before?”
Summer’s heart sank.
It was happening again–Claudia slipping out of her control.
Was it just coincidence, or had someone at Blossom Park been guiding her?
She forced a helpless smile. “Who knows what’s going on in that child’s head. She liked those old looks, and I didn’t want to interfere too much.”
Over on Yvonne’s side-
“What’s going on, Yvonne? Didn’t you say Claudia would be wearing that dress you picked?”
The other heiresses turned to her.
Yvonne managed a tight smile. “I don’t know either. Let me go ask her.”
She hurried over to Claudia and lowered her voice, sounding urgent. “Claudia, why didn’t you wear the dress I picked out for you?”
Claudia could feel all eyes on her from every direction. She sneered inwardly. Wear the dress she picked? And keep playing the clown just to give everyone a laugh?
She lifted her lashes lazily, grabbed the hem of her gown, and twirled once. “Don’t I look good like this?”
Yvonne forced her smile even harder, especially as she noticed how every man and woman in the room couldn’t take their eyes off Claudia. Her tone strained as she lied through her teeth. “You look good, yes… but it’s a little plain. It’s not as distinctive as your old style. That look suited you better.”
What a blatant, shameless lie.
Claudia glanced at her and suddenly smiled. “Yvonne, do you really like that dress?”
Caught up in the moment, trying to placate her, Yvonne answered instinctively. “Of course..”
“Great, that makes it easy. I brought it with me. Why don’t you wear it?” Claudia turned and gestured behind her.
A moment later, someone came in holding the dress.
It was displayed on a hanger for all to see–and every inch of it was a complete eyesore.
Someone in the crowd even let out an involuntary Eugh,” clearly repulsed
Yvonne’s heart dropped. She opened her mouth to say something, but Claudia’s crisp, cheerful voice rang out-
Yvonne, didn’t you say you liked this dress? I brought it just for you. You should wear it yourself! And from now on, you and Summer can stop picking clothes out for me. Even if you both think it’s cute, I don’t You guys always insisted I wear these hideous things. I had no choice but to go along with it. But now I don’t want to anymore–my husband said it was ugly too!”
She didn’t bother lowering her voice at all, her irritation on full display.
Everyone nearby heard her loud and clear–and froze.
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Chapter 17 Not Your Puppet Anymore
Then, slowly, eyes turned toward Yvonne and Summer with strange new expressions.
Claudia had always been a joke.
+10 Free Come
Whenever her name came up, people would picture that clownish makeup and bizarre outfits. Nobody in their social circle. wanted to be seen with her.
But now
was she saying those looks were all Summer and Yvonne’s doing?
This was their taste? If they thought the clothes looked good, why hadn’t they ever worn t
them?
“That poor girl. Losing her mom so young, then getting manipulated like this by her stepmom she probably never even realized what was really happening
“Come to think of it, back when the original Mrs. Cloud was still around, she used to bring Claudia out a lot. That little girl was such a delight–smart and pretty. But after Summer came along, Claudia kept messing up. I heard she’s even been iced out of the social scene.”
Whispers began circulating
And all of a sudden, quite a few suspicious glances were thrown Summer’s way.
Both Summer and Yvonne’s faces shifted.
Yvonne tried to hold her smile together. “Claudia, what are you talking about? That dress was your idea!”
Claudia raised her brows in feigned surprise, her expression cool and disgusted. “Like I don’t have a sense of normal taste! Why would I want to wear something that hideous? Every single time it was you two sweet–talking me into it. You even did my makeup like that, Yvonne. You kept saying I looked good, but I hated it!”
Now the stares directed at the mother and daughter were growing even weirder.
Yvonne’s lips twitched as she turned quickly to her mother for help.
Summer walked over with a calm, gentle smile. “Alright, it’s my fault. I thought you liked that style, so I asked Yvonne to help dress you. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it anymore.”
Just then, Henry entered the hall. Hearing the commotion, he came over, and the moment he saw Claudia, his brows furrowed. “What’s going on?”
Summer sighed. “Claudia’s upset. She thinks all those old outfits were ones Yvonne and I forced her to wear. But I genuinely thought she liked them, so I had Yvonne help with her styling…”
Beside her, Yvonne made sure to put on a perfectly pitiful expression.
As soon as Henry heard this, his face darkened. He turned to Claudia and scolded, “Your sister was trying to help. How is that wrong?
Claudia’s smile disappeared. She looked straight at the man in front of her.
He was always like this Every time something happened between her and Yvonne, he never asked questions. His first reaction was always to blame her–like it was all her fault.
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