Stonor stumbled and collided with the sharp corner of the vanity.
She clenched her lips, already understanding the situation-just like in her past life, the same tricks Sophie had pulled on her were happening.
Seeing
Sophie''s
''s smug
gexpression, Eliza instantly realized she was about to fall into another one of her schemes.
Bending down to gather the scattered gown, Eliza said, with a calm facade. "Honestly, I don''t understand. What did I do to upset you so much, Sophir? Why don''t you enlighten me?"
Before Sophie could open her mouth, Dn Stonor cut in, his voice sharp. "You know exactly what you''ve done!"
Eliza''s eyes grew colder. She couldn''t help but think-she hadn''t realized it before, but now it was clear. Dn was blind to the truth.
Right under his nose, he couldn''t even see who the real culprit was and who was innocent.
Maybe, even if he could see, he''d still choose to believe whatever Sophie cold him.
Dn shot Eliza a furious look, then turned to pat Sophie on the shoulder,forting her in a voice that was almost too sweet, "Don''t worry, Sphic, If something''s wrong, just tell me. I''ll make sure everything''s set right
The closeness between them was almost suffocating, and Dn didn''t even try to hide it.
Sophie blinked her doe-like eyes, her voice trembling with faux distress, "Dn, it hurts so much"
Sophie knew exactly how to push Dn''s buttons. She didn''t need to say much- just a few words, and Dn was already seeing red.
Sure enough, the second Dn saw Sophie''s pitiful expression, his temper red, and he lost all reason,
He remembered that Sophie had cried out in pain only after touching the gown, and that led him to the "truth" in his mind.
Aloud pnded squarely on Eliza''s cheek.
"Well, Eliza, I thought you promised to make things right for Sophie, but it turns out you''re just as nasty as I thought, messing with the gown like that!" Dn yelled, his face flushed with rage.
Eliza''s left cheek burned with the sting, but she gritted her teeth, fury boiling inside her. 1 need to
Here, no
ed to get out of this family:
to matter what she did, everyone would take Sophie''s side. Leaving the Stonor family was the only way
her revenge.
But first, she had to get through today''sing-of-age ceremony, because that marriage contract still hung over her.
As for Dn''s threat to stop me from attending. Even if he''s the second son of the Duke, he''s not at the point where he can control everything. she thought bitterly.
The whole city of Hasen knew that today, the Duke''s two daughters were holding theiring-of-age ceremony. If she skipped it, the rumors would fly.
And her father, Gabriel, would never let that happen.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Eliza ced the gown on the table and said. "If you think there''s something wrong with the gown, Dn, feel free to
check it"
She was done waiting time on this stubborn, blind fool
With that, Eliza turned and walked into her room, pulling our a simple sky-blue dress from the wardrobe to change into
was still muttering angrily to himself "Fine, I will. But if I find out you''ve messed with that gown, you''re going to regret
Meanwhile, outside, Dn was
A momentter, Eliza walked out of her room, now dressed in a fresh outfit,
The gown, which had once been neatly folded, was now aplete meu-thanks to Dn''s rummaging-
Sophie, standing nearby, peered in. Though she hadn''t been the one to go through it, she was sure Eliza had tampered with the gown. Her eyes stayed hard on the pile of clothes.
But even after Dn turned the gown inside out, he couldn''t find any signs of tampering.
Sophie frowned. Could I have been wrong?
Just then, footsteps echoed down the hallway. Both of them nced up at the same time.
Fliza emerged, dressed simply but elegantly. It was rare for her to wear such in clothes, but with her stunning beauty, she radiated an otherworldly charm-like she''d been reborn
Sophie''s eyes narrowed with jealousy. She hated Eliza''s face-just
g it made her want to se
to scratch it off.
Eliza, sensing the hostility, raised her gate and locked eyes with Sophie. Their stares met head-on.
Sophie hadn''t expected Eliza to be so perceptive, der twisted expression froze for a moment before she quickly tried to hide it
Eliza couldn''t help but smirk inwardly. She nced at the disheveled gown on the table. "So, did you find
find anything
Dn, feeling embarrassed, shook his head. He''d found nothing.
Before he could say anything, Sophie quickly cut in, "Eliza, don''t be mad. My hand just cramped up earlier, and when I mentioned it, Dn got all worried and misunderstood. It wasn''t his fault."
She gave an apologetic smile, sticking out her tongue in a yful gesture. "Sorry, Eliza. Don''t me Dn-me me
How could she me you! If anyone''s to me, it''s her, Dn said, frowning deeply as he red at Eliza. "If the weren''t always causing trouble, I wouldn''t be so suspicious. She''s the one who brought this on herself"
Eliza fell disgusted once again. She picked up the gown with a cold expression and asked Sophie, "Do you still want this gown! If you do, take it?"
Sophie wanted it badly, but the moment had passed, and she wasn''t about to push it.
So, she feigned generosity. "You know what? Forget it. I know it''s your favorite, and you''re probably attached to it. Since I got Dn all worked up. let''s call it even. You don''t need to apologize to me. Eliza. We''re will sisters, right?" Sophie figured there was no need to rush. What she wanted would eventually be hers.
Theing-of-age gown wasn''t meant to be worn immediately, but only during the official ceremony, when the crown and gown Sophie wasn''t in a hurry.
gown were pit on
Dn''s expression softened a little. He lifted his chin, speaking in that usual pompous way of his. "Did you hear that Since Sophie says you can keep i
"But don''t think this
is is over. If you mess with little Sophie again, I swear I
Before he could finish, Dn''s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Fliza, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Eliza, scissors in hand, wasted no time, slicing the beautiful gown into pieces without hesitation.
EVEIL