Chapter 76
Percy’s face twitched in disbelief.
He hadn’t even confronted Yvonne for abandoning him in a damn flower bed, humiliating him in front of the entire city, yet she had the audacity to start nitpicking him?
For a split second, he wanted to slap some sense into her.
But at the last moment, he clenched his fist and swallowed his anger.
“It won’t happen again.”
Only then did Yvonne tilt her chin up smugly and step into the car with an air of superiority.
The entire ride was suffocatingly silent.
Percy had no desire to talk to her, and she seemed perfectly content admiring her reflection in the mirror.
By the time they arrived at the Moore estate, he felt like he had endured a full hour of torture.
Yvonne, however, wasted no time slipping her arm through his as they walked inside.
Margaret was already waiting in the foyer, elegantly dressed as she stepped forward to greet them.
Her gaze swept over Yvonne’s outfit, and for the briefest moment, her expression stiffened.
Good Lord.
What kind of wealthy heiress showed up looking like this?
Dripping in gold and jewels, as if she had raided an entire jewelry store and stacked every piece on her body.
A real lady of status would never flaunt wealth so crudely–she would carry it with quiet grace.
This?
This was the textbook definition of tacky.
A woman who grew up outside high society could never possess the poise and refinement of a true elite.
Starlet or not, without a professional stylist, Yvonne looked no better than an overdressed country girl.
Margaret never truly liked her, but the Harlow family’s wealth and influence had made her tolerable.
Of course, Margaret showed none of her thoughts on her face.
With a well–practiced smile, she welcomed her warmly.
“Yvonne, you look absolutely stunning tonight!”
“Thank you, Madam Margaret.”
Yvonne stepped forward with a bright smile, gracefully presenting the gift she had brought. “I specially picked this for you. Happy birthday! I hope you’ll like it.”
“How thoughtful of you,” Margaret said as she accepted the elegantly wrapped box.
She was about to pass it off to the butler when Yvonne quickly stopped her.
“Madam Margaret, you should open it now! I think you’ll love it.”
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Chapter 76
Margaret’s smile froze ever so slightly.
It was extremely improper to insist that a host open a gift on the spot.
Her eyelid twitched.
Still, assuming Yvonne must have prepared something truly special, she decided to humor her.
She carefully unwrapped the gift box.
And the moment she saw what was inside, her face stiffened completely.
Inside the box lay a gaudy, over–the–top jewelry necklace, shimmering in all the wrong ways.
Yvonne lifted her chin, pride radiating from her expression.
“Madam Margaret, this is a limited edition piece, specially ordered from an exclusive overseas brand. It cost me over two hundred thousand dollars, and trust me, people would kill to get their hands on it.
“Originally, I planned to gift it to my mother, but the moment I heard today was your birthday, I just knew I had to give it to you instead.”
Her tone was dripping with self–importance, as if expecting Margaret to be overwhelmed with gratitude.
But Margaret didn’t move.
Instead, she leaned in, carefully examining the piece.
A few seconds later, her face turned completely stiff.
This… this was fake.
A knockoff.
And not even a good one.
Margaret’s expression darkened.
As foolish as Yvonne could be, even she wouldn’t dare to knowingly give her future mother–in–law a counterfeit gift.
Which meant…
She had been scammed.
A wave of irritation surged through Margaret, and suddenly she thought back to the gifts Stellar gave her in the
past.
Every single piece had been exquisite.
Handcrafted, timeless designs–each one a true statement of class and luxury.
Whenever she wore them, paired with Stellar’s fashion advice, she radiated elegance.
She loved the envious glances from her social circle, the way her friends paled in comparison.
And now…
She was sitting here holding this cheap imitation.
The difference was humiliating.
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Chapter 76
“Madam Margaret, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Yvonne’s voice broke the silence, laced with impatience.
“Don’t you like it?”
Margaret was seething inside, but for the sake of the engagement and the benefits it would bring, she had no choice but to force a smile.
“I love it. I’m just… just overwhelmed with happiness.”
“I knew you would,” Yvonne replied smugly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“I put so much thought into choosing it–of course you’d love it.”
Margaret nearly ground her teeth to dust.
Without another word, she casually set the jewelry box aside, as if it were an afterthought.
“Enough about that. Yvonne, the food’s getting cold. Let’s eat.”
The three of them moved to the dining room, where an exquisite meal had been laid out.
Yvonne wasted no time serving herself first, piling food onto her own plate with no regard for anyone else.
She ate happily, completely unaware of the growing tension at the table.
Margaret gripped her spoon tightly, barely holding back her irritation.
She attempted to steer the conversation to more refined topics, hoping to salvage the night.
But every time she tried, Yvonne derailed the conversation with mindless chatter about skincare routines, makeup trends, and shallow celebrity gossip.
The moment anything remotely intellectual was mentioned, she either changed the subject or sat there blankly, clearly out of her depth.
By the end of the meal, Margaret had barely taken a bite–her blood pressure was skyrocketing the entire time.
She couldn’t take it anymore.
As soon as the dishes were cleared, she stood up abruptly, forcing a smile.
“Percy, it’s still early. Why don’t you take Yvonne out for a date? Maybe see a movie or something? I need to rest, so I won’t intrude on you two lovebirds.”
She was practically shoving them out the door.
Percy looked anything but pleased.
Yvonne, oblivious to reality, strutted out with a look of triumph, convinced that she had successfully won over
Margaret.
After exchanging pleasantries, she hooked her arm through Percy’s and walked out the door.
The moment they left, Margaret finally let out a long, exasperated sigh, but before she could fully release her frustration, another voice echoed from outside.
“Margaret, dear! I heard it’s your birthday today. Why didnt you tell us? We’re neighbors, after all–I had to stop by to wish you well!”
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Chapter 76
Sarah Rich, one of the socialite circle’s most notorious gossips, swept in like she owned the place.
Dressed in an opulent designer ensemble, her hair styled into a polished updo, she was clearly here with a
purpose.
And then, her eyes landed on the necklace.
Right there, displayed on the table.
Margaret’s stomach dropped.
She immediately reached to close the box, but it was too late.
“Oh my, am I seeing this right?” Sarah gasped dramatically her voice dripping with amusement.
“You got yourself a cheap knockoff on your birthday?”
A laugh slipped past her lips, rich with undisguised mockery.
For years, Sarah was forced to endure Margaret’s condescending attitude–always flaunting her jewelry, her wardrobe, and her latest luxury purchases, never missing an opportunity to make her feel inferior.
And now, the tables had turned.
Sarah eyes sparkled with barely contained glee.
“Margaret, darling, if your family is going through some financial difficulties, you know you can always count on
- me.
“We’ve been friends for so long–if you ever need a little help, my family would be more than happy to lend a hand.”
She might as well have had “Are the Moores going bankrupt?” written in flashing neon lights above her head.
Margaret’s blood pressure skyrocketed.
This was, without a doubt, the most humiliating moment she had ever experienced.
Forcing a tight smile, she waved dismissively.
“Oh, you must be mistaken, dear. This isn’t mine–it’s just a toy that belongs to one of the house staff’s children. They must have left it out here by accident.”
She shot a sharp look at the butler.
“Well? What are you waiting for? Return it to them immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the butler responded swiftly, picking up the counterfeit necklace and carrying it away.
Margaret forced another tight–lipped smile.
“Dear, it’s getting late. I truly appreciate the thought, but I have other matters to attend to this evening. Why don’t you head home and rest?”
It took everything in her not to shove Sarah out the door herself.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she managed to get rid of her.
The moment the door shut, her chest heaved with frustration.
Her birthday a day that was supposed to be about her–had turned into a complete and utter disaster.
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Yvonne. Harlow.
If this woman ever set foot into the Moore family as her daughter–in–law, Margaret was certain she would never have a peaceful day again.
Meanwhile, Stellar remained blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding in the Moore household.
But if she had known, she probably would’ve just shrugged and said, “Serves them right. Let the villains tear each other apart.”
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