Chapter 8

Olivia was currently contemplating experiment*l data, and her attention was divided, which caused her not to notice Linda’s tone of language. She only heard the question.

“This statement truly does not resemble a compliment, as it seems to carry a sense of mockery,” said Olivia inwardly.

She hesitated for a moment, then slowly turned her gaze toward the direction of Linda, trying to confirm what she had just heard.

“Is she simply asking a question, or is she really mocking me?” Olivia wondered.

“Ms. Taylor.” Linda adjusted her sleeves and resumed her gentle demeanor as she continued, “Please don’t mind me. I was just testing the waters and trying to get a sense of your personality. Teaching requires a method, and it varies from person to person. I’m sure you understand.”

Olivia glanced thoughtfully at Linda without saying a word.

“I saw everything in the dining room just now.” Linda suddenly brought up the previous incident. “Ms.

Taylor, do you know why I’m here? The list waiting for me to teach etiquette is fully booked until the year after next, so technically, I shouldn’t have the availability. But Emma pleaded with me to come.

We’re good friends, and I couldn’t refuse her request.

“Emma sincerely wants to apologize to you. In private, she has done many things for you that you may not be aware of. As individuals, we must not be too one–sided. It is not fair to judge someone based on only one aspect of their character. It is possible that you, being accustomed to the commoner’s way of life, may not fully understand the customs of high society.

“For a respected lady, the most important thing is to have grace and not be petty!

“Being well–mannered is just scratching the surface. The true valuable. quality lies deep within one’s heart. Being kind and composed. Ms. Taylor, you are too narrow–minded, unable to see others‘

strengths and disregarding their good intentions…”

In the end, it sounded like an admonition.

“A complete stranger who is not even an acquaintance has the audacity to lecture me.

“Man, there really are all kinds of people in the world,” thought Olivia. She touched her forehead and gestured to Linda with her finger. “Have you ever heard a saying?”

Linda furrowed her brows.

Olivia slowly opened her mouth and spoke in a gentle voice, “Even if a tiger’s leg is injured and its teeth are lost, it still remains a fierce beast, whereas no matter how perfect a mouse may be, it can never become a fierce beast but can only hide in a dark and damp cave.

“Just like you!” Olivia’s outstretched finger suddenly pointed straight at Linda. “No matter how grandiose your words are, how reasonable your speech is, how elegant your posture is, or how outstanding your etiquette is, it cannot change the fact that you are weak at the core.

“Just because you teach etiquette and people call you a teacher to show respect doesn’t mean you have become a wise mentor imparting wisdom and knowledge.

“The so–called etiquette is about being wealthy first, then naturally conducting oneself. The others yearned for wealth and nobility. Therefore, they also yearned for the manners of the rich. Ms. Foster, even if you have exceptional manners, you will never be able to match the status.

“You must be very familiar with the feeling of bankruptcy, right?”

“What?” Linda’s pupils contracted as she suddenly stood up.

The fallen prestigious family was the only glory she could boast of, yet it was also the eternal pain in her heart.

“Who wouldn’t want to be a wealthy lady from a noble family? If I have enough money, why bother teaching etiquette? I would just be a shopaholic, spending my days getting beauty treatments, shopping, and having afternoon coffee!” said Linda inwardly.

Linda suppressed her anger and steadied her voice, preparing to speak. Olivia had already opened the door. “Please leave. I don’t need you here.” After that, she took out three 20–dollar bills from her wallet and placed them on top of Linda’s exquisite handbag. “Here you go. This is your tip!” Nothing could be more humiliating than this. Linda had always boasted of being a noblewoman and even taught etiquette with a high price, but Olivia had exposed her disguise and pointed out her true nature, a service personnel who earned money and received tips.

Linda’s face turned red with anger, and her body trembled, but she was a person who had seen many things and quickly regained her composure.

She looked coldly at Olivia and said, “Ms. Taylor, you probably don’t know my reputation in the industry.

A few words of you as someone with poor manners and a bad personality would be enough to ruin your reputation.”

Linda’s eyes were filled with malice as she spoke, like a snake’s venomous tongue.

“Is she threatening me?” thought Olivia.

She found it amusing. “So what? I don’t make a living off of it. As for you, Miss Linda Foster, well, if you say a few bad words about your students, you might never get hired again in the future.”

Linda’s expression changed suddenly.

Her success today depended on maintaining a good manner and a tight–lipped attitude. If she dared to criticize Olivia’s etiquette, she could forget about making a living in this industry.

Criticizing Olivia could affect Olivia’s reputation to some extent.

However, the one most affected by this was Linda herself. As a teacher of etiquette, instead of instructing her students properly, she went out and badmouthed them. The upper class valued their reputation greatly and would never employ a teacher who was loose–lipped and enjoyed gossiping.

Today, she could criticize Olivia. Who could guarantee that she would not badmouth the other’s daughter tomorrow?

It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over Linda, sending a shiver down her spine.

Linda was barely gone for 15 minutes before word got to Amelia. Amelia was quite puzzled. “Linda has always had a good reputation in the industry, and Olivia is not a weird child either. Reasonably, they should get along well, so why did she leave after only a short while?” she wondered.

Amelia decided to find out the truth.

As she stepped out of the room, she encountered Emma, who had come to look for her.

Emma approached and held onto Amelia’s arm, speaking with concern, “I heard about what happened to Olivia. Could it be that Linda did something to upset her?”

Amelia frowned and replied, “It shouldn’t be the case. Linda is very perceptive and suave. How could she have offended Olivia?”

“Yes.” Emma nodded. “I have a good relationship with Linda. I know her character well, and her way of speaking and handling things is always appropriate. She would never cause any displeasure.”

“Since Linda has no problem, then the problem lies with Olivia,” thought Amelia.

With this in mind, Amelia furrowed her brows, and her footsteps toward the exit came to a halt.

She recalled the day she first met Olivia, who was domineering and even slapped Emma.

At that time, the situation was too chaotic, and she was worried about Emma’s injuries, so she didn’t think too much.

“It now appears that Olivia is too rude and has a tendency toward violence. It is truly unacceptable.

“She’s an esteemed daughter of a noble family. It is absolutely unreasonable to resort to physical violence at the slightest provocation. “It is excessively barbaric and overbearing,” said Amelia inwardly.

“Alas!” sighed Amelia. “Kids who grew up outside just can’t compare to the ones carefully nurtured at home. Her personality is just too bad even though she may be talented enough. She carries a sense of coarseness in everything she does and says,” she thought.

Amelia didn’t actually despise Olivia. “After all, she is my biological daughter, and I always wish the best for her.

“However, it is a fact that after growing up alone in society for more than 10 years, she may not understand anything and lack good manners.

“Perhaps Linda felt that Olivia was too rough and unsophisticated and couldn’t be altered, which prompted her to resign voluntarily,” thought Amelia.

When she thought of this, her brows furrowed with a trace of annoyance. Not only did she dislike Olivia’s rudeness, but she also felt embarrassed by it and worried about Olivia’s future.

“Which man will dare to marry such a girl in the future?

“It is impossible for her to be part of an equivalent class of prominent families. We can only choose her future husband from the less rich families,” thought Amelia.

“Emma, my dear.” She gently caressed Emma’s hand. “I hope you can provide more support to Olivia in the future.”

It appeared that she had already deemed that the future of Olivia would. be inferior to that of Emma.