Chapter 265

Chapter 265 Chapter 265 83%

Before them stood Elysia clad in a pink dress. Her perfect complexion and delicate features were complemented perfectly by a dazzling diamond necklace resting on her elegant collarbones.

Her softly curled hair flowed down to her waist, and her makeup only enhanced her allure, making her mesmerizing and impossible to ignore.

In that fleeting moment, the entire lobby seemed to dissolve into the background, leaving her alone, glowing under the starlight, as the solitary, radiant focus of attention.

As she descended the stairs with grace, everyone’s gaze followed her every move. Her slightest expression or gesture was enthralling, causing them to hold their breath in anticipation. She seemed to have stepped directly out of a painting.

Hugo was utterly astounded. Even though he had been captivated by her beauty once before, seeing it again filled him with the same astonishment. She was truly beautiful. How fortunate was Yehoshua to have such a charming sister as Elysia!

Hugo possessed nothing but envy for others. In contrast, the Evans brothers carried themselves with pride and confidence.

Having a sister like Elysia was something to be proud of when they were in public.

From the moment Zane laid eyes on Elysia, he couldn’t stop smiling. She was always the center of attention, no matter where she went.

“Is this the ‘country bumpkin‘ you mentioned?” one of the ladies who had previously mocked Elysia asked, raising an eyebrow and lowering her voice as she spoke to another.

“I didn’t expect her to look so lovely. Besides, it’s not my fault; that’s just what I heard from others. And didn’t you say she was just a wild child?”

As soon as “wild child” was uttered, the lady in the purple gown raised her eyebrows, a hint of displeasure flickering in her eyes as she glanced at them.

The person quickly nudged her company. “What nonsense are you talking about? You can’t go around saying things like that.”

Upon hearing this, the other lady hadn’t quite grasped the situation, looked displeased. “Weren’t you the one who said it?”

The person quickly signaled to her, and the later seemed to understand what was happening. After a discreet glance at the lady in the purple gown, she clamped her mouth shut and remained silent.

Although they didn’t know her exact identity and had rarely seen her before, her elegant gown and demeanor clearly indicated that she came from a prominent background.

Moreover, they were the ones who had first spoken ill of Elysia. If word got out, it would tarnish their reputation, and dragging their families into it would be a colossal mistake.

Esther stood among the crowd, watching Elysia descend the stairs slowly, seething with jealousy. She couldn’t believe what her mother, Ashley, had said about Elysia’s striking looks, dismissing it as mere exaggeration.

How could a child who grew up in the boondocks, even if attractive, be truly beautiful? She had heard that children from rural areas did hard labor from a young age, were married off when they reached adulthood, barely knew the alphabet, and acted uncultured and rough.

Yet Elysia bore no trace of a rural upbringing; her behavior was nothing short of graceful and elegant, and her face was incredibly refined. What Esther envied most was Elysia’s perfect skin, which was even more flawless than her own, despite having been raised in Jorlandia from birth.

With her hands intertwined, Esther’s right thumb pressing firmly against her left palm, the word “jealousy” was plainly etched across her visage.

1/3 Wed, 12 Mar Chapter 265 Beside Esther, Joanne Flynn asked in a low voice, “Esther, didn’t you mention your cousin hailed from the sticks? She doesn’t exactly look the part!”

Joanne’s voice grated on Esther’s cars, causing her to clench her teeth tightly, with no intention of responding. She couldn’t help but wonder why she couldn’t detect even a hint of that provincial air about Elysia.

Ever since learning of Elysia’s existence, Esther had been seething with fury, worried that this relative might encroach upon her position within the family.

True, Esther had often felt like a ghost within her own family, invisible and lacking in status. But with Lindsey overseas and Elysia absent, she was the sole girl remaining at home. Though her status was modest, the family’s affection for her was undeniably genuine.

Now that Elysia had returned, it was inevitable that she would lose half of the love and attention she had once enjoyed. She couldn’t reconcile herself to such a fate.

Later, Esther learned from Jim that Elysia had indeed grown up in the boonies, presumably making her a complete bumpkin and posing little threat. Despite this knowledge, she couldn’t muster any sense of contentment.

So, she spread rumors about Elysia’s background, hoping to embarrass her at the welcome home party. To her astonishment, Elysia was far from a bumpkin; Elysia’s demeanor even surpassed that of ladies from Jorlandia.

Now, Esther was trembling with rage. She deemed that Elysia was sure to oppose her. If she didn’t act soon, Elysia would seize everything that rightfully belonged to her.

At this moment, Elysia had already ascended the stage, and Esther gazed at her radiant face, her heart burning with even greater jealousy.

“Esther, can you see who that is?” Joanne asked, pointing in a certain direction.

When Esther caught sight of the girl in the white dress in the crowd, surprise flickered in her eyes. “Elena? What is she doing here?”

“I find it odd too. She usually despises these sorts of events. Why would she attend a party at the Evans residence? Especially when the guest of honor is just a country girl,” Joanne remarked.

“Why don’t we go see what’s going on?” Esther suggested, starting to walk towards Elena. Joanne quickly followed suit.

In Jorlandia, everyone was well–acquainted with the Shelton family. They had deep cultural roots and were a prominent family in the city. As the sole heir, Elena bore the weight of high expectations.

Esther had once considered befriending Elena, but Elena had always been distant and aloof, making it clear she didn’t desire closeness. Over time, Esther had ceased her efforts to connect with her. Since transferring to the school in Sivro, they hadn’t seen each other for quite some time.

As they stood beside Elena, Esther noticed she was intently focused on the girl on stage and hadn’t realized their presence.

Curious, Esther glanced at Elysia on stage and casually inquired, “Do you know my cousin, Ms. Shelton?”

Upon hearing this, Elena glanced at her out of the corner of her eye but remained silent.

Esther wasn’t offended. She gently swirled her wine glass and continued, “I suppose I was overthinking it. My cousin, who grew up in the countryside, is a world apart from you. How could such disparate individuals ever cross paths?”

When Ava, seated next to Elena, overheard this, she was far from pleased and was about to retort. But Elena abruptly grasped her wrist, signaling her with a glance.

Ava bit her tongue and then heard Elena say, “Elysia is truly impressive.”

When she spoke, her eyes held a chill, and her tone was as calm and composed as ever. This was the Elena that Esther knew 2/3 11:47 Wed, 12 Mar Chapter 265 all too well, always distant and unapproachable.

What surprised Esther was that Elena would actually stand up for someone else.