Chapter 5
Andrew looked at me, his tone still cold. "The button has been returned to you, and Charlotte said she didn't know anything. Are you satisfied now?"
I closed my hand around the silver button. "No."
Charlotte looked up at me.
"But that's enough for today," I said.
As I stood up to leave, Mrs. Fernandez called out from behind me, "You're going to the Southside Charity Gala with Andrew tomorrow night. And don't wear that outfit again."
Andrew added, "Charlotte's going too. Don't pick on her anymore."
I turned back to look at him.
"As long as she keeps her hands off my things, I won't bother her," I said.
Under the table, Charlotte's hand grabbed the edge of her dress, then quickly let go.
I still went to the Southside Charity Gala.
I sent back the gown Andrew had someone deliver, and instead wore the moonlight-blue dress Grandma Grace had tailored for me overnight.
The old silver button had been sewn back onto the collar, the seams so neat they looked like a tiny protective charm.
When Andrew saw me, there was no praise on his face, only impatience.
"Didn't I tell you to wear the dress I sent?" he asked.
"This one fits me," I replied.
"Everyone here tonight is a big deal. Don't be difficult," he said.
Charlotte stepped out from behind him, wearing the champagne-colored gown the Fernandez family had sent, her pearl necklace practically dazzling under the lights.
"Nora, this dress was made by Grandma Grace, right? That's so thoughtful," Charlotte said.
She smiled gently, her voice just loud enough for the ladies nearby to hear.
One of the ladies gave me a quick once-over. "Handmade, sure, but it's a bit too plain. Young girls shouldn't always dress like they're from some vintage stage show."
Charlotte quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Mrs. Brown, Nora just prefers a simple style."
I didn't say anything.
The host was introducing the items up for auction tonight, and one of them was an old tapestry panel.
As the screen was wheeled onto the stage, Charlotte let out a quiet gasp.
"Andy, isn't that the one I donated last time?" Charlotte asked softly.
Mrs. Brown immediately chimed in, "Charlotte, you're so thoughtful. You even thought to donate something so old for charity."
Charlotte's cheeks flushed. "Honestly, it's not worth much. I just found it at a flea market. It looked so forlorn, so I thought it deserved a better place."
I stared at the tapestry panel and quietly set my glass back on the table.
That was the old tapestry panel I had restored for Mr. Fernandez Sr. half a year ago.
The storage room at Fernandez Manor had a leak, and the panel got badly moldy. I spent countless late nights restoring it, thread by thread.
Back then, Andrew told me his grandfather preferred to keep things under wraps and didn't want anyone outside the family to know their things had ever been damaged.
I believed him.
Now, Charlotte stood under the spotlight, claiming all the credit.
The host smiled. "Miss Wright, you are so thoughtful and skilled. Word is, you personally restored this panel, is that right?"
Charlotte glanced at me, then lowered her eyes. "I just mended it a bit. I wouldn't say I'm particularly skilled."
Polite applause rippled through the crowd.
Andrew didn't even glance my way. He just turned to Charlotte and said, "Well done."
My stomach twisted for a moment, but I quickly regained my composure.
In my last life, this was the moment I could not hold back. I stood up and said I was the one who restored the panel.
Charlotte burst into tears right then and there, and Andrew accused me of being so petty that I'd even try to take credit for a good deed.
The video from that night went viral, and I got dragged through the mud online all over again.
This time, I just sat there.
Mrs. Brown suddenly asked, "Miss Nolan, you've been staring at it for a while. Do you think there's something wrong with it?"
Charlotte immediately looked nervous. "Nora, do you like this tapestry panel too? After the auction, maybe the buyer will let you see it up close."
"No need," I replied.
The host started the bidding.
Charlotte was grinning ear to ear as the price kept going up.
Just before the final gavel, an elderly man with white hair sitting in the audience suddenly raised his paddle.
"I'll bid 100,000 dollars," he said.
The room fell silent for a moment.
The tapestry panel was probably worth only a few thousand dollars, so 100,000 dollars was an outrageous price.
The host could barely contain his excitement. "This gentleman is bidding 100,000 dollars. Anyone want to go higher?"
The old man with white hair looked toward the stage. "I have a question. Miss Wright, did you say you were the one who restored this panel?"
Charlotte stood up. "Yes, I did."