Chapter 3

We walked into a couture dress shop.

Nina was instantly drawn to a white feather gown, entirely handmade, displayed in the window.

The salesperson told us it was the swan song of a famous foreign designer this year—a one-of-a-kind piece in the whole world.

When Nina tried it on, she looked like an angel descended from heaven.

Her friends couldn't stop gushing over her.

"Nina, you look absolutely stunning in that dress."

"It's totally tailor-made for you."

Nina was delighted, already pulling out her card.

I walked over with a glass of red wine, my eyes wide with wonder. "Nina, you look stunning. Like an angel."

As I got closer, I stumbled. I cried out, lunging straight at Nina.

The red wine flew from my hand, splashing all over the pristine white feather gown. It spread instantly, a glaring red stain marring the pure white feathers.

Time seemed to freeze. Everyone gasped in shock.

"My dress!" Nina let out an ear-piercing scream.

I scrambled to my feet, tears streaming down my face. I frantically tried to wipe away the wine stains, but the more I wiped, the worse it got.

I choked out, "I'm sorry, Nina, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I wanted to get a closer look at you."

I was sobbing so hard I could barely catch my breath, feeling like I might pass out.

"I... I'll pay for it. I'll trade you my dress," I blurted out, reaching for the ridiculous blue gown I was wearing, ready to take it off.

Linda grabbed my arm and shrieked, "Pay for it? With what? Do you even know how much this dress costs? Even if you sold yourself, you still couldn't pay for it."

Amy jabbed a finger at my nose and snapped, "Once a hick, always a hick. You'll never belong here. You look like a clown in that dress, and now you've ruined Nina's gown."

Their insults cut me like knives.

I cried even harder, my whole body shaking like a leaf in the wind.

The salesperson saw the insanely expensive gown ruined right before her eyes. She looked like she was about to burst into tears.

Nina stared at her messy reflection and the destroyed dress, shaking with anger. Her gorgeous features contorted with fury, but with so many people watching, she had to keep up her image as the gracious, generous one.

She took a deep breath and forced a smile that looked even worse than crying.

She said, "It's okay, Winnie. Don't cry. It's just a dress, really, I don't care."

I looked up at her, my face streaked with tears, and sobbed, "But... but the party's about to start, Nina. Now you don't have a dress to wear."

That sentence struck Nina right in her sore spot. Her face went from pale to livid in an instant.

The whole fiasco ended with William paying for the ruined dress, his face stormy.

When we got home, Julia held Nina, still crying, worry in her eyes. But when she looked at me, her gaze was ice.

She complained, "Winnie, how could you be so careless? Nina worked so hard for your party, and you..."

Before she could finish, my legs gave out. I crumpled. "Mom, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I'll accept any punishment."

I looked up, my face streaked with tears, but my eyes were unwavering.

I said, "Please cancel the family recognition party. Someone like me doesn't deserve to be your daughter. I'll only bring shame to you all."

My words left William and Julia completely stunned.

Cancel the party? The invitations had already gone out. The Lynns couldn't afford that kind of embarrassment.

I was playing the victim on purpose, using reverse psychology so they'd have nothing more to say.

In the end, William waved his hand wearily. "Forget it. What's done is done. Go wash your makeup off and change your clothes."

I kept my head down, a cold smile touching my lips.

Nina went to all that trouble setting up the stage. Now it was my turn to put on a show.

The night of the recognition dinner dripped with perfume and pearls, a rustle of silks, a blur of beautiful shadows.

I slipped into a simple white cocktail dress and wiped off that over-the-top makeup. My face, natural at last. Plain, but clean. Better than before.

Nina, with her dress ruined, had no choice but to wear an old backup dress. Her smile was strained, barely covering her disappointment.

I was supposed to be the star of the show, but everyone's eyes were glued to Nina.

She moved through the crowd like she owned the place, totally at ease and in control.

Meanwhile, I was stuck away in an unremarkable corner, making me feel like a total outsider.

I knew they did this on purpose.

William, out of seventeen years of affection, didn't want to humiliate Nina.

They forgot that I was the debt they never paid.