What a small world it was. Leena didn't expect to meet that woman again, who had beat her in getting the pair of earrings that had caught her eye back in the jewelry store. She was right at the door of Tender Whispers. The woman looked at Leena with disdain. Leena proudly raised her chin as she shot daggers at her, refusing to feel patronized by this woman's arrogance.
"Hmph. Bitch! What an obnoxious hick. In trying to buy the earrings I took a liking to, you bit off more than you could chew." Louisa had also recognized Leena. Back at the store, she got involved in a flaming row with Leena. Her rude remarks had offended Louisa a lot, so how could she forget her?
"Now, wait a minute. What did you say? That I'm an obnoxious hick?" Leena clenched her teeth in bitter hatred. As a dress designer, she kept up to date with the latest trends. Her customers scrambled to get her fashionable designs. No one ever said that she was a country bumpkin.
Why, are you deaf? Did you not hear me?" Louisa sneered, glancing sideways at Leena.
"Look at you! Only the people at the bottom of the heap wear such casual sports wear. You know what? The earrings clearly weren't meant for you. Do you know how expensive they were? Could you even afford them?"
"Miss, do we know each other? Do we have a grudge against each other or something? Why are you making these scathing comments? Also, I'm not an obnoxious hick by any means."Leena looked down at her attire. Her clothes and shoes were from famous brands in France. Why did Louisa say that she was a rube?
"Oh, don't you know?" Louisa looked down at Leena condescendingly. "Figure it out yourself. Do you really need me to tell you?" Louisa said, assuming an air of superiority. In her eyes, Leena wore knockoffs. She could not afford branded items.
"Sorry, but I don't think I look shabby at all." Leena chose to ignore Louisa. She was waiting for Edward here; otherwise she would have left and not bother herself to talk nonsense with Louisa.
You have terrible taste. You are just not aware of it." Louisa smoothed her dress that was of the first rate, showing off her money as she patronized Leena.
"Well, you are right. I'm petty bourgeois, and I look uncool. Why are you condescending yourself to argue with me? That's very inferior of you." Leena gazed at her coolly. She didn't want to reveal her true identity to such a bumptious woman, or even argue with her. She knew the brand of Louisa's dress, but she disdained buying it. 'What makes her feel so above herself?' Leena wondered, 'Her brand-name dress? What a shallow, vain woman.'
You pretended that you could afford those diamond earrings in the jewelry store. It disgusted me. Look at your cheap knockoffs. Such a poor girl wanted to buy a pair of diamond earrings. So sad." Louisa felt sick to think that Leena wanted to buy the earrings she had liked first. Although Louisa was finally able to buy them, Leena had embarrassed her by making those offensive remarks. She found that she just couldn't let it go.
"Huh? What are you talking about? You mean to say that I wear cheap knockoffs? Miss, please don't pretend to know what you don't know. You're making a fool out of yourself." Leena narrowed her eyes at Louisa. She felt disgust for this conceited woman.
What? I am pretending to know what I don't know? Open up your eyes. Can you even spell the name of the brand I wear? Your casual clothes are so unflattering," Louisa replied, snorting loudly. She didn't even look at Leena.
"Sure, I can spell what you are wearing. It's just a brand that I despise." Louisa raised her eyebrows at Leena, but was distracted by the handsome man who came over. She couldn't tear her gaze away from him.
Edward." When she saw him, Leena smiled sweetly and greeted him with pleasure.
"Leena, is she your friend?" Edward glanced at Louisa, returning his gaze to Leena.
"No. I don't know her. She is a lunatic. Just leave her alone." Leena was enraged at Louisa's rudeness. She didn't want to talk with her any longer. All she wanted was to leave at once.
Let's go inside." Edward put his arm around Leena's waist and affectionately drew her in the direction of the restaurant, ignoring Louisa who stood spellbound.
Louisa didn't avert her gaze until Edward and Leena disappeared from her view. 'What an indescribably beautiful and striking man he is,' Louisa thought, 'Judging from his temperament and his taste in clothing, he must be a big bug. Why does he hang out with a woman of such humble birth?
Humph. Bitch, don't run into me next time. Although I envy you having a boyfriend of such good taste, we are enemies. You wait and see.'
"Leena, do you know that woman? You seemed hostile to her," Edward asked with a frown. He saw the two of them talking when he came over, so he was curious.
No. We had a dispute at a jewelry store last time. She is such an obnoxious and smug woman. Just ignore her." Leena leaned against Edward. She had left the quarrel with Louisa behind. She didn't want to bother herself to argue with the likes of Louisa, or she would upset herself.
"Okay. I must say that you have a good attitude toward everything. Just treat her like she is a madwoman. We are civilized people. Don't engage with rude people at all." Edward liked the way Leena thought. Even if someone offended her, she responded with a smile. She was really a loving girl.
"See? I'm not mad at her. Let's forget it. Don't talk about her anymore. I wonder if Duke and Belinda have arrived. I can't wait to see them." Leena didn't want any mention of the abominable woman again. What family did she belong to? How rude she was.
Edward smiled. If he wasn't wrong, Duke and Belinda had arrived already. He knew Duke loved his sister dearly. Since she returned, he had wanted to see her as soon as possible. He wouldn't be late.
Belinda! It's been a long time. Did you miss me?" Leena pulled open the door to the private box of the restaurant, excitedly running toward Belinda. She hugged her, smiling widely.
"Girl, didn't you come back yesterday? If you really missed me, you would have called me up." Belinda gently patted her back. Although she was complaining, Belinda was happy to see Leena had come back.
Belinda, you said exactly what Daisy said. You're such good friends that you even blame me in the same way." Leena pouted, pretending to be upset.
You ungrateful brat. You didn't ask us to pick you up from the airport or even didn't tell us that you had come back. We missed you so much." Belinda fixed Leena's long hair that had been falling onto her eyes. She smiled wickedly as she found an obvious love bite on Leena's neck. No wonder Leena wore a turtleneck sweater today.
"I wanted to surprise you. See, you're happy to see me." Leena acted like a spoiled child as Belinda babied her. After Belinda let her go, Leena walked up to Duke and threw herself into his arms.
Why didn't you ask us to pick you up at the airport?" Duke softly blamed Leena as he hugged her. His eyes were full of tenderness.
"I could go home myself, so I didn't want to bother you. Duke, you seem to have changed a lot. It must be because of Belinda." Leena smiled brightly. She looked adorable and charming.
Have I? You must be kidding. I'm who I used to be. Don't deliberately change the subject." Duke knitted his brows. Leena's tricks didn't work on him. As her brother, Duke knew her like the palm of his own hand. He knew she wanted something whenever she complimented him. She was trying to change the subject so that Duke wouldn't continue to blame her.
"I don't. I am serious! You've really changed. If you don't believe me, you can ask Edward. I bet he's thinking the same thing. Am I right, Edward?" Leena blinked at Edward, casting an imploring glance in his direction. She hoped that he would take her side.
Yes. I agree. Duke, you've really changed. You're more like a beast now," Edward said in a no-nonsense voice while sitting down on the couch, as if what he said was indeed true.
"Wait. What? You're the beast, not me! I haven't seen you in quite a few days. You've become even more annoying." Duke rolled his eyes at Edward as he led Leena to another couch. With Leena and Belinda sitting beside him, he was the happiest man in the world, as the two women he liked the most were here.