"Mom, I'm sorry, but I don't have any other clothes to change into," Jane Sampson said with a regretful face. "Didn't I move all my stuff out when I got married?"
"Then wear one of Julie's," Mother Sampton quickly retorted. "Julie has a lot of formal dresses that are brand new, just bought two days ago."
"Mom, I'm thinner than Julie and also taller than her, I can't fit into her clothes," Jane Sampson stood there, smiling as she watched Julie Sampton, her tone tinged with incomprehension, "Doesn't Julie mind wearing the same thing as me?"
Julie Sampton still said nothing.
Happy? How could she possibly be happy?
Jane Sampson was more beautiful than her, had fairer skin, and a better figure. Even though Jane Sampson was only wearing light makeup, standing next to her in the same dress, she, Julie Sampton, was just a joke.
"Mom, since sister Julie doesn't like wearing the same as me, why not just have sister Julie change? You said it yourself, sister Julie has plenty of new dresses to choose from. Wouldn't it be simplest for her to change? Why make my sister change?" Bright Sampton's blunt words sent a jolt through Mother Sampton's heart, "I think my sister looks better in this dress than sister Julie. Sister Julie's skin tone is really not suited for such a garish red. Who did sister Julie's styling today? Did she offend the stylist?"
"Bright Sampton!" At her breaking point, Julie Sampton finally roared at Bright Sampton. Feeling the guests' gazes upon her, she felt as if each one was mocking her.
Julie Sampton couldn't take it anymore and, bracing herself, climbed the stairs. The banquet had just begun, and she really didn't have the courage to stand next to Jane Sampson any longer, wearing the same dress.
Seeing her daughter distressed enough to run away made Mother Sampton ache, and she glanced at Jane Sampson, unable to utter a word of reproach. After all, wearing the same clothes was truly an accident, and Jane Sampson hadn't been home previously to know that Julie Sampton would be wearing the same dress today.
However, Mother Sampton was somewhat puzzled; Jane Sampson's usual style was conservative with light colors, so why the sudden change today?
Unbiasedly speaking, Jane Sampson looked significantly better in that dress than Julie did.
But, seeing Jane Sampson, Mother Sampton couldn't help but feel partial.
"Bright Sampton, watch your tone when you speak to your sister in the future," Mother Sampton said, failing to find fault with Jane Sampson and ultimately scolding Bright Sampton instead.
"Mom, what's wrong with my tone? I'm just telling the plain truth. Julie really shouldn't wear bright colors. Her skin is dark, and wearing them only makes her look darker." But Julie always insisted on wearing bright clothes, trying to wrap her insecure and vain heart in them.
"That is your sister!" Mother Sampton, unable to contain her anger, exclaimed, "She only has darker skin because she suffered too much when she was little. A few more years of maintenance, and she will be as white as Jane!"
Bright Sampton turned, his back to Mother Sampton, and rolled his eyes. If today wasn't Mother Sampton's birthday, he would've talked back.
What does being naturally dark-skinned have to do with suffering when young? Julie inherited her dark complexion from their father, and she would stay dark even after 100 years of maintenance!
"Sis, let's go over there and grab some food." Seeing Julie Sampton, who had changed into another outfit, coming downstairs, Bright Sampton was concerned Jane Sampson would continue to be bullied if she stayed, so he quickly pulled her aside.