Chapter 428

Angela said with a hint of sarcasm, "Ishara, you're the best, snatching up Mr. Rodriguez as your boyfriend right off the bat. You won't have to worry about anyone stealing the spotlight from you."

"How can you say that? I'm just a sickly girl, how can I compare to Winnie's beauty? I like the way Winnie looks too," she said, seemingly offhand, but her words struck right at Angela's jealous heart. Even Ishara liked that despicable woman.

Ishara cautioned her young cousin, saying, "Angela, at tonight's event, you mustn't talk about Winnie's private matters, okay? It could ruin her reputation."

Angela's eyes narrowed as she obediently replied, "I got it. I'll just tell everyone about your love at first sight with Mr. Rodriguez, which is big news that hasn't hit Trento City yet."

"Don't tease me," Ishara said.

Once Angela had walked away, it was Ishara's turn to narrow her eyes contemplatively.

Eleanor walked over, glancing at Angela and said to her daughter, "You're so clever, Ishara. Always knowing how to use that little fool to your advantage."

"She's always been my lackey," Ishara said nonchalantly. "Mom, are you really letting Winnie attend the welcome party? I'm afraid Mr. Rodriguez might get distracted. Moreover, Dad is obviously paving the way for her future, trying to get her into the sight of the nobility..."

Eleanor and her daughter exchanged knowing looks, both calculating in their eyes.

"Do you think I'd let that little wench smoothly enter the Blanchet family? A grand banquet like the Rodriguez family's is a great opportunity to ruin her! If she's ruined by the Rodriguez family, Lawrence will completely lose interest in her," Eleanor said, a gleam of mischief in her eyes.

"You forgot, I have some connection with Anday's wife, didn't you?" Ishara asked quietly, her eyes also narrowing. "Also, Mum, if you're going to buy a dress for Winnie, make sure it doesn't overshadow mine..."

"Don't worry, don't I understand you? Tonight, you're the leading lady; no one will steal your thunder," Eleanor assured her.

Ishara's lips curved into a smile. Indeed, her mother understood her better than anyone else.

As Winnie stepped through the gate of the Blanchet family, she was warmly greeted by Eleanor. "Winnie, tonight's banquet by the Rodriguez family is grand. The clothes you're wearing, they're from Lymington, right? They're hardly up to the standard. I have selected several top-notch, expensive dresses for you. They're on your bed, go change into one."

Winnie's lips curled up in a smirk at Eleanor's thinly veiled sarcasm. When she entered the bedroom and saw the dresses laid out on the bed, her smile widened. They were indeed expensive dresses, glittering and glamorous, but they were designed years ago. Back then, they were worth a million each, but now they're probably worth just tens of thousands.

Looking at the colors and styles-red, rose pink, lemon yellow, all either off-shoulder or low-cut.

Winnie narrowed her eyes, recalling Ishara's innocent and pure facade. Dressed in white, she seemed ethereal.

Eleanor had carefully considered the Rodriguez family's preference for demure girls, aiming to portray Winnie unfavorably compared to Ishara. Her intention was to depict Winnie as vulgar and worldly, contrasting with Ishara's perceived purity and flawlessness.

But Winnie wasn't worried; she was confident in her own beauty. She chose a red off-shoulder dress, which was "the most conservative" and descended the stairs.

Claire, hidden in the main building, immediately made a call, "Miss, she's wearing red..."

Ishara, standing in her room, lips curved. "I know."

Winnie waited in front of the little villa for more than ten minutes, during which Eleanor and her daughter had left.

The driver arrived late to pick her up. "Miss, I apologize. Mr. Blanchet was delayed at the company and had asked me to take you directly to the villa."

Winnie nodded faintly.

The car drove for more than ten minutes, arriving at the mountaintop. Even having seen some of the world's best villas, Winnie was still stunned by the grandeur of the Rodriguez's villa.

With snow-capped mountains as a backdrop and lakes as front courts, the grand estate was ablaze with lights, featuring golf courses, helicopters, and all the amenities.

Music played softly in the Rodriguez family villa's hall.

Winnie handed her bag to the doorman and walked in. When she saw Ishara in a conspicuous red dress, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.

In the hall, only the two of them were in red, an embarrassing clash.

Winnie narrowed her eyes and scoffed coldly. It seemed she had underestimated Ishara's cunning nature.

It became clear why Ishara and her mother had departed earlier, and why the driver had offered excuses about Carlos being occupied at the company. But now, her father stood in the hall, awaiting her.

"Winnie!" Carlos turned and saw her, smiling as he approached. "Your aunt said you took your time choosing a dress, and Ishara was eager to meet Lawrence, so they came first... Uh, why did you choose this dress?"

Upon seeing the one-shoulder red dress on Winnie, Carlos frowned slightly. He didn't understand women's fashion, but he knew that the dress, revealing most of her shoulder and hugging her figure tightly, was clearly not modest for an important event like the Rodriguez family's banquet.

The debutantes present were all elegantly attired.

Winnie glanced at Eleanor who was standing a few steps away, and tugged at her dress with a bitter smile. "Dad, this is the best-looking dress available; the others were all more revealing, showing legs and collarbones, which I thought were inappropriate."

She used the word "best-looking" very tactfully, but it made Carlos's eyes suddenly glare at Eleanor. "How did you select dresses for her?"

Eleanor cursed inwardly and hurried over, looking at Carlos. "Carlos, I carefully selected expensive dresses for Winnie! Winnie, please don't misunderstand. There were plenty of modest styles available, yet you specifically picked out a red off-shoulder dress. Did you do so because you saw Ishara wearing red and wanted to match her festive attire? However, the dress you chose is much more sensual compared to Ishara's."

Eleanor quickly brought Ishara into the conversation, knowing her daughter's intentions as soon as she saw her in red.

The Blanchet family's status was also prominent, especially since Winnie's arrival, everyone had turned to look.

Ishara, coughing lightly, came over with a gracious smile. "Winnie, you're wearing red too? You look really good. Compared to me, I'm quite ordinary."

"What are you talking about," Angela said angrily while pointing at Winnie. "Ishara is wearing red because she's meeting the Rodriguez family elders today as Mr. Rodriguez's girlfriend. Winnie, you had just returned to the Blanchet family for one day, and how could you be so eager to outshine Ishara, dressing so seductively?"

"Shut up." Carlos, although frowning and not understanding the situation, immediately protected his daughter.

Ishara also quietly pulled Angela back and said, "Angela, so many people are watching, and Bob Rodriguez is coming over, so don't talk about Winnie like that."

"Did I say something wrong? Ishara, you were the one who wore a red dress to the Rodriguez family first, everyone saw it. Winnie is so cunning!" Angela raised her voice even more.

Bob walked over; his brows furrowed.

Guests in the crowd started to comment about Winnie. "Is that Mr. Blanchet's newly recognized daughter?"

"Didn't expect her to be so scheming, deliberately wearing the same color as her sister to outshine Ishara."

"And wearing something so sexy, maybe she's here to seduce men at the party."

Carlos looked uncomfortable, as he hadn't introduced Winnie yet, and everyone was already viewing her this way.

Winnie spoke calmly with a hint of grievance in her voice, "Dad, I didn't mean to steal Ishara's thunder. I remember changing into my dress at 5:40 pm, quite early. And I waited at the door for more than ten minutes after which Eleanor and Ishara had hurriedly left. Only then did the driver pick me up. If you don't believe me, you can check the home surveillance."

Everyone was stunned, and upon reflection, if she dared mention checking the surveillance, then it seemed she did wear red first.

Then... some eyes turned to Eleanor. Everyone there was a schemer from a wealthy family; they all understood the tactics involved.