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Chapter 262
Chapter 262
At Greenmeadow International School, whispers and rumors spread rapidly, but outside Mrs. Collins' elegant home, most of the visiting ladies were still uncertain about the truth of the gossip.
Upon hearing the rumors, Mrs. Brown couldn't help but interject, "Oh, come on! I've met Mrs. Delaney a few times, and she doesn't strike me as that sort of person."
Someone asked, "You've met Mrs. Delaney?"
Mrs. Brown nodded, "Yes, we've attended an art exhibition together. Didn't I tell you? Mrs. Delaney is the real deal. Fanny was worried Mrs. Delaney's talents would overshadow hers and even tried to sabotage her. But B. Aster stepped in, cleared Mrs. Delaney's name, and now she's the president of the Greenmeadow Art Association!"
"That's quite the pedigree! She must have great poise."
In this world, intellectuals were highly respected, and being a master of watercolor painting was indeed a revered title.
However, there were skeptics, "It's easy to know a person's face, but not their heart. Some might be gifted but lack virtue. Fanny was also a celebrated name in the world of watercolor painting, yet her morals were questionable. We don't always see that side!"
"And besides, even if Mrs. Delaney is a saint, what about this daughter of hers, recently found from an orphanage? Not necessarily a good apple, considering she's been outside for eighteen years!"
"That's right. Why are there rumors about her only within Greenmeadow International School? There must be something fishy."
Mrs. Brown thought of Cordelia and shook her head, "I don't think Ms. Delaney is like that..."
"And how can you be so sure?"
"Yeah, my daughter vouched for her!"
Mrs. Collins approached, overhearing the conversation, and spoke with a displeased tone, "We shouldn't pass judgment without knowing the full story. Have you all forgotten that basic decency?"
The room went silent.
As ladies of affluent homes, they knew better than to indulge in baseless gossip, but idle times often led to idle talk.
They nodded in agreement to Mrs. Collins.
She then stepped aside, revealing a strikingly beautiful sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl dressed in flamboyant red.
She introduced with a smile, "This is Ms. Robinson! Just call her Abbey. She's here to enjoy the party. Why don't your daughters show her around?" Given Mrs. Collins's grand introduction, Abbey's background was undoubtedly extraordinary.
Speculations arose, especially with the recent arrival of Bill in Greenmeadow, and eyes filled with curiosity turned towards Abbey, whispering, "Mrs. Collins, is she related to the Robinson family?"
Mrs. Collins nodded.
Abbey was indeed Bill's sister.
She had accompanied Bill to Greenmeadow due to some business he had with the Collins family. Mrs. Collins, albeit a bit overwhelmed by Abbey's high-spirited nature, couldn't help but feel a tad proud of hosting her.
Upon learning Abbey was from Ontoky City and related to Bill, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement.
Among the guests was Hayley, Mrs. Brown's neighbor's niece. Knowing her family's standing couldn't compare to Mrs. Brown's, she was always eager to curry favor.
Spotting Mrs. Brown's interest in Abbey, Hayley saw an opportunity to ingratiate herself.
She approached Abbey warmly, "Little sister Abbey, is that gemstone around your neck real? It's so luminous and beautiful!"
Abbey scoffed inwardly.
Though raised in a family that flaunted their wealth, Abbey was brought up with the utmost grace, unlike her brother's ostentatious display.
Hayley's blatant flattery only made Abbey disdainful, yet her manners prompted a polite, "Thank you."
Hayley pressed on, "Such a large gemstone, we don't have anything like it. Your home must be full of them!"
Abbey thought about her brother's lavish gifts, "Not really, just my brother being overly generous as usual."
Abbey's disinterest was apparent as she settled on a nearby sofa, finding the adulation around her tedious.
Only little Joy, the mute girl, seemed intriguing; the rest were simply dull.
As Abbey's thoughts wandered, Joy's eyes suddenly sparkled, and she dashed towards the entrance, capturing Abbey's attention.
Abbey's gaze immediately shifted,
and she saw a woman of gentle demeanor walking in, dressed in an elegant evening gown, with a young lady by her side wearing a striking red dress, exceptionally beautiful. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
Abbey was momentarily taken aback.
She couldn't help but give Cordelia another glance.
Such beauty was rare, even among the high society belles of Ontoky City. Her features were incredibly refined, making her even more dazzling. Curiosity piqued, Abbey asked, "Who's that?"
Hayley, with a hint of malice, chimed in, "Ms. Robinson, you'd do well to keep your distance from her."
Abbey, slightly puzzled, asked, "Why's that?"
Hayley explained, "She's the heiress of the Delaney family, raised in an orphanage before her family found her. She's incredibly vain. Just the other day in class, her cousin showed off a diamond ring, and she, not to be outdone, showed us a box of gems' trying to pass them off as real."
Abbey, surprised, said, "A whole box?"
Hayley nodded, "Yeah, a whole box. At a glance, there must have been around twenty, each the size of that pendant you're wearing. At first, we were all taken aback, wondering who could afford such luxury? But then, her grandmother revealed they were just stones, fakes! That's when everyone understood."
Abbey's expression cooled, "A whole box of gems, not even a single family in Greenmeadow could produce such wealth!"
Such large, high-quality gems could fetch millions at auction, a true family heirloom!
She had little respect for those pretending to be something they're not, promptly deciding to ignore Cordelia altogether.
It was then, she caught a glimpse of a red gemstone bracelet on Cordelia's wrist.