Chapter 33:
What Elyse didn’t realize was that the person on the floor wasn’t Elena at all.
The furious Debby yelled at a timid girl in pale yellow, “Why weren’t you watching where you were going? Now my makeup is ruined, my necklace is soaked… This is a Helena original! You owe me!”
The girl bowed repeatedly, her face flushed and too rattled to speak. Debby’s anger only grew as she replayed the incident in her mind. She lifted her hand to slap the girl, but someone seized her wrist before she could strike.
Elena intervened and said in a casual tone, “If you want compensation, just say so. Don’t raise your hand at people.”
Debby, who had intended to cause trouble, ended up as the victim. She glared at the frightened girl and muttered curses under her breath.
Elena gently patted the girl on the shoulder. Noting the fear in her eyes, she asked softly, “Are you alright?”
Kiera Jensen, the girl in question, froze in surprise and then gave a faint nod.
Elena continued signing, trying to find out what had happened.
Kiera glanced at Debby, still too frightened to explain out loud.
Elena reassured Kiera through sign language, indicating that nobody else there could understand, so she didn’t need to be afraid.
Those calm, graceful gestures, paired with Elena’s poised manner, gradually earned Kiera’s trust.
Kiera used sign language to share the details of Debby’s scheme with Elena.
Debby, who knew nothing about sign language, simply watched their quick hand movements without a clue about what they were saying. “What are you two whispering about with those hand signs? Her little mishap ruined my dress and necklace, so how do you plan to make things right?”
Debby tried to continue, but fell silent when she caught Elena’s icy gaze. A brief wave of unease washed over her, though she quickly regained her composure. Since her plan had failed, she believed Elena could never know she had meant to spill the wine.
Facing Elena’s penetrating gaze, Debby snapped, “Why are you staring at me like that? Maybe a bumpkin like you doesn’t understand the cost of fine jewelry, but you should know that if you break something, you pay for it. Are you going to cover the bill for that mute?”
A wave of low chatter swept through the onlookers as Debby’s accusations reached their ears.
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“She should at least say sorry for bumping into someone, right?”
“The Harper family’s newly found daughter shows no sign of proper upbringing.”
“People without any knowledge of social etiquette just can’t handle this kind of place…”
These hushed comments made Debby smile slowly. Assuming a mute girl and someone from a backwater town wouldn’t recognize luxury accessories, she deliberately claimed an old design from years ago as a high-end piece.
Having encountered her fair share of clueless people and assuming Elena was one of them, Debby felt free to demand any extravagant price she wanted. If she couldn’t humiliate Elena, then milking her for money was the next best thing.
Although her family was wealthy, Debby had two younger brothers and wasn’t particularly favored. Her monthly allowance only amounted to a few hundred thousand, so Helena’s higher-end items were out of reach.
