Book 2 : She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement

Chapter 26

Chapter 688: Birthday Present pt.4

Mrs. Livingstone looked at Cherry with a big smile after she spoke.

Louis had resolved the trouble with Lisa’s gift just now, so she couldn’t attack Cherry with that. But the next moment, a so-called grandaunt had arrived.

Mrs. Livingstone was waiting to launch into face-slapping mode after she took a look at the gift!

She stared hard at the gift, her gaze so scorching that it was as if it could set the box on fire.

At the side, both Ian and Justin narrowed their eyes. They glanced at Mrs. Livingstone, neither of them speaking.

Both knew very well that Nora was no ordinary woman, and that the people she knew in the past were all very impressive. However, everyone seemed to be at a consensus that Nora had lived in tough circumstances in the past.

In fact, they had even spun a dramatic story in their heads about how a poor girl had survived after her stepfather robbed her of the only financial assets that her mother had left behind.

Therefore, even though they all knew that Nora’s medical skills were fantastic, the moment they thought of her past, they kept feeling pity and sympathy for her.

There were even families that said that it was a pity about Ms. Smith; that if she had grown up in New York, she would most certainly have become even more outstanding than Yvonne Smith, yet she was just a doctor now. Nothing else about her seemed that great.

Moreover, what people of social status like theirs were particular about were social connections and their social circle.

If the friends one hung out with were impressive, then they would also be very impressive.

Nora was already a full-grown adult. On top of that, she didn’t have any appropriate girlfriends among her peers in New York. This made her social circle even smaller.

Nora would probably just be the young lady of the Smith's and Mrs. Hunt in the future. Apart from holding the occasional medical consultation, she would probably just stay at home, lead a stable life, and be a good wife and mother to her husband and kids, right?

People like that were sad and pitiful.

She obviously had a good family, yet she hadn’t received the education and opportunities that her family background could have given her when she was a child.

Come to think of it, the story was worthy of being extolled, yet also lamentable.

That was why Justin and Ian wanted to give Nora the opportunity to set an example and establish prestige among her peers during the occasion today so that everyone would know that she was no ordinary person!

Thus, neither of them interrupted Mrs. Livingstone’s nonsense, but merely lowered their gazes.

At the same time, the two big bosses also thought to themselves: “It’s about time that the Livingstones go bankrupt!”

Of course, Mrs. Livingstone, who didn’t know that she had already become a thorn in the Smith's and the Hunts’ sides, was still digging her own grave.

Even John was a little dumbfounded when he heard Mrs. Livingstone.

How could she force someone to open their gifts when they hadn’t decided whether to open them or not?

John looked at Cherry a little hesitantly and asked, “Cherry, should I open it?”

Before Cherry could speak, Mrs. Livingstone said, “Yes, open it and impress us! Since it’s a gift for Cherry, then it must be very extraordinary!”

The people around them were speechless.

Mrs. Livingstone’s behavior was simply too unsightly!

To attend someone’s birthday party and then attack them, she was really just so… Everyone stepped away from Mrs. Livingstone, making her stand out like a sore thumb.

However, Mrs. Livingstone didn’t realize. Right now, all she wanted was to thoroughly ruin Nora’s reputation.

Cherry looked at Mrs. Livingstone and then at John. There was amusement in her big eyes as she said, “Grandpa John, since she wants to see the gift so much, then let’s open it and have a look!”

When John heard this, he opened the gift box. It was only then that everyone discovered that the tiny little box was actually a safe.

With a smile, John said, “The password is the one you always use, Ms. Cherry.”

Cherry stretched out her chubby little arm and pressed a few numbers.

Click!

The tiny safe opened, revealing the blue gem inside.

At the sight, everyone around them went into a huge furor!

“The Heart of the Ocean?!”

Someone exclaimed abruptly. He suddenly looked at the gift box that Ian had handed Cherry just a few moments ago and exclaimed incredulously, “Two Hearts of the Ocean?!”

He sounded absolutely astounded.

How could he possibly not be, though?

One Heart of the Ocean was already worth more than a million dollars. Unless a family was backed by a solid and robust foundation, who would be able to buy it?

It was not surprising that the Smith's would have one, but how did that grandaunt of hers get that kind of money? For one to be able to afford a gemstone like that and even give it to their grandniece as a gift, they would have to have hundreds of millions of dollars in their pocket!

Everyone swallowed.

Mrs. Livingstone even blurted out, “Surely that isn’t a fake, right?”

But as soon as she said that, she felt that she must be mistaken-because a curious Cherry had already put the two Hearts of the Ocean together. Usually, there were differences in gemstones that ordinary people might not be able to pick out, but when good and bad ones were placed side by side, even with the naked eye, one should still be able to tell the difference. However, there was no difference between these two gems at all. It was as if they had been carved out of the same stone!

And of course, they did indeed come from the same rock.

When Louis saw this, he said annoyingly, “Wow, Cherry, your grandaunt is so rich! To think she can gift you a diamond worth millions of dollars as a gift!”

Cherry grinned at him. “Yeah! My grandaunt is really rich!”

Louis glanced at Mrs. Livingstone.

Mrs. Livingstone pressed the matter and asked, “Who is your grandaunt? We should have more or less heard of someone as rich and influential as her!”

Cherry rolled her eyes. “I’m not gonna tell you!”

Her grandaunt’s business was involved in some shady dealings, so Cherry didn’t want to reveal her identity and occupation.

Mrs. Livingstone, however, misunderstood. She immediately scoffed, “Ha, you’re just afraid that we would recognize her, aren’t you? Well, that makes sense. Since the Smith's can afford one gemstone, they can also afford two.”

Louis went on the offensive at once. “Mrs. Livingstone, what do you mean by that? Are you saying that the Smith's bought this gem too in order to make Cherry look good?”

Mrs. Livingstone had truly shed all pretenses by then. She laughed and said, “Mr. Smith, we are not trying to mock Ms. Smith. In fact, we even find her very inspirational! But aren’t you kinda overdoing it a little, and also being a little too protective?! Even if you’re just acting, can’t you at least give Cherry’s grandaunt a noble identity that commands high prestige and respect?! If she’s just rich, then who knows whose money that is? All the rich people overseas are of high social status!”

Now, that was going too far.

The others were about to tell her to knock it off a little when the butler entered the hall in a panic again. He said, “Princess Lucy from the UK… is here!”

Chapter 689: Birthday Present pt.5

Everyone was dumbfounded when they heard him.

Princess Lucy from the UK?

Who was that?

Everyone looked at Justin, wondering if the Hunt's had already reached such a height that they could even get the British royal family to visit in person and offer well-wishes to their children for their birthday?

One must know that the royal family did not easily establish good relations with wealthy families.

While everyone was marveling, someone asked, “Mr. Hunt, when did you make friends with the British royal family?”

Justin, however, frowned. Unlike everyone else, the princess’ arrival did not make him nervous. Instead, he calmly instructed the butler, “Everyone visiting is a guest. Show her in.”

“Yes, sir!”

The butler replied. Then, with his head down, he went out again.

After the butler left, Mrs. Livingstone looked at Cherry. “Which country is your grandaunt living in?”

Cherry tilted her head. “The UK!”

Mrs. Livingstone covered her mouth and laughed. “Oh my, would you look at that? Had you known that Mr. Hunt was acquainted with the British royal family, it would have been so impressive if you had gotten him to get the princess to give you a gift instead!” In other words, she was implying that the Smith's had messed up.

Even if they wanted to give her the gem, they should have gotten someone with a high social status to give it to her instead. Only then would it prove that Nora really was very impressive.

But as soon as she said that, Justin said, “I don’t know them.”

To be honest, he did.

However, the one he knew was not Princess Lucy but her mother instead-in other words, the Queen of the United Kingdom!

But he clearly remembered that because he hadn’t sent the Queen an invitation because he wanted to keep the party low-profile. Besides, the children’s fifth birthday was not a big occasion, either.

Could it be that the Queen-who was one fry short of a Happy Meal-had heard about his children’s birthday, so she sent the little princess here to please him?

That was impossible, though… His identity shouldn’t have been exposed yet. While Justin was thinking about it with a frown on his face, the butler had already led the distinguished guests in.

A little girl with blond hair and blue eyes walked in. She was fair-skinned, and her big eyes were bright and twinkling. Her curly shoulder-length hair was spread out slightly behind her, and her formal dress cinching her waist made her look slim and graceful.

Although she was only five, so her body hadn’t grown and developed yet, the princess looked just like a doll, and was extraordinarily good-looking!

Behind the princess were a few bodyguards in professional attire. They scanned the surroundings vigilantly and protected the princess.

After Lucy entered, her big eyes blinked and she looked around.

Although she was young, her every move carried an air of nobility and elegance.

Justin took a step forward and came up to Lucy. He asked the attendant next to her, “Why is the princess suddenly visiting our humble abode?”

Princess Lucy was too young, so Justin couldn’t be bothered to greet the child.

Besides, since she was so young, her attendants would surely somewhat be able to speak on her behalf.

With a smile, the attendant replied, “Relax, Mr. Hunt. Her Highness merely heard that it’s her close friend’s birthday, so she has come over to visit.”

As soon as he said that, Justin narrowed his eyes.

The people around them who had heard the attendant were also surprised.

The princess’… close friend’s birthday?

Everyone turned and looked at Cherry, Pete, and Xander once more.

So, which one of them was the princess’ friend?

Mrs. Livingstone didn’t hear the exchange, so she was still a little dazed. She was standing at the side and speaking to Cherry.

“You see that princess over there? There’s grace in her every action. Now, that’s self-confidence that only a good family background can provide! What a shame that you didn’t grow up in a good environment. Even if you’re the young lady of the Hunt's, you still don’t have a bearing as outstanding as hers! I’m sure that just a few months ago, you’d never even dared imagine that you would ever see a princess, right?”

Cherry: “?”

Everyone around them: “?”

Everyone looked at Mrs. Livingstone as though they were looking at a fool!

Mrs. Livingstone didn’t understand why everyone was staring at her. Instead, she continued speaking smugly. “What are all of you looking at me like that for? Am I wrong? You don’t have the guts to say these things, but I do! And it isn’t just Cherry but Ms. Smith, too. No matter what, it’s just not good to grow up in a family like that…”

Seeing her performing a one-man show over there, Cherry gave her a push and said, “Excuse me, granny, you are blocking my way!”

Mrs. Livingstone, who had been pushed aside, stumbled to the side.

She looked over and censured Cherry furiously. “That’s so rude of you, Cherry. How can you treat your elders like that? You should learn from Princess Lucy, take a gander at her deportment and manners!”

She had only just spoken when she saw Cherry, with joy all over her face, lift her little skirt and run past her.

On the other side, Lucy had also finally found the little buddy she knew so well among the adults’ legs. Her eyes lit up, and she also rushed over.

Chapter 690 Birthday Present pt.6

“Cherry!”

“Princess Lucy!”

The two little girls called out each other’s names and rushed toward each other. The adults standing in between them stepped aside one after another and made way for them.

Thus, in full view of everyone present, the two little girls met at last.

At a distance of four inches apart, the two came to a stop. Both of them lifted their skirts and greeted each other elegantly, their movements were very regal and beautiful!

In addition, Cherry and Princess Lucy’s movements were practically identical!

When they were done, the two little girls finally held each other’s hands and started jumping about happily.

“Dear Lucy, why are you here?” asked Cherry.

Princess Lucy replied, “Because I missed you, my best friend!”

Cherry laughed loudly, her voice crisp and clear.

Princess Lucy smiled at her happily. Then, she said, “It seems that you have fallen behind quite a fair bit in your etiquette lessons during the last six months that we haven’t met~! If Mrs. Steve hears of this, I’m afraid, she’d spank your bottom so hard it would split into two!”

Cherry stuck out her tongue. “You have also fallen behind in your etiquette lessons.”

Princess Lucy burst into laughter. “After you left, I made an excuse and stopped going to classes. Besides, we have already passed the exam a long time ago, so Mother said that I don’t have to go anymore!”

“That’s awesome!”

Cherry clapped.

Lisa, who could hear them, was dumbfounded. She subconsciously asked, “Cherry, do you and Princess Lucy share the same etiquette teacher?”

Cherry explained, “Yup, we go for lessons together! Mrs. Steve is the best etiquette teacher in the UK. My grandaunt said that girls should learn to carry themselves well, so she sent me to take the lessons! Later, Princess Lucy begged Grandaunt to get Mrs. Steve to teach her too while she taught me. That’s how the two of us met each other!”

Her words were like a bomb that blasted everyone so hard that they couldn’t recover. Initially, when they heard the girls’ conversation, everyone had thought to themselves that Cherry, as expected, had indeed lived an extraordinary life abroad.

However, for most typical wealthy families, as long as they were willing to pay, they would be able to engage teachers who exclusively taught the royal family, and invite them to their homes to give their children lessons.

Everyone had also assumed that it was Nora or the grandaunt, whom Cherry had spoken of just now, who had done so.

Her grandaunt might also have wanted to let Cherry and Princess Lucy become acquainted with each other through the etiquette teacher so that it would be convenient for her to establish a connection with the royal family.

Going by what Cherry had said, though, why did it sound like it was not her grandaunt who wanted to curry favor with the royal family, but the other way around instead?

So, just what kind of social status did Cherry’s grandaunt have?!

Lisa didn’t think that far ahead. She only remembered Mrs. Livingstone lecturing Cherry about her upbringing and criticizing her for having poor etiquette. Thus, she turned to Mrs. Livingstone and sneered, “Mrs. Livingstone, how do you find Cherry’s etiquette? Do you think she learned well? Is there anything else about her upbringing that you think requires improvement?”

Mrs. Livingstone was dumbfounded. She stared at Cherry incredulously, feeling like her face had already gone numb from all the slaps she received.

How could this be?

How come Cherry knew the princess of the royal family?!

Moreover, she seemed to know the princess very well.

In this instant, in the eyes of everyone there, Cherry and Nora suddenly turned into towering giants. Their image had become high and lofty in an instant, making them feel like people beyond their reach.

In fact, the two of them felt a few notches even more impressive than how Yvette Smith had felt back then!

Everyone swallowed. This time, they offered their sincere congratulations.

“Mr. Hunt, Ms. Smith is so amazing! She can even get her daughter to become good friends with a princess.”

“Mr. Smith, even though Ms. Smith was not by your side all these years, it looks like she has been living very well!”

“Eh? Where’s Ms. Smith? Why isn’t she here? I wanted to talk to her about parenting and ask her how she raised Cherry so well?”

While everyone was offering their congratulations, Justin smiled slightly. Then, he looked straight at Mrs. Livingstone and said, “Mrs. Livingstone, you’ve had your fill of fun. Surely you have nothing else to say now, right?”

Mrs. Livingstone bit her lip. “I didn’t expect Ms. Smith to have such a superior standard of living … Fine, you can take it that I was worried for nothing! It only had your interests in mind when I said all that. I was worried that you would wed an inappropriate woman, but it’s alright now. I’m not worried anymore, so I have nothing more to say.”

With that, she turned to leave.

But as soon as she turned, Justin’s frosty voice reached her. “Wait a minute, Mrs. Livingstone. You may not have anything else to say, but I do.”

Taken aback, Mrs. Livingstone looked at him.

Everyone also quietened down and looked over.

Justin looked at the butler and said, “It seems that the people at home don’t have the ability to distinguish who is family and who isn’t. People from beyond three generations are no longer considered relatives. The Hunt Manor is not a place that just anyone can enter.”

The butler understood at once. He immediately straightened his back and replied, “Yes, sir.”

Then, the butler walked up to Mrs. Livingstone. With a smile, he asked, “Mrs. Livingstone, may I know if you have an invitation to the party?”

Mrs. Livingstone: “??”.

How would she possibly have one?!

All the guests at the party were invited by Justin. However, every time she came, she had always gone straight to Mrs. Hunt instead.

Dumbfounded, she shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

The butler heaved a sigh at once. “Sir, this is an oversight on my end. I will forgo three months of pay as punishment.”

Then, he gave a wave. “Guards, there is a lady here without an invitation. Please take her out!”

Mrs. Livingstone: “!!”

Her eyes widened and she looked at the butler in disbelief. “H-How dare you?!”

However, the security officers had already rushed over. They subdued Mrs. Livingstone straightaway and led her out the door. She struggled fiercely, forming an extremely nasty sight.

At the same time, the security officers also located Thomas where the youngsters were and threw him out as well!

No matter how great the feud, generally speaking, no one would throw a guest straight out of their house. That would simply make the other party look too bad.

Justin’s actions sent a clear message to everyone present: ‘Justin Hunt hates the Livingstones!

The guests at the party were all either rich or noble. All of them immediately got the hint.

The president of a certain bank stepped forward at once. “The Livingstones owe the bank 30 million dollars. I’ll have to press them for it tomorrow.”

“Yikes, they don’t even have any cash flow left. I think we’d better suspend our project with them!”

_

As the saying went, everyone kicked men when they were down. The Livingstones could straight-up declare bankruptcy the next day!

Justin turned his head to the back in satisfaction and looked at Ian.

Just a moment ago, he had sensed murderous intent from Ian. He wondered what the Smiths’ dark forces would do to the Livingstones?

He wanted to ask Ian about it. If his father-in-law wasn’t going to take action, then he would make the arrangements himself.

But unexpectedly, when he looked over, he instead found Ian, who was surrounded by people, looking somewhat distracted.

He was staring hard at the pair of Hearts of the Ocean with an agitated look on his face.

When Cherry ran to Lucy, she had placed the gems in his hands.

The two gems…

He had bought the first Heart of the Ocean and given it to “her” back then…

The trembling Ian raised his head and looked at John, who was standing in front of him. His fingers curled tightly into fists and then he asked hoarsely, “The lady you serve… Who is she?!”