Chapter 55
Chapter 55
As Niamh drew closer, she finally saw the crowd clearly–men in tailored suits, women in glamorous evening gowns.
It was obviously a cocktail party.
A few guests had already noticed Niamh, since she was the only one dressed in a plain T–shirt and jeans.
“Oh my god, Niamh, what on earth are you wearing?”
Marina, always quick to spot anything out of place, gasped the instant.she saw Niamh. She strode over in her high heels, coming to stand face–to–face with her.
Tonight, Marina wore the latest Elie Saab couture–a blush silk gown covered in Swarovski crystals, elegant and ethereal.
Next to Niamh, dressed in denim, the difference was glaring.
“Why even bother talking to her?” Preston Winslow joined Marina, looking Niamh up and down with obvious disdain.
“This is an important event. Did you show up like this just to embarrass Jonathan?” “Preston, don’t say that,” Marina said softly, coming to Niamh’s defense. “Niamh
isn’t like that at all.”
“She’s out there working on her own, cut off from the Thomas family’s money. How could she possibly afford a dress for an event like this?”
Marina’s face, perfectly made up like a porcelain doll, radiated “sincere” concern. She even reached for Niamh’s hand, but Niamh sidestepped her gesture.
“Niamh, if you ever need anything, just let me know. It’s only a dress–I have so many that Jonathan’s bought for me. You can pick whatever you like.”
Marina’s performance was so transparent it made Niamh sick. She turned to leave, but Preston blocked her path.
“Marina’s being so generous, and you can’t even say thank you? No wonder Jonathan’s always saying you lack basic manners.”
Among the guests, Peter and Julian were watching from across the room.
Peter was here representing FY, while Julian, as the new CEO of Neville Media Group, had been invited as a guest. Neither of them expected to run into Niamh
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tonight.
If it had just been Marina cornering Niamh, it might have been manageable. But with Preston–the big, broad–shouldered Preston–standing in the way as well, both men exchanged a look and instinctively started moving to help Niamh.
Preston was still peacocking in front of her when, suddenly, someone grabbed him by the collar.
“Jonathan?”
When Marina saw who it was, she hurried over and clung to Jonathan’s arm.
Jonathan gave Niamh the same up–and–down look as Preston, but his gaze was sharper, colder.
“So you want a divorce, but you’re happy to show up here and play lady of the house?”
His voice was as cool and biting as ever, the sarcasm unmistakable.
“Her? Lady of the house?” Preston scoffed. “She looks more like the hired help to me.”
Niamh couldn’t be bothered to answer him. She knew her outfit was plain, nowhere near as glamorous as Marina’s, but she didn’t care.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Marigold.
Marigold happened to glance her way too. The instant their eyes met, Marigold looked away, guilt written all over her face.
Niamh was only at the manor tonight because Marigold had called her, saying their grandfather wasn’t feeling well and that the house was out of medicine, asking Niamh to pick some up.
There were nurses and staff at the house, of course. But because it was about her grandfather, Niamh hadn’t refused.
Now she saw it for what it was–Marigold had set her up. She’d asked Niamh to come at just this time, so she’d stand out in her casual clothes next to Marina’s
couture.
Niamh just shrugged and smiled, unfazed.
“I like my jeans and T–shirts. It’s none of your business. Besides, I’m not here for your party–your mother asked me to bring medicine for Grandpa.”
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She directed her words at Jonathan, while Preston just waved her off dismissively.
