Novel Xo
Chapter 6
Before Atine married into the Murphy family, she was a shining star. There had been a saying that her beauty could stop traffic.
When she decided to leave her career at the peak of her fame to get married, countless fans were left heartbroken. Now, despite nearing fifty, she still looked like she was in her late twenties.
“Mom, do you have a minute? I can’t reach Julia. Can you help me pick out a dress for tonight’s birthday party? You’ve got great taste, and I know you’ll help me find the perfect one, Cassie said sweetly to Anne. In her past life, she missed the chance to reconnect with Anne, but not this time.
Anne stared at Cassie, shocked, as if she was seeing things. For the last few years, Cassie hadn’t called her “Mom” at all.
At the dining table, Lucas and Heston exchanged puzzled glances and looked back and forth between Cassie and Anne. Feeling a bit awkward, Anne managed a half-hearted “Sure.”
If it had been in the past, Cassie would have been upset by that response. But now, she lit up at the agreement. “Awesome! I’ll go change right now,” she said, dashing off with excitement.
“What’s gotten into her? Is she sick?” Lucas asked, looking confused…
“How should I know?” Anne replied, still feeling a bit uneasy. After all, Cassie had never been this close to her before. Hearing “Mom” from her felt almost like a dream,
“Our little girl has grown up.” Heston sighed with tears in his eyes. He wished Cassie could stay young forever so he could always protect her. Yet, at the same time, he wanted her to be strong and free, ready to take on the world.
Cassie’s birthday party was being held at the Murphy family’s estate in the countryside. Since it was her coming-of-age celebration. Heston went all out for her, inviting many high-profile guests from home and abroad.
That was exactly why Julia was determined to make her move today. She wanted Cassie to embarrass herself in front of all those influential people, dragging her from the spotlight into the depths of humiliation.
Julia didn’t show up until the afternoon. She rushed into Cassie’s room with the dress she had carefully picked out for her.
“Cassie, I’m so sorry. I drank way too much last night and just woke up at the hotel. I rushed over to make it in time for the party,” she apologized the moment she walked in. Tve got the perfect dress for you. Get change quickly. The party is about to start
But when Julia finally looked up, she was stunned. Cassie stood there in a dazzling starry gown adorned with sparkling crystals. The lights caught the diamonds, making Cassie shine like a star.
Gone was her usual style. Cassie kept her makeup light, her naturally wavy hair cascading down her back. A diamond- studded headband nestled in her hair added just the right touch Even Julia, who had always disliked Cassie, couldn’t help but think she looked breathtaking.
“You Julia stammered, forcing a smile. She had planned to wear something extravagant to overshadow Ca**ic, but now, thanks to what happened last night, she had to settle for a dress that completely covered her up.
I’ve been looking everywhere for you, so I asked Mom to help me pick out my dress,” Cassie smiled. “She said it looked great, and I really liked it. I won’t bother you with it today.”
Her gaze casually drified to the dress Julia was holding. She didnt need to look closely to know it was something tacky and unflattering
As the heiress of Murphy Group, Cassie attended many galas each year, usually with a professional stylist helping her. But Julia always rushed in, pushing the most outdated clothes on her
Back then, Cassie had been clueless. She genuinely thought the problem was with her, feeling inadequate and self-conscious for not being able to pull off those styles.
“But I do think this dress will look better on you,” Julia insisted.
“Really?” Cassie thought for a while and took Jullia’s dress. “I’ll show it to Mom. You know, she really knows fashion, so asking her is a safe bet.
Julia sn**ed the dress back hastily. “Let’s not bother Anne with this
Even though Julia was desperate to keep Cassie from shining, she knew Anne was sharp and wouldn’t fall for her tricks. She couldn’t let Anne start questioning her intentions.
Julia bit her lip in frustration. Anne has never liked Cassie, and her my creating tension for years, their mother-daughter bond has almost disappeared. How could Anne help Cassie pick out a dress today?
But she regained her composure quickly. The photos are already handled, so what does it matter if Cassie enjoys a moment in the spotlight! The more attention she attracts, the more humiliating it will be when those pictures get out, Julia thought, feeling much better.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.