novelxo Chapter 12
Chapter 12
In an instant, all eyes were on Chloe and Lucas.
Lisa shot Lucas a pointed look. "Has the Moncada family fallen so low that they can't even come up with a decent birthday gift?"
Lucas' face darkened. He had caught a cold from the air conditioning the night before and had been feeling dizzy and groggy since he woke up. So, the task of preparing a gift for Marian had fallen to Chloe. His grandfather had emphasized how crucial this meeting was for them and even said there was no budget limit for the gift. Unexpectedly, Chloe had brought a box of homemade incense as a makeshift gift. If the casualness of the gift offended the Sartori family, the resort project would be dead in the water.
With a stern face, Lucas was about to scold her when Chloe spoke calmly.
"I heard that the reason you came to Riverbrook three years ago, was to rest because you had insomnia. This fragrance I made has soothing and sleep-aiding effects. I hope it can help alleviate your insomnia and headaches."
She had done some research at the office in the afternoon and found out about Marian's insomnia.
Lisa laughed sarcastically. "Isn't it just a spice blend? Don’t make it sound like a miracle cure. If aromatherapy could fix everything, what would we need hospitals for?"
At that moment, the redhead standing by Marian sniffed the edge of Chloe's box. "This isn't the traditional scent of Royal Immersed Rose. It also seems to have a hint of herbal fragrance too."
Chloe spoke indifferently. "I modified the traditional recipe and added several herbs like Acorus and night-blooming jasmine. They help soothe the mind, hence the herbal fragrance."
The redhead smiled at Marian. "Grandma, I quite like this fragrance. If you don’t want it, give it to me."
The redhead was Kaitlyn, Marian's granddaughter, who had also returned from abroad specifically for her grandmother's birthday.
"Who says I don’t like it?" Marian looked at Chloe, gave her a thorough once-over, and then smiled kindly. "Just smelling this fragrance made me feel refreshed. Austin, take the fragrance to my bedroom. Don’t let others get their hands on it."
The butler, Austin, quickly obeyed, carefully taking the box from Kaitlyn's hands and walking away.
Lisa's face stiffened. Her $1.2 million jewelry gift hadn’t even gotten a second glance from Marian. But Chloe's homemade incense had won her favor and was also specially stored away. 'Are these rich people all out of their minds?' Lisa thought to herself.
The gift-giving session continued, but many who had already presented their gifts began to disperse. Lisa felt humiliated and didn't want to stay any longer. She had only taken a few steps when she overheard people talking about her.
"That seems to be the Meadows family's biological daughter, who was found three years ago. I heard she grew up in the countryside."
"No wonder she reeks of rural naivety, flaunting a piece of jewelry and even stating its price. Can’t she see the emerald bracelet on Marian's wrist worth $30 million? Clearly, her necklace is just an entry-level piece from QUEEN. I felt embarrassed for her when she emphasized its price."
"If you’re not from Riverbrook, you wouldn’t know. That lady who brought the incense is the adopted daughter of the Meadows family."
"No wonder. Picking on someone on such an occasion is really low. I thought Mrs. Moncada was quite graceful and elegant, naturally aristocratic. She acts like she was born into wealth."
"Speaking of which, her whatnot incense really smells good. I could smell its high-quality fragrance from far away. Now that’s what I call a top-tier luxury, unlike some people who only know how to talk about prices."
Hearing this, Lisa's fingers turned white. Everyone liked Chloe. But everything about Chloe—her elegance, her composure, her innate nobility—was stolen from Lisa. One day, Lisa vowed to tear off Chloe’s beautifully crafted facade and let everyone see her true face.