Chapter 172
“Or maybe I can postpone the show for a bit and have someone bring you a new dress,” Haynes suggested, trying to keep the peace.
Stella’s expression was icy and sarcastic. “The dress I’m wearing matches Marvin’s show outfit. Haynes, the competition takes priority. Rachel’s little… accident?” A deliberate pause. “That reckoning will come.”
Haynes looked like he wanted to say something but held back, his face hardening. “I’ll pay you ten times the dress’s cost,” he finally said quietly.
Stella couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you think I’m so broke I can’t afford a dress?” Haynes’s gaze was intense. “Or you can name your price.”
Stella glanced around at the onlookers. There were so many people here, and if she really named a price, she couldn’t imagine how Jasper and the O’Brien family would spin it.
Even now, she felt the weight of their stares-their expressions shifting from curiosity to quiet judgment. The whispers? Those she could endure. But she didn’t want Marvin to be affected by her reputation. If word got out that she was money- hungry, it might affect Marvin’s friendships at preschool.
With a wry smile, Stella said, “Haynes, as my husband, it’s one thing not to back me up, but to publicly ask for a price? What are you trying to say, that I’m a gold- digger?”
Haynes’s eyes flickered. “That’s not what I meant. I just want to solve the problem.”
Although it’s often said not to air dirty laundry in public, Stella had already fallen out with Haynes and the O’Brien family, so she didn’t hold back.
“If you really want to solve the problem, why not have someone bring Rachel a new dress instead of me?”
Haynes met her gaze. “Stella, your performance outfit is ruined. Even if you wear Rachel’s, it might not fit. Then why should we both suffer and affect Keen’s competition?”
Stella’s voice was cold. “Haynes, I’ll say it one last time. The one affecting Keen’s competition is Rachel, not me.”
“I know,” Haynes replied, his voice cool. “But this competition is really important to Keen. He’s your son, after all. Are you really not willing to compromise at all for a moment’s anger? After the competition, you can ask for whatever compensation you want.”
Keen’s little face was taut, his small fists clenched.
Just then, a low chuckle came from the crowd.
“Mr. O’Brien, stop trying to guilt-trip Star by using her role as a mom. Or are you implying Keen’s dreams matter more than Marvin’s?”
“As for your money and compensation,” Neville smiled arrogantly, “Do you really think I, Neville, need your tenfold compensation or any of that?”
Jasper couldn’t help but sneer. “If you cared so much about the competition, you shouldn’t have involved Stella. I thought you were forfeiting by asking her.”
Marvin stepped forward, saying, “You can’t talk about Stella like that. She’s amazing!”
Abby scoffed. “A wannabe trying to compete with our Star? Really?”
Jasper lost his cool. “Damn, I’ve seen liars before, but this is shameless. Rachel graduated from Neo-Vespera University, and you think she’s no match for a housewife?!”