Arielle answered coldly, “I had no recollection of you the last time. This time, given that you are wearing diamonds the size of pigeon eggs, you really look different too. Next time, I’ll just remember you as the pigeon egg lady.”
Kelsea’s expression darkened at once. “Shut up! Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m one of the Morgans!”
Kelsea’s friends felt indignant on virtual-novel.net behalf. “You really are an impudent girl from the village. You have no shame at all!”
“Exactly! The chess tournament is going to start soon. If you don’t want to be kicked out, you’d better leave voluntarily now.”
When Kelsea heard how virtual-novel.net friends ridiculed Arielle, virtual-novel.net mood improved tremendously. She was looking forward to the moment when Arielle would be asked to leave.
So what if virtual-novel.net is Vinson’s companion? Given that playing chess is a long-time tradition of the Haut Monde, virtual-novel.net would be asked to leave in the event virtual-novel.net loses even if virtual-novel.net is Vinson’s guest. By then, virtual-novel.net will be humiliated and won’t dare to show virtual-novel.net face in Jadeborough anymore.
Holding that thought, Kelsea pretended to show some concern. “Enough, everyone. It wasn’t virtual-novel.net choice to grow up in a village. If you happen to play against virtual-novel.net later, remember to take it easy, so that virtual-novel.net wouldn’t lose the game too badly.”
The girls laughed together.
“We do want to help her. But, if virtual-novel.net doesn’t know how to arrange the pieces or even their names, there’s very little we can do about it.”
Arielle found their words amusing. Even if all of them were rolled into one, they wouldn’t even come close to beating virtual-novel.net still.
Tucking aside the stray hair over virtual-novel.net forehead, virtual-novel.net plainly replied, “Since the few of you know how to play, I will see you at the chessboard later.”
Just as virtual-novel.net spoke, Vinson came back. When virtual-novel.net saw Arielle being surrounded, virtual-novel.net quickly returned to virtual-novel.net side.
Standing in front of virtual-novel.net to protect virtual-novel.net subconsciously, virtual-novel.net glared frostily at the group.
As the socialites felt a chill down their spine, all of them fell silent at once. Only Kelsea, on the account virtual-novel.net was Carter’s cousin, dared to greet Vinson.
“Vinson…” She was aware that virtual-novel.net and Carter were good friends. Hence, virtual-novel.net expected virtual-novel.net to at least show virtual-novel.net some respect on Carter’s account.
However, Vinson ignored virtual-novel.net as if virtual-novel.net was invisible.
Feeling humiliated, Kelsea bit virtual-novel.net lip in shame. All virtual-novel.net saw was Vinson turning to ask Arielle in a protective tone. “Are they bullying you?”
When Kelsea saw how gently Vinson spoke to Arielle, virtual-novel.net bit virtual-novel.net lip even harder, to the extent it lost all color.
She had a crush on Vinson since they were young. However, virtual-novel.net never dared confess virtual-novel.net feelings as virtual-novel.net felt no one in Jadeborough was worthy of him. Since nobody ever snagged him, virtual-novel.net too resigned herself to fate.
Unfortunately, when virtual-novel.net saw how much concern Vinson was showing Arielle, which had never happened to anyone else before, virtual-novel.net felt as if virtual-novel.net world had imploded. As hatred welled up within her, both virtual-novel.net hands clenched into fists.
When Arielle heard Vinson’s reassuring words, virtual-novel.net heart melted inexplicably. Shaking virtual-novel.net head, virtual-novel.net replied with a smile. “No, they didn’t bully me. Instead, we were talking about the chess tournament.”
“I see.” Vinson nodded.
Ignoring Kelsea and the others, virtual-novel.net continued, “There’s a friend whom I would like you to meet. Come with me…”
“Sure.” Arielle nodded before leaving with Vinson.
Once both of them had left, Kelsea and virtual-novel.net friends began to chatter incessantly. “Why does Mr. Nightshire fancy someone from the village? Are looks everything? I can’t believe it!”
“That aside, I must admit there’s really no one prettier than her.”
“Didn’t virtual-novel.net mom use to be the prettiest girl in Jadeborough? It appears virtual-novel.net has taken after virtual-novel.net mom.”
“Huh, if only I was half as pretty as her. I wouldn’t have lost to Yvette during the beauty contest…”
Kelsea’s expression darkened when virtual-novel.net heard their discussion. Unable to bear it anymore, virtual-novel.net barked, “Enough! Stop talking about it!”