Chapter 244
As these memories resurfaced, a bittersweet sensation welled up in Belinda. If Joyce were still alive, she would undoubtedly be thrilled to see her so vibrant and alive.
“Belinda, I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me?” Maggie’s voice snapped Belinda out of her reverie. She glared at her. “Are you deaf?”
“Maggie,” Kristopher interjected with a frown. “I asked her to try it on. Remember, she’s attending the ceremony tomorrow evening.”
Maggie was aware of Kristopher’s invitation to Belinda. Upon hearing his reminder, she let out a derisive snort. “Kristopher, she’s your ex-wife. It’s one thing to invite her to the ceremony, but letting her try on such a dress?”
The dress Belinda wore was the boutique’s crown jewel, the most expensive item they had. Maggie and Cathy had only dared admire it from afar. Yet here was Belinda, not just browsing in this upscale store but also trying on its most costly garment!
“Not only that,” Belinda replied, smoothing her short hair and giving Maggie a mocking look. “Mr. Cox even mentioned that if I liked it, he would let me have it.”
Maggie’s eyes widened in shock. “Kristopher, are you out of your mind?” As far as Maggie knew, during the three years that Belinda and Kristopher were married, he had never presented Belinda with anything particularly valuable. Yet now, following their separation, he seemed prepared to gift her such an extravagant dress?
Kristopher met Maggie’s gaze with indifference, his expression unbothered by her astonishment. “It’s merely a dress.” He paused shortly and explained further, “While we were together, I gave Belinda gifts that were even more costly than this. She simply chose not to make a show of it.”
“But this is the most expensive piece!” Maggie protested. “Cathy and I didn’t even dare to try it on, worried about the cost.” She turned her glare sharply toward Belinda. “I never thought you would be so cheeky!”
Belinda, poised in front of the mirror adjusting the ruby embellishments on her dress, ignored Maggie’s scornful look. “If you were genuinely concerned about your brother’s finances, you wouldn’t be here shopping for expensive dresses. Every piece in this boutique costs multiple times more than those found in regular stores. You know this as well as I do. You exploit your brother’s generosity, yet you dare to judge me?”
Maggie’s face flushed with fury. She was not accustomed to Belinda confronting her so directly. “I am his sister! It’s perfectly acceptable for him to spend on me. Unlike you — you’re his ex-wife! Yet you’re still sponging off him after the divorce. How shameless!”
Cathy stepped in, her voice soft but firm, hoping to sway the conversation. “Miss Nelson, when you and Kristopher divorced, you walked away with nothing, which led us to believe you were indifferent to material wealth. Why the sudden interest in this dress? During the divorce, you seemed so detached — was it all just an act for the live stream, to maintain your public image?” She sighed, her expression a blend of frustration and disappointment. “Miss Nelson, is this really necessary? You project an image of someone who isn’t interested in money, yet your actions suggest otherwise.”
Cathy’s voice carried a note of resignation. “Kristopher still harbors guilt over how things ended between you two and tolerates much from you. Anyone else might face harsh criticism for such behavior…”
Belinda’s expression darkened as she couldn’t help but admire Cathy’s skill in twisting the truth. Cathy was clueless about what had really happened between Belinda and Kristopher, yet she had no trouble portraying Belinda as a woman shamelessly seeking favors from her ex.