The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 197

“Hah! You can forget about it. It’s never going to happen,” Mrs. Sullivan added.

“Zebulon is Rebecca’s husband. Some people should have the decency not to chase after a married man,” Mrs. Winters chimed in, her confidence soaring.

Rebecca adopted her usual cloying tone. “Penelope, we’re still good friends, right? Here’s my wedding invitation. I really hope you can come. Your blessing would mean the world to me.”

Penelope rolled her eyes. They were really asking for it, weren’t they?

She smiled sweetly and looped her arm through Rebecca’s.

“Of course we’re still friends. That’s why I’ve picked out the perfect engagement ring for you.”

She gestured to a ring she had been looking at. “Look, isn’t it beautiful?”

Rebecca gasped at the large, brilliant diamond, but she suspected the price was astronomical.

“It’s alright, I guess.”

“If I were getting married, this is the one I would choose.”

That was all it took to ignite Rebecca’s competitive spirit.

“Mom, what do you think of this ring?” she asked, showing it to Mrs. Sullivan.

One glance was enough to make Mrs. Sullivan’s face darken. “It’s not nice. It doesn’t suit you.”

“I think it suits her perfectly,” Penelope interjected. “Rebecca’s fingers are so long and fair. This ring looks elegant and expensive on her. But it is quite pricey. Not something the average family could afford.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying the Sullivan family can’t afford one little ring?” Mrs. Sullivan snapped.

Penelope’s face lit up. She turned to Rebecca. “You heard her! She just agreed to buy it for you!”

“When did I agree to that? I…”

“This is the wife of the president of Stone Group! You know, Stone Group, the giants of the architecture and design industry,” Penelope said to the sales associate, cutting Mrs. Sullivan off.

The associate immediately understood. “Oh, of course! It’s a pleasure to meet you, madam.”

Mrs. Sullivan was now on the spot. She suspected a trap but felt she had to maintain her composure.

“The diamond on this ring is too small. It looks cheap.”

“Don’t think that just because you’re marrying into our family, you can spend money recklessly. The Sullivans are known for being frugal.”

Mrs. Winters was not pleased. “My daughter is carrying your family’s heir. What’s wrong with buying her a ring? You’re being so stingy.”

“It’s over a hundred thousand dollars. If you have the money, you buy it.”

“They’re getting married. You should be the one paying.”

“Ten or twenty thousand, fine. Over a hundred thousand, no way.”

“Aren’t the Sullivans supposed to be a wealthy family? And you’re haggling over this?”

“We are wealthy, but there’s a difference between necessary and unnecessary expenses.”

“So buying a ring for my daughter is an unnecessary expense?”

“You said it, not me.”

...