Catherine's expression changed. "What is it? What's wrong with the gown?"
Alfred wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I was getting Miss Serena's evening gown from the storage room, and as I passed through the garden, a pipe suddenly burst. Water sprayed everywhere and got all over the gown."
"It's made of top-grade mulberry silk, and water leaves a very noticeable mark... Even with a rush dry cleaning, it probably can't be restored in time... But... but Miss Serena needs to wear it this afternoon. What are we going to do?"
"What?!" Catherine was both angry and anxious. "How could you be so careless? Aren't the garden pipes regularly maintained? How could one suddenly burst? We have to go to the Blackwood family's home this afternoon, and now the gown is ruined, you..."
Alfred lowered his head in shame. "I've already tried to contact other brands to see if we can get an emergency replacement, but it's too short notice, and finding a gown in Miss Serena's size..."
"I... I don't even know what to say to you!" Catherine pressed a hand to her forehead, fuming.
Even if another brand could rush a dress over, it would be nothing compared to a custom piece by Antonio.
To have Isabella go to the Blackwood family's home for Brianna's coming-of-age party in a custom Antonio gown, while Serena wore a last-minute replacement from another brand...
Even if Serena agreed to it...
She herself couldn't accept it!
Her precious daughter deserved the best in the world!
Sitting on the sofa, looking down at her tablet, Isabella couldn't help but smile to herself.
*Serves her right!*
Serena was always competing with her for everything. Now, even fate couldn't stand it anymore and had decided to punish her!
She had begged her mother for so long before she finally agreed to ask Antonio to design a gown for her.
Who would have known that while arranging it, her mother had also commissioned a custom gown for Serena!
She was the one who had wheedled and begged for it, yet Serena had reaped the benefits too.
See? Now even fate couldn't stand Serena's attitude of getting everything without lifting a finger.
*Hopefully...*
*Fate will go a step further and destroy that gown Nicholas gave Serena too!*
Without a gown, Serena would only embarrass herself at Brianna's party!
Suddenly, Serena's gaze drifted nonchalantly in her direction.
Isabella's body went rigid. The
image of being pinned to the flooet anded in Serena's room""
yesterday flashed through her mind.
She shrank back.
Then she heard Serena's cool tone, tinged with a hint of casual sarcasm, “The garden, huh..."
Isabella's eyes widened.
*The garden?*
*Agnes!*
Agnes was in charge of the back garden now.
Could it be... Agnes was the one who ruined Serena's gown?
Why didn't Agnes discuss this with her first!
Just destroying the gown her mother had custom-made for
Serena was useless. The cruel
Lone
was the... top tier custom piece from YB!
"Mom, it's okay," Serena said, retracting her gaze.
She took Catherine's wrist, giving her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
Catherine's tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
Serena patted her hand. "The gift Nicholas gave me yesterday happens to be a gown. I can just wear that one."
Catherine's face lit up instantly. "Nicholas gave you a gown? That boy is so thoughtful! It seems this was meant to be!"
With that, she pulled Serena toward the stairs "Let's go, let's go! Hurry up
and try it on. I want to see Nicholas's taste Sybilis here too, so we can get your styling done at the same time."