The parent Irene had been talking to noticed the tension between them and swiftly took her leave. With the woman gone, Irene faced Elsie with her hands clasped in front of her and asked politely, "How may I help you, Elsie Lancaster?"
Elsie did not know Irene much, but when someone called her by her full name like that, it couldn't be anything good.
"I—I… T-the thing is…" Elsie found herself stammering at Irene's intimidating stare. Unlike her, Zara was so easy to win over. The woman practically worshipped her. But not Irene. So far, sweet-talking was not Irene's style.
So she took the alternative her mother had offered and said at once, "Your dress is stunning, Irene. I love it. And it's so nice that we are both in red. The media might even think we are mother and daughter." She flattered her.
"Thank the gods we are not mother and daughter. Even my younger daughters know not to be as foolish as you," Irene callously said.
