Chapter 543: You’re the One Who Truly Fits
And as for the lower half, the dress had only two thin panels, with high slits. The slightest bend forward, and everything would be exposed.
The design itself wasn’t bad, but it was absolutely unsuitable for a formal occasion.
Selina gave a half-smile. "Miss Paula likes it? Such unusual taste."
Paula wasn’t annoyed. She pretended to be innocent. "I think this dress would definitely show off your figure. It’s mature, seductive, and really suits your temperament. Don’t you think?"
Really suits her temperament?
Selina could easily tell what Paula was implying. She let out a light laugh. "Miss Paula, you’re tall and strikingly beautiful. Surely it would suit you even more."
Paula ground her teeth hard.
Everyone knew Paula’s looks were at best "average." She forced down her anger and spoke in a tone of helplessness:
"Oh, I do like it, but I was born into Country Y’s royal family. So many people are watching me, and there are endless rules. I don’t have the freedom to dress as I like."
With a look of regret, she continued, "Honestly, I really envy you, Miss Clark. No one controls you, no one forces you to study etiquette every single day. But me? It’s different. There are countless rules in the royal family, and I am a duke’s daughter. You, however..."
"You don’t have all those restrictions. Take this dress, for instance—I could never wear it as a duke’s daughter of the royal family. But you can. I can already picture how stunning you’ll look in it tomorrow."
She sighed. "Please forgive me. I’m just far too envious of your freedom."
Hearing this, Selina set down what she was holding and laughed outright.
"You envy my freedom?"
Paula was about to put on another helpless smile, but before she could speak, Selina interrupted her.
"Is it really envy? Or are you just flaunting how many privileges you have as a royal? You know the truth yourself."
"You—!"
Selina tilted her head slightly. "Miss Paula, there’s a saying in Country M: Why don’t they eat minced meat porridge? Of course, that doesn’t quite apply to you. After all, you’re fully aware of your own identity and power, and yet you still choose to debase yourself."
"Selina!" Paula’s voice rose in anger.
Others nearby had already started looking over, while Selina remained calm and collected.
"But I do agree with one thing you said. As a member of the royal family, you definitely can’t wear this kind of dress to an event."
Selina lifted the red dress high, making sure everyone around could see it clearly.
Paula sighed dramatically, but in reality, she was showing off. "Miss Clark, are you jealous of me? I know you are—just like everyone else. You all think that because I’m royalty, I have endless resources at my disposal. But what I desire most is freedom..."
"Jealous?" Selina sneered. "Miss Paula, you give yourself too much credit. I just think that, even though you were born into royalty, you’d do better not to act so arrogantly. Don’t you agree?"
Paula had only pretended to be gentle to bait Selina, but now she could hardly keep up the act. "Who says I’m arrogant! And even if I am—"
"Yes, you’re royalty, so naturally you think you have the right to look down on others. But don’t you think you’re a bit too full of yourself? Even the royal family of Country Y has no reason to dismiss Reid Group or SL Group, isn’t that true?"
"The Queen of Country Y herself made the decision to cooperate with Reid Group, and your princess cousin is in charge of that very project. That alone proves how much the royal family values Reid Group. And as for SL Group—if I’m not mistaken, plenty of Country Y’s industries partner with SL, including the very tea your royal family drinks every year, which also comes from SL."
"If neither the Queen nor the Princess looks down on Reid Group or SL, then what gives you, a mere duke’s daughter, the right to do so?"
As soon as Selina finished speaking, displeased looks were already being cast her way.
Everyone felt Paula was being unreasonable.
So what if she was royalty from Country Y? Did that mean Country Y’s royal family could simply look down on others?
And the ones she was belittling were Reid Group and SL Corporation. People weren’t exaggerating—Country Y was a small nation, and much of its trade depended on Country M. If those two powerful conglomerates were truly offended and decided to pull out their investments, whether Paula could go on living her so-called "princess life" was very much in question.
Paula felt as though a huge pot had been slammed down on her head. "I never said I was looking down on Reid Group and SL! Don’t slander me!"
"Didn’t you?"
Selina gave the red dress a little shake. "Then tell me, everyone—what kind of occasion is this dress meant for?"
The crowd turned to look at the dress, falling silent.
This wasn’t a proper gown at all. It was the kind of thing one wore to a nightclub—or what a mistress might wear.
The wealthy liked their amusements; many men and women were their playthings. They enjoyed dressing up their lovers in this kind of clothing, parading them around to look sultry. The more seductive, the better.
But such an outfit could never be worn by Mrs. Reid or the chairwoman of SL.
Otherwise, wouldn’t that be suggesting Mrs. Reid was there to sell her charms? That the chairwoman of SL was nothing more than eye candy?
Paula forced herself to stay calm. "Miss Clark, I just thought this dress suited you. Why are you dragging in such lofty reasoning—"
"Lofty reasoning? Not at all."
Selina’s tone was unhurried. "Miss Paula, you already knew I was Mrs. Reid, and also the chairwoman of SL. Yet you still suggested I wear something like this to a formal occasion. Isn’t that the same as saying SL Corporation and Reid Group are nothing but a joke, only fit for display?"
Paula’s face suddenly changed, her furious eyes boring into Selina. Her mind buzzed—
Chairwoman of SL?!
She had known Selina was Mrs. Reid, which was why she tried to insult her. But she hadn’t expected that Selina was also the chairwoman of SL!
Grinding her teeth, Paula said, "Miss Clark, please don’t twist my words. I never meant to look down on Reid Group or SL. I only thought this dress would be humiliating on me, so—"
"So it would be humiliating on you, but not humiliating on me?" Selina’s eyes turned cold as she lifted her gaze. "Or was your real intention to make me look like a fool?"
Paula’s throat caught.
Because yes—that had been exactly her plan!
If Selina wore that dress to the event, tomorrow’s headlines would read ’Mrs. Reid Flaunts Herself Shamelessly.’ Then Brother Logan would never want her again!
"I—I didn’t mean..."
"What’s going on here?" Amelia walked over with a smile, ready to take the chance to mock Selina, but she hadn’t expected Logan to come over too.
Logan inclined his head. "Picked one out?"
"I did." Selina tilted her head slightly. "But Miss Paula also recommended me a dress. Logan, take a look."
Paula’s heart dropped. "No—"
Before she could finish, Selina had already handed the dress to Logan with swift precision.
The man’s face instantly darkened. "This is the dress you picked out for Selina?"
Paula felt wronged. "Brother Logan, why are you being so harsh with me? I was only joking with Selina..."
Amelia chimed in quickly, "Yes, Paula didn’t mean any harm. Selina, you’re just overthinking things."
Selina’s lips curved slightly. "If Mrs. Perry feels Miss Paula had no malicious intent, then why don’t you wear this dress instead?"
Amelia’s smile froze in place.