Chapter 89 - 87: Who Doesn’t Like a Beauty
She checked the location and saw it was less than 500 meters away from her.
Cecilia Sterling had originally planned to refuse. She was exhausted after working two flights back-to-back today, but it was so close. If Estelle Goodman found out she didn’t come despite being just around the corner, she would surely get an earful.
Sighing in resignation, Cecilia Sterling replied, "Alright, I’ll head over a bit later. Is there a dress code?"
"It’s best to be a little formal, but really, just wear whatever’s comfortable."
Cecilia Sterling smiled at the message. ’I don’t even have to think about it. A high-society party like this will be full of glamorous people. I don’t want to stick out.’
Cecilia Sterling went to the bathroom, ran a hot bath, and soaked with some relaxing essential oils. Afterward, most of her exhaustion had melted away.
She picked up the black, slim-fitting formal dress Lily had given her and stood before the full-length mirror. Holding it up against her body, she couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.
’Lily has great taste. This dress is understatedly luxurious. It isn’t too flashy, but the deep V-neck in the front gives it maximum allure. The stark black against her pearlescent skin created a powerful contrast, making her practically glow.’
Her hairstyle didn’t need to be complicated. She casually swept up her jet-black hair, letting a few wisps fall around her forehead and cheeks to create a look of natural, effortless grace.
Her accessories were even simpler: a delicate chain necklace with a three-dimensional, fully diamond-encrusted, pentagram-shaped pendant about the size of a fingernail. The piece instantly pulled the entire look together.
Cecilia Sterling couldn’t help but admire her own reflection. ’Absolutely stunning!’
She snapped a few flattering photos on her phone and sent them to her sister with a message: "You have great taste! I love it."
She admired her reflection for a little while longer before grabbing the small clutch she’d picked out, a satisfied look on her face as she headed out the door.
Following the GPS directions west, she arrived after a short walk of less than five hundred meters. Hearing the distant din of conversation and seeing the rows upon rows of luxury cars parked along the road, Cecilia Sterling knew she had arrived.
"Estelle, I’m here."
"Honey, I’m still doing my makeup! I’ll have Charles Jennings come get you!"
"Okay, I’m on the side of the road to the right of the main gate."
A steady stream of luxury cars continued to pull in, a testament to the Goodman Family’s extensive network.
Cecilia Sterling waited for less than five minutes before she saw Charles Jennings hurrying out from the main gate, dressed in a white shirt, a black vest, and a bow tie.
He instinctively glanced left and right before his gaze fell, uncertainly, upon Cecilia Sterling.
Beneath his thick lenses, his eyes were filled with uncertainty.
In the end, it was Cecilia Sterling who approached him first, calling out a greeting, "Charles Jennings!"
"Cecilia Sterling?"
He stared at Cecilia, whose appearance had changed so drastically. She was so dazzlingly beautiful that he instinctively took two steps back.
Cecilia, for her part, studied his outfit with amusement. ’He looks like a waiter at a fancy restaurant.’
And she wasn’t wrong. Whenever the Goodman Family hosted these kinds of parties, Charles Jennings, as the driver’s son, would work as one of the servers to earn some extra cash.
Seeing Charles Jennings’s shocked and stunned expression, Cecilia Sterling smiled magnanimously and asked, "Do I look good today?"
Her simple question was enough to make Charles Jennings turn as red as a beet, the blush visibly creeping down to the base of his neck.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. He awkwardly averted his gaze and said, "Uh... she’s still in her room doing her makeup. She asked me to take you inside."
Seeing how easily he got flustered, Cecilia reined in her playful mood and followed him through the main gate.
The spacious front garden was decorated in a warm and romantic style. Flowers and buffet stations were everywhere, laden with a dazzling array of various delicacies. Servers in the same uniform as Charles Jennings, complete with white gloves, moved among the guests with trays.
There were chefs grilling meat live, bartenders mixing drinks—as far as the eye could see, it looked exactly like the high-society parties you see on TV.
And the moment Cecilia Sterling appeared in her black gown, she instantly drew the eyes of many guests.
Her beauty was sharp and clean, clear and flawless. Every single thing about her, from head to toe, down to a single strand of hair, was simply perfect.
But Cecilia simply followed Charles Jennings, oblivious to the stares. They went into the villa and up to the third floor. Just as she reached the landing, she heard wild peals of laughter from a group of girls in a nearby room.
Charles Jennings stopped and turned to the side, deliberately avoiding looking at Cecilia’s face. He kept his head down and said, "It’s that room in there."
"Thank you."
Charles Jennings nodded and practically fled down the stairs. Seeing this, Cecilia couldn’t hold back a laugh.
"What about this one? I bought it but I’ve never worn it!"
Inside the room, piles upon piles of beautiful clothes were strewn across the bed and the floor, making the nearly sixty-square-meter space feel cluttered and cramped.
Estelle Goodman held up a deep blue evening gown in front of her friends, a group of young heiresses, and asked for their opinions.
"I think that one is prettier than the last one."
"Estelle, I’m so jealous you’ve kept your figure so well. You can fit into any gorgeous dress."
"I still prefer the first one, the satin one. It was so light and graceful."
The three impeccably dressed young heiresses responded enthusiastically to Estelle, but their replies only made her more conflicted.
Apparently, having too many clothes wasn’t a good thing. She had been trying to decide for nearly an hour and still hadn’t picked one she was happy with.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Estelle Goodman’s eyes lit up. She knew it had to be Cecilia Sterling!
Tossing aside the dress in her hands, Estelle Goodman ran to get the door. The moment she opened it, she froze on the spot, stunned.
A moment later, she shrieked, "Oh my god, honey, you’re an absolute bombshell!"
With that, she lunged forward and gave Cecilia a huge hug.
Cecilia gave her an exasperated look. Seeing Estelle was still in her silk nightgown, she said, "Weren’t you already doing your makeup? How come you haven’t even changed?"
Estelle’s face instantly fell into a pout. She pulled Cecilia into the room, whining, "You’re just in time! I’ve been trying to choose for an hour and I can’t find anything I like. You have to help me decide!"
The moment Cecilia stepped into the room, the three other girls stood up. Seeing the radiant Cecilia, they all wore subconscious looks of awe.
They were Estelle Goodman’s closest friends, having grown up with her. With similar family backgrounds and worldviews, their little circle had always been very exclusive. They had no idea Estelle had another friend who was so beautiful.
"Estelle, when did you meet such a gorgeous friend?"
"Exactly, we’ve never seen her before."
"Is she one of your classmates?"
One of them ventured a guess, and she was right. It was only when they went off to college that the friend group had been forced to separate, so it wasn’t surprising that Estelle had made new friends.
Hearing her good friends’ comments, Estelle Goodman felt a sense of pride by association. She gave a smug little shake of her head and said, "That’s right. She’s my roommate, Cecilia Sterling. Beautiful, isn’t she?"
The girls all nodded, openly showing their admiration for Cecilia’s beauty.
Who says girls only get jealous of one another? After all, who doesn’t appreciate beauty?