Chapter 861
“What time are we scheduled for tomorrow?”
Claire agreed to the arrangement. After all, it was a gesture of goodwill from the family, and constantly pushing them away would only ruin the mood.
“Nine in the morning. You won’t just be trying on the gown; we need to finalize your hair and makeup, too.”
Fair enough.
After giving her confirmation, Claire hurried off to bed.
When she woke up the next day, it was already eight o’clock.
Thankfully, she still had an hour. She grabbed a comfortable outfit from her closet and headed out the door.
Ophelia waved her over to the dining room for breakfast.
The morning spread at the Churchill estate wasn’t the ostentatious buffet typically associated with billionaire families. It was tailored strictly to their personal tastes, with every dish crafted to perfection.
“Good morning, Ophelia,” Claire greeted her.
Ophelia pushed a glass of milk toward her. “Try this. It was just delivered from the ranch this morning. The creaminess is incredible.”
Claire knew that top-tier elites like the Churchill Family owned their own private agricultural estates. Everything they consumed was sourced from their own land first.
If they didn’t have it, they found a way to produce it.
Only when immediate production was impossible did they look elsewhere.
The Churchill family owned sprawling ranches both domestically and overseas.
The ultra-rich never skimped on themselves.
And now, Claire was one of those filthy rich elites. Naturally, she wasn’t going to turn down a little luxury.
She took a sip of the fresh milk and met Ophelia’s warm, affectionate gaze, giving her a thumbs-up. “The taste is absolutely divine. So rich and smooth.”
“Have as much as you like,” Ophelia smiled, clearly pleased.
“Did Norris tell you? Right after breakfast, we’re heading out to pick your gown.”
Claire nodded. “I really don’t think we need to go all out, but Norris insisted that my first public appearance has to be flawless.”
Ophelia nodded in agreement,
handing her a freshly peeled
hard-boiled egg. “How could we not
go all out? Padgett has been dying
to announce your existence to the world.”
Melissa’s disappearance had been a festering wound for the family, but Claire’s return had been the perfect remedy.
Knowing his granddaughter was
about to attend a prestigious university, Padgett was terrified the
local elites would try to bully her. He was desperate to establish her dominance.
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The entire Churchill family understood his fierce protectiveness, working together
flawlessly to organize the gala.
After breakfast, Claire followed Ophelia to the boutique.
The gowns were beautiful, but Ophelia found herself frowning at the racks.
She had been a loyal client of this establishment for years, but Claire’s natural beauty was so radiant that these dresses almost seemed to pale in comparison.
After some hesitation, Ophelia finally pulled three options.
One was a flawless, pristine white. The second was a dreamy, ethereal blue. The third was a dark, mysterious purple.
All three fit Claire perfectly, but they were just that—perfect fits. They lacked that breathtaking, show-stopping spark.
“Lisa, keep these three on hold for another day,” Ophelia requested.
As a close friend of the studio’s owner and a high-spending VIP, she easily commanded such privileges.
“I want that pearl-embellished gown! I called earlier, and you said it was still available!”
Just as Claire and Ophelia reached the bottom of the stairs, they heard a sharp, demanding voice echoing from the reception desk.
A white gown dripping with hand-sewn pearls? Was she talking about the one Claire had just tried on?
“I apologize, Miss Hunter, but that gown is currently being fitted for another client,”
the receptionist explained with practiced patience.
“How does a client suddenly appear when no one was trying it on before?”
Jocelyn Hunter snapped, clearly displeased.
She had set her sights on that specific dress because she was accompanying a powerful billionaire to a gala the day after tomorrow.
It was her golden ticket to mingle with the absolute zenith of high society, and Jocelyn refused to miss her chance.
“The other clients arrived before you did. If they decide against purchasing the gown, you are more than welcome to try it on.”