"Mommy! You look so beautiful today, you're definitely going to catch Daddy's eye," Otto exclaimed with more enthusiasm than anyone else. He ran over to Crystal Foster, grabbing her hand with a bright smile.
Crystal's face turned a deep shade of red. Kids really do speak their minds, she thought, as people around them covered their mouths to hide their laughter.
They had heard about Sylvia Byrne and Martin Riley's situation. Rumor had it that they were forced into marriage and didn't get along well. There were also whispers that Sylvia was arrogant and lacked manners, always thinking she was better than others.
But seeing her now, they realized how misleading those rumors were. Sylvia was poised and graceful, speaking softly and charming with every smile and gesture. She was nothing like the unpleasant person people had described.
Most importantly, if Martin really disliked Sylvia, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to have them style her and bring all the latest dresses from the store. Such thoughtful treatment clearly showed he intended to take Sylvia to the party. If this was what dislike looked like, then love must not exist in this world.
"Ma'am, there's no need to be shy. Even I, as a woman, can't take my eyes off you, let alone Mr. Riley. Would you like to try on some other dresses?" the stylist suggested.
Crystal looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was indeed stunning, but she had heard that tonight's event was the birthday party of Martin's business partner's wife. Wearing something so eye-catching might overshadow the guest of honor. Plus, she preferred to keep a low profile.
"Let me try that black one," she said, pointing to a simple dress.
The stylist followed her gaze and saw the plain black dress, thinking it was nowhere near as impressive as the one Crystal was wearing.
"Ma'am, this dress..." The stylist hesitated, thinking Crystal's choice might not be the best.
"Since it's someone else's birthday party, it's better to be understated. I'll try this one," Crystal said with an unchanged smile, nodding at the stylist and joking with them.
"Next time it's my turn to host, I won't have to hold back. I'll need all of you to help me steal the show," Crystal Foster said, sparking lively chatter in the room. She took her dress into the fitting room, while little Otto's eyes twinkled with mischief. He tiptoed over to the stylist, hooking her finger with his own and whispered softly.
"Pretty lady, I want to buy the dress Mommy is wearing. Let Daddy pay for it."
The dress was so beautiful; he wanted Daddy to see just how stunning Mommy could be.
"Don't tell Mommy. Once it's ready, sneak it to me. I want to surprise her."The adorable little charmer, standing on his toes and looking up, melted everyone's hearts instantly. They wished they could take Otto home and keep him forever. A family that could raise such a sweet child must be full of love.
The black dress was simple, with just a few pearls decorating the back. But Crystal's figure was perfect, with curves in all the right places and skin as fair as snow. Even without a smile, she exuded an air of authority, like a noble lady. The plain dress transformed into something elegant and alluring on her.
"This is the one. Please help me with the makeup," she requested.
The makeup matched the dress, giving off a cool and sophisticated vibe. With bold red lips and a commanding presence, just standing there made people feel a sense of awe.
"Mommy looks so cool!" Otto cheered, clapping his little hands with excitement, his cheeks flushed with enthusiasm.
---
When Martin Riley saw Crystal Foster, he was momentarily dazed. His gaze seemed distant, as if he was looking through her at someone else. He sat in the car, appearing a bit sad.
Crystal felt uneasy under Martin's stare. She glanced down at herself, puzzled. She had checked before leaving the house, and everything seemed perfectly fine.
"Ahem, get in the car," Martin Riley cleared his throat to mask his emotions, turning his head away to avoid looking at her.Crystal Foster lifted her dress and got into the car. After a moment's thought, she scooted over to create some distance between herself and Martin.
The ride was silent, and Crystal couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Martin today, but she chose not to ask.
Once they got out of the car, Crystal took the initiative to link her arm with Martin's, her smile warm and graceful.
"Mr. Riley is here, and who might that be with him?"
Hazel Morgan was chatting with someone when she heard the remark. She turned around, and her smile froze.
How did that woman get here? And why was she so close to Martin?
She reassured herself that Crystal must have insisted on coming, leaving Martin no choice but to bring her along.
Regaining her composure, Hazel nodded politely to the person she was speaking with. "Excuse me, I need to go say hello. We'll continue our conversation later."
With a graceful step, Hazel walked toward Martin, holding the hem of her silver gown.
"You're here. There are a few partners over there. Let's go say hello," she suggested, feigning surprise. "Oh, sorry, I didn't notice Sylvia. We need to talk to our friends about work first."
Martin frowned instinctively. The name "Sylvia" didn't sit well with him.Hazel shot a challenging glance at Crystal, expecting her to get angry and be dismissed by Martin. To her surprise, Crystal seemed unfazed by the name and instead moved closer to Martin.
"Work is important, go ahead. I'll wait here for you," Crystal Foster said, watching Martin Riley and Hazel Morgan leave. Once they were out of sight, she looked at Hazel's back with disdain. Did Hazel really think she was that naive? Using such obvious tricks on her was insulting.
She wondered if Martin was aware of Hazel's intentions.
"Sylvia seems to be attending the party for the first time. I wonder if she's comfortable being alone?" Hazel asked casually, her tone perfectly measured as if she genuinely cared about Sylvia Byrne.
Martin's frown deepened. "Hazel, she's my wife."
Hazel's face turned pale. Martin's message was clear—using "Sylvia" displeased him.
"Sorry, my mistake. It won't happen again," Hazel said, clenching her fists to keep her emotions in check, maintaining her smile.
"Let's go and greet everyone," she suggested.
Inside, Hazel was fuming and hurt. She accepted every drink offered to her, one after another, her cheeks soon flushed with a rosy hue.
Martin took the glass from her hand. "She's had too much to drink. I'll help her sit down for a bit. Excuse us."Hazel stumbled alongside Martin, leaning her full weight on him, a smile playing on her lips as she inhaled his scent.
Meanwhile, Crystal stood alone in the corner, using a pillar for cover while observing the partygoers. When her gaze landed on a particular scene, she snorted, set her wine glass down, and asked a nearby server for a glass of yogurt. With that, she headed toward Martin and Hazel.