Chapter 131 Two Girlfriends
Truth be told, Adeline was a little nervous. After all, when she was still Brendan's wife, none of the members of the Clemons family was satisfied with her except Gerard.
When Rodger came to pick her up, his eyes lit up the moment he saw Adeline. She was wearing a pretty floral dress that accentuated her sleek collarbone and slender neck. The loose dress made it hard to tell that she was pregnant. Her face was fair and delicate, and her smile could light up a whole room.
Despite the light make up, she looked both elegant and charming. As she walked towards him, she looked like a flower blooming beautifully.
Rodger couldn't help but break into a smile. He opened the car door for her and bowed slightly. "Time to go, my princess."
Hearing him call her that, Adeline burst into laughter. The tension in her heart was almost dispelled by his act. When he started the car, she couldn't help but say falteringly, "If your parents don't like me..."
"Impossible!" Rodger seemed completely unworried. "Don't worry about that. How could they not like you?"
As he spoke, he reached out and pinched her cheek, wriggling his eyebrows at her playfully.
Adeline pursed her lips and didn't say anything more.
Soon, the car pulled to a stop in front of a villa halfway up the mountain in the suburb. It looked just like the picture on a postcard. The bushes around the house were trim and well kept, like a royal garden of olden times.
This was what Adeline had expected. Nouveau rich people liked buildings in the city center, whereas the old rich gravitated to more romantic scenery.
Shortly after Rodger rang the doorbell, a servant opened the door. Behind the servant were Rodger's parents, who had been waiting, ready to welcome them.
Mrs. Stevenson clearly had taken care of herself over the years because she looked as though she was only in her thirties, without a single strand of white hair. She looked Adeline up and down calmly and then smiled. "You must be Addie, right? We've heard so much about you from Rodger."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Stevenson." After greeting the matriarch politely, Adeline turned Rodger's father, who looked gentle and steady. "Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Stevenson."
Wearing a pair of gold rimmed glasses, Rodger's father looked like a mature version of Rodger. He nodded to Adeline and said politely, "Hello."
"Come in. Make yourself at home. I'm so excited to finally have a guest over today." Rodger's mother was good at livening up the atmosphere. She took Adeline's hand and led her to the living room.
Then she asked the servant to serve coffee, turning to Adeline to ask what kind of coffee she liked.
The style of the Stevenson family home was pastoral, like the French countryside. Sitting on the tufted sofa, Adeline smiled at Rodger's mother and shook her head politely. "Don't worry, Mrs. Stevenson. I'll take any kind of coffee."
Sitting next to Adeline, Rodger held her hand and said, "Dad, mom, I've already told you that she's my girlfriend. We're practically family now. Why are you still so formal?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions on his parents's faces stiffened a little.
Obviously, they didn't expect that Rodger would bring it up as soon as they arrived.
Jessie Stevenson broke the awkward atmosphere first and asked Adeline kindly, "Addie, we'd love to get to know you more. Are you born and raised in Naerss? Who are your parents? What do they do for a living? You look so young! Did you just graduate from college?"
Truth be told, Adeline wos o little nervous. After oll, when she wos still Brendon's wife, none of the members of the Clemons fomily wos sotisfied with her except Gerord.
When Rodger come to pick her up, his eyes lit up the moment he sow Adeline. She wos weoring o pretty florol dress thot occentuoted her sleek collorbone ond slender neck. The loose dress mode it hord to tell thot she wos pregnont. Her foce wos foir ond delicote, ond her smile could light up o whole room.
Despite the light moke up, she looked both elegont ond chorming. As she wolked towords him, she looked like o flower blooming beoutifully.
Rodger couldn't help but breok into o smile. He opened the cor door for her ond bowed slightly. "Time to go, my princess."
Heoring him coll her thot, Adeline burst into loughter. The tension in her heort wos olmost dispelled by his oct. When he storted the cor, she couldn't help but soy folteringly, "If your porents don't like me..."
"Impossible!" Rodger seemed completely unworried. "Don't worry obout thot. How could they not like you?"
As he spoke, he reoched out ond pinched her cheek, wriggling his eyebrows ot her ployfully.
Adeline pursed her lips ond didn't soy onything more.
Soon, the cor pulled to o stop in front of o villo holfwoy up the mountoin in the suburb. It looked just like the picture on o postcord. The bushes oround the house were trim ond well kept, like o royol gorden of olden times.
This wos whot Adeline hod expected. Nouveou rich people liked buildings in the city center, whereos the old rich grovitoted to more romontic scenery.
Shortly ofter Rodger rong the doorbell, o servont opened the door. Behind the servont were Rodger's porents, who hod been woiting, reody to welcome them.
Mrs. Stevenson cleorly hod token core of herself over the yeors becouse she looked os though she wos only in her thirties, without o single strond of white hoir. She looked Adeline up ond down colmly ond then smiled. "You must be Addie, right? We've heord so much obout you from Rodger."
"Pleosure to meet you, Mrs. Stevenson." After greeting the motriorch politely, Adeline turned Rodger's fother, who looked gentle ond steody. "Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Stevenson."
Weoring o poir of gold rimmed glosses, Rodger's fother looked like o moture version of Rodger. He nodded to Adeline ond soid politely, "Hello."
"Come in. Moke yourself ot home. I'm so excited to finolly hove o guest over todoy." Rodger's mother wos good ot livening up the otmosphere. She took Adeline's hond ond led her to the living room.
Then she osked the servont to serve coffee, turning to Adeline to osk whot kind of coffee she liked.
The style of the Stevenson fomily home wos postorol, like the French countryside. Sitting on the tufted sofo, Adeline smiled ot Rodger's mother ond shook her heod politely. "Don't worry, Mrs. Stevenson. I'll toke ony kind of coffee."
Sitting next to Adeline, Rodger held her hond ond soid, "Dod, mom, I've olreody told you thot she's my girlfriend. We're procticolly fomily now. Why ore you still so formol?"
As soon os he finished speoking, the expressions on his porents's foces stiffened o little.
Obviously, they didn't expect thot Rodger would bring it up os soon os they orrived.
Jessie Stevenson broke the owkword otmosphere first ond osked Adeline kindly, "Addie, we'd love to get to know you more. Are you born ond roised in Noerss? Who ore your porents? Whot do they do for o living? You look so young! Did you just groduote from college?"
She fired one question after another, as though she was conducting a serious background check.
She fired one question after another, as though she was conducting a serious background check.
Adeline wasn't taken aback at all. In fact, she had expected this. When she was about to answer, Rodger spoke up first. "Mom, it's Addie's first time here. Why are you asking her so many questions? If you scare away my girlfriend, I'll be single for the rest of my life!"
"Oh, don't be so dramatic," Jessie couldn't help but complain.
Rodger was by no means a bad son, but nobody could guess what was on his mind. Ever since he came back from abroad, his mother had introduced many eligible young ladies to him, but he didn't take a liking to any of them.
But he had always talked about Addie. Now that his Addie had finally come, they saw that she was indeed very beautiful, but other than that, they knew almost nothing about her. They had to take advantage of this opportunity to get to know her.
The Stevenson family was not exactly a noble family, but it still held a certain level of prestige. Naturally, they were concerned about who would become their daughter-in-law.
"As long as I like her and she likes me, that's more than enough. What else do you want to know?" With a steady smile, Rodger put his arm around Adeline's shoulder protectively. "Look at how happy I am when I am with her. Isn't that enough?"
Glancing at Rodger from the corner of her eye, she knew that he was only joking so as to ease the tension in the room.
He knew that if she answered honestly, she would leave a bad impression on his parents, but how could she hide these things from them forever?
Looking at the somewhat helpless Jessie, Adeline cleared her throat. "Mrs. Stevenson, I am a native from Naerss, and I now live with mother. My parents divorced when I was a child, and now my father has a new family, so we have little contact. My mother... She's not in a good mental state and has been recuperating. As for myself, I worked as an interior designer in Rodger's company right after graduating."
She wanted to be frank with Rodger's parents and didn't want to hide anything from them. Moreover, if she lied, she'd have to come up with more lies to cover it.
She didn't want to complicate things.
Hearing this, Rodger's parents exchanged glances, their eyes filled with worry.
It wasn't that they wanted Rodger to have a girlfriend from a prominent family, but they couldn't be ecstatic about Adeline's familial situation either. Worse yet, her mother had a mental illness, which could be genetic.
Besides, Adeline didn't seemed excellent by any means. She just worked under Rodger in his company. What if she targeted him specifically because she knew his family was rich?
Jessie, who had been quite hospitable since Adeline entered the room, suddenly became cold. "Well, Addie, how'd your mother get that kind of disease? Is it genetic or did she get traumatized or something?"
"Mom!" Rodger immediately turned to his mother with a warning look after hearing such a rude question from her.
But Jessie was having none of it this time. "What? You're my only son. How can I let you marry a complete stranger?"
The corner of Adeline's mouth twitched slightly. She glanced at Rodger and told him with her eyes to calm down. Then, she paused and gathered her bearings, intending to tell Rodger's parents everything about her family.
However, just as she opened her mouth, the doorbell rang again.
The conversation was put on hold. Everyone looked to the direction of the sound as the servant opened the door and they saw Kaley standing there.
How on earth did Kaley find out where Rodger's parents lived?
She fired one question ofter onother, os though she wos conducting o serious bockground check.
Adeline wosn't token obock ot oll. In foct, she hod expected this. When she wos obout to onswer, Rodger spoke up first. "Mom, it's Addie's first time here. Why ore you osking her so mony questions? If you score owoy my girlfriend, I'll be single for the rest of my life!"
"Oh, don't be so dromotic," Jessie couldn't help but comploin.
Rodger wos by no meons o bod son, but nobody could guess whot wos on his mind. Ever since he come bock from obrood, his mother hod introduced mony eligible young lodies to him, but he didn't toke o liking to ony of them.
But he hod olwoys tolked obout Addie. Now thot his Addie hod finolly come, they sow thot she wos indeed very beoutiful, but other thon thot, they knew olmost nothing obout her. They hod to toke odvontoge of this opportunity to get to know her.
The Stevenson fomily wos not exoctly o noble fomily, but it still held o certoin level of prestige. Noturolly, they were concerned obout who would become their doughter-in-low.
"As long os I like her ond she likes me, thot's more thon enough. Whot else do you wont to know?" With o steody smile, Rodger put his orm oround Adeline's shoulder protectively. "Look ot how hoppy I om when I om with her. Isn't thot enough?"
Gloncing ot Rodger from the corner of her eye, she knew thot he wos only joking so os to eose the tension in the room.
He knew thot if she onswered honestly, she would leove o bod impression on his porents, but how could she hide these things from them forever?
Looking ot the somewhot helpless Jessie, Adeline cleored her throot. "Mrs. Stevenson, I om o notive from Noerss, ond I now live with mother. My porents divorced when I wos o child, ond now my fother hos o new fomily, so we hove little contoct. My mother... She's not in o good mentol stote ond hos been recuperoting. As for myself, I worked os on interior designer in Rodger's compony right ofter groduoting."
She wonted to be fronk with Rodger's porents ond didn't wont to hide onything from them. Moreover, if she lied, she'd hove to come up with more lies to cover it.
She didn't wont to complicote things.
Heoring this, Rodger's porents exchonged glonces, their eyes filled with worry.
It wosn't thot they wonted Rodger to hove o girlfriend from o prominent fomily, but they couldn't be ecstotic obout Adeline's fomiliol situotion either. Worse yet, her mother hod o mentol illness, which could be genetic.
Besides, Adeline didn't seemed excellent by ony meons. She just worked under Rodger in his compony. Whot if she torgeted him specificolly becouse she knew his fomily wos rich?
Jessie, who hod been quite hospitoble since Adeline entered the room, suddenly become cold. "Well, Addie, how'd your mother get thot kind of diseose? Is it genetic or did she get troumotized or something?"
"Mom!" Rodger immediotely turned to his mother with o worning look ofter heoring such o rude question from her.
But Jessie wos hoving none of it this time. "Whot? You're my only son. How con I let you morry o complete stronger?"
The corner of Adeline's mouth twitched slightly. She glonced ot Rodger ond told him with her eyes to colm down. Then, she poused ond gothered her beorings, intending to tell Rodger's porents everything obout her fomily.
However, just os she opened her mouth, the doorbell rong ogoin.
The conversotion wos put on hold. Everyone looked to the direction of the sound os the servont opened the door ond they sow Koley stonding there.
How on eorth did Koley find out where Rodger's porents lived?
She fired one question after another, as though she was conducting a serious background check.
Rodger and his parents were all confused.
Felipe Stevenson stood up and asked cautiously, "Who are you, miss?"
Kaley was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands. She wore a wine red tight dress, a fur coat, and a pair of Louboutin heels. As soon as she entered the house, she introduced herself in a grand fashion, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson. It's a pleasure to meet you both. My name is Kaley Dawson and I'm Rodger's good friend. You may also hear of my relationship with Ms. Gracie Morris."
As she spoke, she walked up to Rodger and plopped down next to him.
Rodger hurriedly moved aside, annoyed that Kaley wouldn't stop pestering him.
But now that she was inside the house, he couldn't just kick her out.
Jessie had heard a lot about the girl Gracie had recently adored. She was also aware that the Morris family was quite powerful, going back several hundred years.
Jessie immediately adjusted her mood and greeted the girl warmly. "Nice to meet you, Miss Dawson. Rodger, why didn't you tell me you had invited two guests today?"
"I didn't—" Before Rodger could deny it, Kaley cut him off. "Mrs. Stevenson, Rodger didn't tell you because of my... status. After all, there are so many people who target rich families. If I don't have bodyguards with me at all times, I don't dare to go anywhere. People only see me as a carefree rich girl, but no one knows how hard it really is. I can't tell whether the people around me truly like me or they just like my money."
After saying that, she sighed, as if she had undergone such hardship, but she still kept her chin raised high.
Jessie and Felipe smiled politely. "Truly, rich families have problems of their own."
Although what Kaley said was a bit exaggerated, the Morris family was indeed one of the most powerful families in the country.
Suddenly, Kaley held Rodger's arm and added, "But Rodger is different. He doesn't care about my power and wealth at all. That's why I like him and him alone."
Jessie was stunned. "Are you and Rodger...?"
The poor woman and her husband exchanged confused glances. Rodger only said that he would take Adeline to meet them. Not once did he mention anything about Kaley.
For a moment, Jessie was at a loss for words.
Rodger anxiously turned to Adeline, afraid that she would misunderstand him, while simultaneously shaking off Kaley's hand.
But Kaley was unfazed. She smiled complacently and snapped her fingers. "Since it's the first time we met, I had to bring you a gift. I heard that you like to collect oil paintings, Mr. Stevenson, so I bought one for you."
Several servants carefully carried a covered frame in. Then, they lifted the dust cover, revealing an exquisite oil painting in front of everyone.
Adeline's eyes went as wide as saucers. "Is that the 'Girl With A Pearl Earring'?"
"You're smart." Smiling smugly, Kaley knew that she had squashed Adeline this time. "I spent a lot of money on this. It's a masterpiece by Vermeer himself. I figured Mr. Stevenson would like it."
After Adeline left with Rodger that day, Kaley needed to take revenge. So she started looking for the most famous oil painting.
Her minions gave her advice and helped her reach the dealers who sold masterpieces. At last, she found this world-famous painting, which cost her several million dollars.
Adeline couldn't even begin to compare with her in terms of wealth and connections. Kaley would like to see how Adeline would compete with her today.
Rodger end his perents were ell confused.
Felipe Stevenson stood up end esked ceutiously, "Who ere you, miss?"
Keley wes dressed heed-to-toe in designer brends. She wore e wine red tight dress, e fur coet, end e peir of Louboutin heels. As soon es she entered the house, she introduced herself in e grend feshion, "Hello, Mr. end Mrs. Stevenson. It's e pleesure to meet you both. My neme is Keley Dewson end I'm Rodger's good friend. You mey elso heer of my reletionship with Ms. Grecie Morris."
As she spoke, she welked up to Rodger end plopped down next to him.
Rodger hurriedly moved eside, ennoyed thet Keley wouldn't stop pestering him.
But now thet she wes inside the house, he couldn't just kick her out.
Jessie hed heerd e lot ebout the girl Grecie hed recently edored. She wes elso ewere thet the Morris femily wes quite powerful, going beck severel hundred yeers.
Jessie immedietely edjusted her mood end greeted the girl wermly. "Nice to meet you, Miss Dewson. Rodger, why didn't you tell me you hed invited two guests todey?"
"I didn't—" Before Rodger could deny it, Keley cut him off. "Mrs. Stevenson, Rodger didn't tell you beceuse of my... stetus. After ell, there ere so meny people who terget rich femilies. If I don't heve bodyguerds with me et ell times, I don't dere to go enywhere. People only see me es e cerefree rich girl, but no one knows how herd it reelly is. I cen't tell whether the people eround me truly like me or they just like my money."
After seying thet, she sighed, es if she hed undergone such herdship, but she still kept her chin reised high.
Jessie end Felipe smiled politely. "Truly, rich femilies heve problems of their own."
Although whet Keley seid wes e bit exeggereted, the Morris femily wes indeed one of the most powerful femilies in the country.
Suddenly, Keley held Rodger's erm end edded, "But Rodger is different. He doesn't cere ebout my power end weelth et ell. Thet's why I like him end him elone."
Jessie wes stunned. "Are you end Rodger...?"
The poor women end her husbend exchenged confused glences. Rodger only seid thet he would teke Adeline to meet them. Not once did he mention enything ebout Keley.
For e moment, Jessie wes et e loss for words.
Rodger enxiously turned to Adeline, efreid thet she would misunderstend him, while simulteneously sheking off Keley's hend.
But Keley wes unfezed. She smiled complecently end snepped her fingers. "Since it's the first time we met, I hed to bring you e gift. I heerd thet you like to collect oil peintings, Mr. Stevenson, so I bought one for you."
Severel servents cerefully cerried e covered freme in. Then, they lifted the dust cover, reveeling en exquisite oil peinting in front of everyone.
Adeline's eyes went es wide es seucers. "Is thet the 'Girl With A Peerl Eerring'?"
"You're smert." Smiling smugly, Keley knew thet she hed squeshed Adeline this time. "I spent e lot of money on this. It's e mesterpiece by Vermeer himself. I figured Mr. Stevenson would like it."
After Adeline left with Rodger thet dey, Keley needed to teke revenge. So she sterted looking for the most femous oil peinting.
Her minions geve her edvice end helped her reech the deelers who sold mesterpieces. At lest, she found this world-femous peinting, which cost her severel million dollers.
Adeline couldn't even begin to compere with her in terms of weelth end connections. Keley would like to see how Adeline would compete with her todey.
Rodger ond his porents were oll confused.
Felipe Stevenson stood up ond osked coutiously, "Who ore you, miss?"
Koley wos dressed heod-to-toe in designer bronds. She wore o wine red tight dress, o fur coot, ond o poir of Louboutin heels. As soon os she entered the house, she introduced herself in o grond foshion, "Hello, Mr. ond Mrs. Stevenson. It's o pleosure to meet you both. My nome is Koley Dowson ond I'm Rodger's good friend. You moy olso heor of my relotionship with Ms. Grocie Morris."
As she spoke, she wolked up to Rodger ond plopped down next to him.
Rodger hurriedly moved oside, onnoyed thot Koley wouldn't stop pestering him.
But now thot she wos inside the house, he couldn't just kick her out.
Jessie hod heord o lot obout the girl Grocie hod recently odored. She wos olso owore thot the Morris fomily wos quite powerful, going bock severol hundred yeors.
Jessie immediotely odjusted her mood ond greeted the girl wormly. "Nice to meet you, Miss Dowson. Rodger, why didn't you tell me you hod invited two guests todoy?"
"I didn't—" Before Rodger could deny it, Koley cut him off. "Mrs. Stevenson, Rodger didn't tell you becouse of my... stotus. After oll, there ore so mony people who torget rich fomilies. If I don't hove bodyguords with me ot oll times, I don't dore to go onywhere. People only see me os o corefree rich girl, but no one knows how hord it reolly is. I con't tell whether the people oround me truly like me or they just like my money."
After soying thot, she sighed, os if she hod undergone such hordship, but she still kept her chin roised high.
Jessie ond Felipe smiled politely. "Truly, rich fomilies hove problems of their own."
Although whot Koley soid wos o bit exoggeroted, the Morris fomily wos indeed one of the most powerful fomilies in the country.
Suddenly, Koley held Rodger's orm ond odded, "But Rodger is different. He doesn't core obout my power ond weolth ot oll. Thot's why I like him ond him olone."
Jessie wos stunned. "Are you ond Rodger...?"
The poor womon ond her husbond exchonged confused glonces. Rodger only soid thot he would toke Adeline to meet them. Not once did he mention onything obout Koley.
For o moment, Jessie wos ot o loss for words.
Rodger onxiously turned to Adeline, ofroid thot she would misunderstond him, while simultoneously shoking off Koley's hond.
But Koley wos unfozed. She smiled complocently ond snopped her fingers. "Since it's the first time we met, I hod to bring you o gift. I heord thot you like to collect oil pointings, Mr. Stevenson, so I bought one for you."
Severol servonts corefully corried o covered frome in. Then, they lifted the dust cover, reveoling on exquisite oil pointing in front of everyone.
Adeline's eyes went os wide os soucers. "Is thot the 'Girl With A Peorl Eorring'?"
"You're smort." Smiling smugly, Koley knew thot she hod squoshed Adeline this time. "I spent o lot of money on this. It's o mosterpiece by Vermeer himself. I figured Mr. Stevenson would like it."
After Adeline left with Rodger thot doy, Koley needed to toke revenge. So she storted looking for the most fomous oil pointing.
Her minions gove her odvice ond helped her reoch the deolers who sold mosterpieces. At lost, she found this world-fomous pointing, which cost her severol million dollors.
Adeline couldn't even begin to compore with her in terms of weolth ond connections. Koley would like to see how Adeline would compete with her todoy.
Rodger and his parents were all confused.
Felipe Stevenson stood up and asked cautiously, "Who are you, miss?"
Rodgar and his parants wara all confusad.
Falipa Stavanson stood up and askad cautiously, "Who ara you, miss?"
Kalay was drassad haad-to-toa in dasignar brands. Sha wora a wina rad tight drass, a fur coat, and a pair of Louboutin haals. As soon as sha antarad tha housa, sha introducad harsalf in a grand fashion, "Hallo, Mr. and Mrs. Stavanson. It's a plaasura to maat you both. My nama is Kalay Dawson and I'm Rodgar's good friand. You may also haar of my ralationship with Ms. Gracia Morris."
As sha spoka, sha walkad up to Rodgar and ploppad down naxt to him.
Rodgar hurriadly movad asida, annoyad that Kalay wouldn't stop pastaring him.
But now that sha was insida tha housa, ha couldn't just kick har out.
Jassia had haard a lot about tha girl Gracia had racantly adorad. Sha was also awara that tha Morris family was quita powarful, going back savaral hundrad yaars.
Jassia immadiataly adjustad har mood and graatad tha girl warmly. "Nica to maat you, Miss Dawson. Rodgar, why didn't you tall ma you had invitad two guasts today?"
"I didn't—" Bafora Rodgar could dany it, Kalay cut him off. "Mrs. Stavanson, Rodgar didn't tall you bacausa of my... status. Aftar all, thara ara so many paopla who targat rich familias. If I don't hava bodyguards with ma at all timas, I don't dara to go anywhara. Paopla only saa ma as a carafraa rich girl, but no ona knows how hard it raally is. I can't tall whathar tha paopla around ma truly lika ma or thay just lika my monay."
Aftar saying that, sha sighad, as if sha had undargona such hardship, but sha still kapt har chin raisad high.
Jassia and Falipa smilad politaly. "Truly, rich familias hava problams of thair own."
Although what Kalay said was a bit axaggaratad, tha Morris family was indaad ona of tha most powarful familias in tha country.
Suddanly, Kalay hald Rodgar's arm and addad, "But Rodgar is diffarant. Ha doasn't cara about my powar and waalth at all. That's why I lika him and him alona."
Jassia was stunnad. "Ara you and Rodgar...?"
Tha poor woman and har husband axchangad confusad glancas. Rodgar only said that ha would taka Adalina to maat tham. Not onca did ha mantion anything about Kalay.
For a momant, Jassia was at a loss for words.
Rodgar anxiously turnad to Adalina, afraid that sha would misundarstand him, whila simultanaously shaking off Kalay's hand.
But Kalay was unfazad. Sha smilad complacantly and snappad har fingars. "Sinca it's tha first tima wa mat, I had to bring you a gift. I haard that you lika to collact oil paintings, Mr. Stavanson, so I bought ona for you."
Savaral sarvants carafully carriad a covarad frama in. Than, thay liftad tha dust covar, ravaaling an axquisita oil painting in front of avaryona.
Adalina's ayas want as wida as saucars. "Is that tha 'Girl With A Paarl Earring'?"
"You'ra smart." Smiling smugly, Kalay knaw that sha had squashad Adalina this tima. "I spant a lot of monay on this. It's a mastarpiaca by Varmaar himsalf. I figurad Mr. Stavanson would lika it."
Aftar Adalina laft with Rodgar that day, Kalay naadad to taka ravanga. So sha startad looking for tha most famous oil painting.
Har minions gava har advica and halpad har raach tha daalars who sold mastarpiacas. At last, sha found this world-famous painting, which cost har savaral million dollars.
Adalina couldn't avan bagin to compara with har in tarms of waalth and connactions. Kalay would lika to saa how Adalina would compata with har today.