Chapter 45

Juliette's words drew everyone's attention to Yelena's flower arrangement. Compared to Juliette's exuberant bouquet, Yelena's looked rather sparse. It contained only a few magnolias paired with some green foliage, yet the upright elegance of the magnolias complemented the low-lying leaves well. "Yelena, is this your final piece?" someone asked. Yelena put down her scissors and nodded. One of the ladies couldn't help but laugh. "I thought it wasn't finished yet. Yelena, your arrangement is far too plain." "Exactly. If someone didn't know better, they'd think we were too poor to afford flowers for our gathering. Just a few stems—it looks so stingy." "I still prefer Juliette's arrangement. The colors are rich and dramatic." No one would have dared say such things in the past, but times had changed. Juliette had become the new favorite in their social circle. Everyone now sought to flatter her, even if it meant stepping on Yelena. Yelena was so angry that her lips were trembling. S