Tabitha's POV
The crowd buzzed with murmurs.
"It's surprising to see Mrs. Greenwood being overly kind. Does she think just because the cleaner is part of a disadvantaged group, he should be let off scot-free for making a mistake? So if I crashed a Rolls-Royce tomorrow and said I couldn't afford it, would that be okay?"
"If Mrs. Greenwood is so wealthy, why not just pay the 80 thousand for him? Why bother morally coercing a minor actress here?"
"Exactly. I thought she and Mr. Greenwood made a charming couple on stage, but now she doesn't seem so impressive. Our earnings as actresses aren't easy to come by. Such gowns are hard to borrow in the first place, and now that it's stained, it's ruined. Compensation is one thing, but being blacklisted for staining it is a loss that can't be undone with just words."
"Don't mention paying 80 thousand. Twice that amount wouldn't be enough. Lisa is already asking for a very reasonable price."
Hearing the crowd's chatter, the cleaner became increasingly anxious and said, "Miss, please don't involve yourself. I'll cover whatever it costs."
Lisa became even more arrogant. "Did you hear that? I don't blame you for not recognizing quality, but your misplaced kindness should have a limit. Either you pay for him, or you shut up."
I smiled, "Alright, I can pay a few dollars for the cleaning fee."
"Oh, my goodness. Is Mr. Greenwood going bankrupt? Why is his wife so stingy? She won't even pay 80 thousand."
"Does Mr. Greenwood know how petty she is? I wonder what he sees in her."
I said calmly, "Everyone, please calm down. If this dress were authentic, not to mention 80 thousand, I could afford twice that amount. But the fact is, it's a fake. Why should anyone pay a lifetime's worth of hard-earned money for something that's not genuine?
"A fake? No way. The fabric and texture clearly suggest a designer brand."
"All I can say is it's a well-made imitation. A fake is still a fake."
Seeing my insistence, Lisa became even more furious. "What makes you think you have the authority to claim my dress is a fake?"
I stood with my hands behind my back and casually replied, "Simply because the authentic dress is at my home—a unique piece. How could there be a second one?"
As soon as these words were out, the murmurs around us instantly ceased.
They might doubt others, but I was Derek's wife!
Not to mention a dress, if I fancied it, Derek would move an entire shopping mall for me!
The shift in opinion was immediate.
Everyone was stunned.
Third person's POV
No one would have expected an actress to wear a fake in public and then try to intimidate others with it. Once the ruse was exposed, her reputation was in tatters.
Hearing this, Lisa immediately panicked. She had made a quick buck using this tactic in a short time.
She specifically targeted ordinary workers without money or influence, who also didn't know much about brands, assuming they wouldn't dare to expose her even if they got the short end of the stick.
Today she tried this trick again, not expecting to hit a brick wall.
With the situation escalating, Lisa was reluctant to jeopardize her chances in the entertainment industry over this issue.
She was fearless, stubbornly insisting that hers was the real deal.
"Who do you think you are? Do you know how difficult it is to get a dress designed by Niko? You're talking nonsense."
A cold voice came from the crowd. "She is my wife, and I bought her the dress. Do you have a problem with that?"
The crowd parted to make way as Derek appeared with a stern face.
Lisa might not recognize me, but she surely knew Derek.
"You, you are... Mr. Greenwood?"