Evelyn lingered behind.

A triumphant smirk played on her lips as she observed the scene unfolding.

Anastasia's humiliation was imminent.

Offending Anastasia, the notoriously spoiled heiress, was a catastrophic error Evelyn would soon lament. Any shred of confidence Evelyn possessed would be utterly shattered.

Meanwhile, Evelyn remained completely oblivious to the gathering storm.

She was simply perusing the dessert table when a sharp, derisive voice sliced through the air.

"Evelyn, you have some audacity. If I were in your position, I'd be mortified to appear in such a cheap imitation. And yet, here you stand, flaunting yourself as if you belong. You truly are shameless!"

The sheer malice in the tone made Evelyn's brow furrow deeply. She turned to find Anastasia glaring at her, pure contempt distorting her features.

What shocked Evelyn even more was the glaringly obvious fact—Anastasia was wearing an identical dress.

In that instant, comprehension dawned.

Anastasia was simply enraged that someone else had the temerity to wear the same gown.

It was entirely characteristic of her. During their university days, she had always been insufferably entitled and irrational.

Evelyn vividly recalled an incident where another girl had unintentionally worn the same designer piece as Anastasia.

The ensuing meltdown had been a spectacle of embarrassment—Anastasia had hurled accusations, created a massive scene, and behaved as if it were a profound betrayal. That was, until she discovered the girl also hailed from a powerful family.

It appeared time had done nothing to temper her spoiled nature.

Evelyn met Anastasia's hostile gaze, her own expression impassive. Her voice was measured, yet carried an edge. "What exactly are you implying?"

Anastasia's sneer widened into a cruel smile. "Oh, spare me the feigned ignorance."

She tossed her hair over her shoulder, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "This dress I'm wearing? It's a limited edition—utterly unique. So that counterfeit you're parading in? It's profoundly embarrassing."

Anastasia let out a scornful, mocking laugh. "Wearing a fake designer gown to a class reunion? That's a new low, even for you."

Her cutting remarks echoed, swiftly drawing the attention of their former classmates.

A curious crowd began to encircle them, eager for the drama.

"What's going on?" a voice murmured from the crowd.

"It's clear, isn't it? They're wearing identical gowns, but Anastasia is claiming hers is the authentic one."

"So, does that imply Evelyn showed up in a fake? That takes some nerve."

"To be honest," another guest interjected, "Evelyn carries it off with far more grace than Anastasia does."

"Quiet! Do you want Anastasia to target you next?" someone else warned sharply.

Evelyn blinked, momentarily stunned by the direct accusation. Her eyebrows drew together in confusion. "That can't be right."

Alexander had made a single call that evening. Hours later, an entire selection of designer dresses had arrived for her.

She had believed them to be simply high-quality, expensive pieces. Nothing suggested they were unique creations. Anastasia misinterpreted Evelyn's brief silence as guilt. A smug smirk twisted her lips as she folded her arms. "You truly have no idea, do you? This dress is an original Julian Montclair design. It's valued in the millions. If you're going to wear a cheap imitation, you should at least do some basic research first. And yet, you dared to wear the same dress as me."

She let out a contemptuous snort, turning away in feigned disgust. "What a complete mood killer. I was actually enjoying myself until this moment."

Rebecca stepped forward, her face a mask of false sympathy. "Anastasia, please, don't be angry. It's not worth ruining your evening over. Evelyn likely didn't know any better. She probably bought that dress from some cut-rate vendor. She isn't exactly familiar with the world of high fashion. How could she possibly have known this was a unique piece?"

Then, with an exaggerated sigh, Rebecca turned to Evelyn. "Evelyn, just apologize to Anastasia. This is a reunion for all of us to finally catch up. Don't spoil the evening over such a small matter."

Evelyn paused for a single heartbeat.

If this gown was truly one-of-a-kind, how could two exist?

But after a moment's reflection, she was absolutely certain of one thing: Alexander would never deceive her.

There was absolutely no chance he had given her a counterfeit.

Evelyn straightened her posture, her shoulders squaring as she met Anastasia's hostile gaze directly. "I owe no apology. This dress was a gift from my husband. I know with complete certainty that it is not a fake."