Chapter 161: That’s A Humble Opinion
"Oh no," Cathryn dropped a card and answered sincerely. "I know the rules, that's all. But Keith's friends, Jeremy, Betty, and others, are the real masters. If Keith were not there to help me, I could never match with them."
"That's a humble opinion." Elaine smiled.
Elaine said this because she used to stay in the States and joined the local Bridge club, and in terms of teaching and explaining strategies, Cathryn was much better.
Cathryn felt she had superb luck today, too, thanks to all the kindness she received today.
Ada made a sneer.
"Does Keith still prefer to help people play than playing on his own? Back in University, Keith always instructed me in Jeremy's games. Don't get me wrong, but it was always a party of five people, I was the worst gamer, and Keith wasn't keen on playing."
Most people had no idea what she was talking about, but the unfriendliness couldn't be clearer. This guess was confirmed by Helen's face, which was getting stiff and frowning at the bold remarks on her son and Cathryn's husband.
But Cathryn didn't seem to be bothered.
She put down her cards and looked up into Ada's eyes. She was smiling, and her voice was cheerful.
"Keith only began to play in a recent couple of years. If he was helping you back in school, I hope you didn't lose too much money."
Ada's face went white, and the fake smile was shattered on her face.
Ignoring Ada's lack of words, Cathryn continued to explain to Helen.
"He couldn't be a bridge player at that time. Most possibly, it was Jeremy who set him up to trick our poor Miss Clinton. Do you still have an account of the amount?"
When she mentioned Jeremy Fox's name, Helen recalled that sweet-talking fancy young man. Helen laughed and turned to Ada.
"Is that real?"
Helen then explained the conversation in German, and everyone laughed and took it for real.
They laughed especially hard, thinking Ada was making a joke of herself.
Elaine laughed so hard that she almost slid off the wooden chair. She asked Ada, "My dear Ada, I hope you are not a spy sent by Miss Riley to 'help' me with the cards!"
Ada was so embarrassed, and her face was red, but she could only respond with a fake smile.
They played a few more rounds before Helen told everyone that she was going back to prepare for the dinner party and invited all of them.
Talking about the dinner, Densche stood up and pledged excitedly.
"You must come, I made the dress for Miss Riley, it was just...wow!"
Densche had that dignity of a craftsman. He always felt that people couldn't match his dresses, but today, from the way that he couldn't even find words to describe, it did seem to be an amazing scene.
Helen and Cathryn excused themselves and went out. Ada spotted a chance when Cathryn was alone waiting for Helen to put on her coat, she followed her out for some words.
****
Ada Clinton had not been enjoying this day. She did not sleep very well, and all her attempts to attack this Cathryn Riley have failed, who told her in her face that she was the same as a maid and used her as a joke in front of everyone.
If Ada had any pity for her as her substitute before she came, now everything burning in Ada's mind was anger.
She showed her to the elevator and anxiously broke the silence.
"If I may ask, Miss Riley, how did Keith introduce me to you?"
At a quick glance, Cathryn remained calm and replied curiously, "I think you and Keith are schoolmates. Why should he introduce each of his schoolmates to me?"
She didn't tell the truth simply because she didn't find this lady agreeable that should be taken seriously. But to Ada, the indifferent counterattack was even more unbearable.
Ada did not want to hold anymore, no one was coming from behind, and there were no conversations, Ada changed her face.
"Are you for real? Keith and I met each other over ten years ago, and we've been close ever since, until graduation. You only met him last year, and I mean, look at me, haven't you thought about why he is suddenly with YOU?"
She realized that she was out of control and talking at a high pitch, but looking up at Cathryn, the stillness and innocence didn't change at all. It just made her angrier, but Cathryn opened her mouth.
"That's very confident of you, I appreciate it."
Ada didn't know what to answer. Turning her head calmly and gazing at those red eyes resembling hers, the two young ladies both seem to see the result of this argument.
"Keith had known you back in university. Then what if I say that he had met me before that?" Cathryn's eyes didn't blink, "If you think that he is with me because I look like you, then what if I say that Keith was friends with you because you looked like me?"
Ada's face went purple.
Cathryn looked up at the elevator's number and asked.
"You are still coming to our dinner party tonight, right?"
Because of the sudden change in the topic, Ada was not sure.
Cathryn's faint and innocent smile was unchanged.
"I hope you can understand that even if you look like me," She paused, "you are not me."
Standing in the small area, Ada felt a coldness spread from the soles of her feet. Like Daphne being turned into a laurel tree, she felt as if her body was stiff like wood, that ever her hair had turned to leaves and branches.
When Cathryn's voice fell, Helen and Elaine's chatting came over, and they could hear the two elder ladies walking towards the elevator. Elaine pecked a kiss on Helen's cheeks, then opened her hands to hug Cathryn.
It's a rare gesture for Elaine here, indicating that she liked her very much. Cathryn smiled politely and bowed to thank Elaine with the few German words she knew and said goodbye to her too.
Rosy cheeks and glistening eyes, Cathryn smiled like a lotus flower in the morning sun, calm and full of confidence, as she had changed from that condescending girl who asserted, "You are not me."