Rebecca came into her daughter's room and happily listened in as the girl hummed the wedding march song. Gwen gave her mother a winning smile while the nanny helped her daughter fit into her dress for the party. Finally her dreams were coming true her daughter would be marrying a Crane and Ivy would have to deal with it. It was a known fact that Ivy's father had stolen Julian away from her. Ivy Winthrope became a Crane while Rebecca was stuck with Jonathon Hotchkiss. Ivy might have gotten Julian but Gwen would get Ethan. Rebecca would make sure of that.
"Darling we need to talk about something really important." Rebecca said to her daughter.
"What is it mother?" Gwen asked her.
"Ethan has a special attachment to his aunt Sheridan; you need to get close to her in order to secure Ethan." Rebecca said.
"You know I will mother. Ethan will think the world of me and only me. I'm going to win. I mean now that Julian and father have decided that I get Ethan, what's to stop me?" Gwen asked her.
"Well, some poor girl who has aspirations of being the next Cinderella." Rebecca said.
"Well that's not going to happen; the Crane's don't let poor commoners into their social circle so why would they start now?" Gwen asked her mother.
"Ivy Crane. That's why they would allow anyone into their circle. Did you know that Ivy has a tight bond with one of her house keepers? Her children are going to be at Ethan's party. Can you believe that? You'll have to eat and drink next to a bunch of poor folk." Rebecca said.
"Isn't Ethan mad that he has to lower himself to such a disgrace of a party?" Gwen said.
"Apparently, he thinks the world of Pilar's children especially one of Pilar's daughters." Rebecca said.
"Well, I shall think the world of her as well. Ethan will love how generous and sweet I am to her." Gwen said.
"That's my girl! Go after Ethan like it's the most important thing to do. Make it known that no one will be able to snag him from you." Rebecca said.
"Don't worry mother. No one has ever tried to actually take me on. Now I have to finish getting ready for the party." Gwen said.
"I know sweetie; it's just that we have to be careful about other girls having dreams of marrying rich." Rebecca said.
"If they were meant to be rich then they would have been born rich." Gwen said.
I hope you're right Gwen because it's obvious Ethan could easily fall in love with a poor girl just as easily as a rich one. Rebecca thought to herself.
It was obvious that his father wanted him to marry Gwen. The way he was forcing her on him was just too obvious for words. If he truly fell for her then, yes he would marry her someday but that was a big IF. Gwen seemed very arrogant and self absorbed. He could tell that she was used to getting her own way. He was more then convinced that if this was true they would never get along. His mother didn't want him to marry out of obligation she wanted him to marry for love. It was always something that she stood firm on. It was the only thing she stood firm on. If Gwen turned out to be like the rest of them, he would give her the boot.
The party was about to start and the guest were flooding in. Ethan didn't recognize any of them accept for Gwen and what looked like her friends. She waved him over and obediently he came. He bowed and then took her hand. She gave him a huge smile and then began to introduce her friends to him. He met Shannon, Elizabeth, Kennedy, Shila, Sheila, Erica, Kara, and Karen. She then told him that was only half of her friends. Ethan listened to Gwen try to talk about politics and how upsetting it was that public schools didn't have enough textbooks. Ethan listened in inventively until she came.
Pilar, Luis, Theresa, and Miguel came trouncing into the house. Everyone looked at them and began to laugh. Luis and Miguel looked like a mess but Theresa she looked beautiful and it was all due to Ivy Crane. Ivy had given Pilar and old dress of Sheridan's to borrow. Ivy quickly embraced Theresa while Gwen looked jealously. When Gwen had arrived, Ivy had barely acknowledged her. Theresa hadn't even been in the door five minutes and Ivy was already showing Theresa around.
"Ethan look who it is?" Ivy said pulling him away from Gwen and her friends.
"Who the hell is that Gwen?" Shila asked her.
"I don't know but I'm going to find out." Gwen said angrily.
Rebecca looked on as Ivy, Ethan, and Theresa engaged in a conversation. Gwen began to move up to them but she watched Ivy move Ethan and Theresa into another room. Rebecca walked up to Gwen and pulled her to the side.
"Go in there and stop Ivy before she has Ethan committed to that girl for life. See Gwen, there's your Cinderella waiting to steal your Prince Charming." Rebecca said.
"Well, she won't succeed. I'll kill her myself before I let her walk down the isle with my man." Gwen said.
"That's my girl! Go get her before she beats you out as the new Mrs.Crane." Rebecca said.
Gwen went to the door and listened in she soon realized that this was the girl that her mother was talking about. She turned around and walked back to her mother with a smile.
"What is it Gwen?" Rebecca asked her.
"It's just that girl you were talking about before.
"Ethan come in here I want to talk to you." Julian demanded.
"What is it father?" Ethan asked.
"Ethan, there's a new store opened called Paris. I have this $10,000.00 gift card for you to give to one of these girls today. Make sure you give it to Gwen." Julian said then handed him the card.
"Gwen don't worry; Ethan is going to give you a gift card worth $10,000.00. Act surprised when he gives it to you." Rebecca said.
Gwen didn't have to act surprise though. As soon as everyone's attention was gotten, Ethan went over to Theresa and handed her the card. The shock hit Gwen hard. As soon as Theresa gave her mother the card she put it in her purse and then put it down. Gwen found a pair of scissors and took the gift card out of her purse and cut it up. Gwen was going to get her man no mattered what it took.