“That way, you can strengthen your high social standing in Wiltspoon. This will be helpful to you when you take charge of the Yorks‘ backhouse and become a qualified wife of the head of the family.“
Deep down, Serena wondered who else she could spend the rest of her life with apart from Zack,
That domineering man would panic if she mentioned that she wanted to break up.
Since she could not split with him; she could only try to blend in with his circle.
“Lately, I’ve received quite a number of invitations. I haven’t taken a look at them. They shouldn’t be of importance. The butler did not deliberately remind me.”
Mrs. Stone added, “Since you want to tag along to accumulate your experience, I’l let you join every social gathering with me.”
As she was speaking, she ordered someone to hand her the invitation cards.
After looking at all the invitations, she passed them to Serena. “Serena, please sort these cards based on the dates, in ascending order. I’ll then describe to you the organizers of each social gathering, what businesses they are doing, how they became wealthy, their family members, and their personalities.
“When you get along with other people, it’s crucial to have a good grasp of their personalities. In fact, getting along with people is equivalent to going to a battlefield. You can only gain victory by knowing your enemies well.”
“Okay.”
Serena looked at every invitation card and arranged them based on their dates from earliest to latest.
“Mom, is Serena here?”
At that moment, Elisa’s voice rang out from outside the house.
Soon, she was seen swinging the car key. As soon as she saw Sonny, she went toward him with a grin. She took him from her mother’s arms and lifted him high, which had him laughing non–stop.
“Elísa, you need to hold Sonny tightly. Make sure you don’t drop him.”
Mrs. Stone nervously reminded her daughter, worrying that the latter would drop him if she did not hold him tight enough.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t drop Sonny even if I’m going to fall.”
After playing with Sonny for a while, Elisa put him down and asked, “Sonny, do you like me?”
“Yes, I like you very much. You’re pretty. I like you.”
Elisa pinched his face softly and said with a smile, “You’re so sweet, Sonny. You’re still young, yet you already know how to make a woman happy. When you grow up, you’ll surely be a ladykiller.”
She then touched her face and said confidently, “Having said that, Sonny is a child. He’s most sincere, and he’s telling the truth. I’m just pretty and lovely.”
Serena grinned and said, “Yes. Sonny is telling the truth.”
Mrs. Stone said, “How boastful of you.”
“Mom, Serena, what are the two of you looking at? I saw both of you looking engrossed when I entered.”
Elisa turned her eyes to the pile of invitation cards. She casually took one and flipped through it. After taking a look at it, she placed it back on the coffee table and said, “I dislike attending this kind of social gathering the most.”
“Serena, is my mom planning to bring you along? Let me tell you that this type of occasion isn’t fun. We might as well ask Jasmine out and have Italian food together.”
Mrs. Stone complained about her daughter, “Do you think everyone’s like you? You said you wanted to learn how to start a business and invest. If you don’t socialize with other people, how are you going to grow a business? I saw the Dowlings are having a social gathering tomorrow night. Both of you come along with me and make an appearance. Also, learn how to socialize with others.”
“Mom, I’m not going. What’s more, the Dowlings‘ status is much lower than ours. Since when do you show respect for families who aren’t that wealthy?”
“Elisa, I was the one who asked Aunt Audrey to bring me along. I guess I’ll always have to attend such social gatherings in the future. I’ll take it as a learning experience.”
Elisa asked, “Oh. So you’ve made peace with Zack, huh? Acknowledge me as the older cousin–in–law. I’ll put in the good word the moment he sees me as family.”
“You’re a few years younger than Zack, yet you shamelessly want him to acknowledge you as the older cousin–in–law,” Mrs. Stone criticized her daughter.
Elisa said self–righteously, “I’m Seren’s cousin, whereas Zack is Seren’s husband, so technically I’m higher in seniority. Seniority isn’t ranked by age–some people are already someone’s uncle once they’re born.”
Mrs. Stone was at a loss for words.
“Serena, since you’ve made up your mind, I’ll sacrifice myself to accompany you and Mom to play pretend with others. On that kind of occasion, everyone puts on an act.”
Mrs. Stone was infuriated by her daughter.
Serena laughed and said, “In my opinion, we need to learn to tolerate a lot of things, considering that you’ve decided to learn to grow a business.”
“How great it would be if Elisa is half as understanding as you are.”
Mrs. Stone could not do anything to her daughter. Of course, her daughter had enough capital, so she could act however she wanted without having to make a false show of compliance.
“Elisa is great. I like how straightforward Elisa is.”
Elisa lifted her chin complacently and said to her mother, “Mom, look, you think Serena is better than me, but she thinks that I’m great.”
“Oh you, becoming so arrogant with just one compliment.”
The three of them were chatting merrily. With Sonny’s baby talk in between, the house was filled with laughter.
After a while, a maid walked over and said courteously, “Ma’am, dinner is ready.”
Mrs. Stone said to Serena, “Mm. Serena, we’ll have dinner first. After that, you can go upstairs and try Elisa’s gowns to see which style suits you. Then, I’ll buy you a few sets of gowns. You can have your hair styled in the afternoon.
“Since you’ve chosen to be with Zack, you shouldn’t rely on him and lose your sense of self. You need to make a change.
“Besides, what you’re trying to learn will be useful to your life. I’ll slowly teach you etiquette. You’re clever, and I believe you’ll grasp it in no time.”
Serena adhered to Mrs. Stone’s plan and had no comment on it.
She might not be able to embark on the same path as her aunt did, but she could work hard to be more outstanding. That way, she would not hold Zack back, at least.
“Let’s have dinner, Sonny.”
Mrs. Stone carried Sonny whom she was very fond of. He resembled her sister when she was young. If she put on a skirt for Sonny, he would bear a closer resemblance to her sister.
“Mom, is Alice at home?”
“She said she hasn’t been feeling well lately, so she went to the hospital for a check- up. Before Serena came, Alice called to inform me that she would have dinner with. her family after the check–up. Then, she’ll come back at night.”
Mrs. Stone would not restrict the number of times her daughter–in–law visited her mother. She too had a daughter. After her daughter got married, Mrs. Stone would also hope that her daughter could visit her often.
Some wealthy women would impose many restrictions on their daughters–in–law.
“Why isn’t Alice feeling well?” Elisa asked concernedly as she had a good relationship with her eldest sister–in–law.
Serena was very concerned about Alice’s condition too.
“She hasn’t given me a call yet. She probably hasn’t gotten the report.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.