“Everyone in Wiltspoon knows that I had been looking for my sister. Although my sister passed away, it’s a comfort to me that I found you two. I’m going to hold a banquet to introduce you to everyone and announce to the public that you’re my nieces. In the future, anyone who tries to bully you means they’re going against the Stone family.”
Audrey still remembered how Liberty was bullied by her former inlaws.
Liberty handled it herself, so Audrey did not intervene. However, she still mentioned it to Clive when she got home, asking him to retaliate against the Brown family in other ways without harming them physically or breaking the law. He just needed to make Hank lose his job.
Hank’s sister was another atrocious specimen.
Audrey was only relieved when Clive said that he would seek justice for his cousin.
“Seren and Liberty, since you’re already here, spend a few days here with me. After lunch, Elisa and I will take you two out to pick your evening dresses for the banquet tomorrow night.”
Upon seeing the couple who had just reached downstairs, Audrey said, “Clive and Alice, both of you are responsible for sending out the guest invitations. Invite all the people we know to the party.”
Alice blurted, “We’re also acquainted with the York family. Should we invite them too?”
After asking, she snapped back to her senses and hurriedly slapped her hand over her mouth, quickly glancing at her sister-in-law. “ Sorry, I was talking nonsense.”
She even stole a glance at Serena to see if the latter had any reaction to the mention of the York family.
Alice thought in her heart, ‘Are Serena’s in-laws really the York family?’
Audrey was not upset at her daughter-in-law and said, “They won’t send someone even if we invite them. Let’s not make a fool of ourselves.”
The elders of the York family did not fancy her daughter.
Elisa had liked Zack for many years and openly pursued him, but the elders of the York family never expressed any thoughts, indicating that the York family did not want to ease relations with the Stone family and become in-laws.
Audrey felt that finding her nieces was a grand and happy event. She did not want the attitude of the York family to spoil her good mood.
Elisa’s heart ached, but she did not show it on her face. She smiled and said, “Don’t worry about me, Alice. It was Mom who was vague with her words. She said to invite everyone we know, which includes the York family.”
“I won’t invite them, Elisa.”
Audrey patted the back of her daughter’s hand. Although she admired the young men of the Yorks, the two families had been at odds for a long time. Even if her daughter did not love Zack, the two families would not send invitations to each other.
She supposed the stiff relationship between the two families would not be eased in her lifetime.
There was no trace of reconciliation between Clive and Zack, so maybe it would have to wait till the next generation.
“Lunch is ready, Ma’am,” a maid walked up behind Audrey and spoke respectfully.
Audrey immediately said to Serena and Liberty, “Let’s eat first. After lunch, we can relax for a while, then I’ll take you out shopping. We’ll shop till we drop! ”
“Aunt Audrey, we don’t need to buy anything.”
Liberty tried to decline politely.
Audrey deliberately pulled an unhappy face. “Liberty, do you not want to go on a shopping spree with me?”
Serena laughed. “That’s not what my sister meant, Aunt Audrey. We don’t need to buy anything for the banquet. We have clothes to wear.”
“What you have is yours, but I want to buy more for you. There’s Sonny as well. I want to dress him up as a handsome little gentleman.”
Elisa laughed. “Our Sonny is already a handsome little gentleman.
“I’ve liked Sonny since the first time I saw him. Back then, I envied Seren for having such a cute nephew. I never thought that he would be my nephew too.”
Elisa smiled smugly.
She also had a nephew now.
Everyone was amused by her.
Serena held Sonny’s hand and followed Audrey into the dining hall.
Beep beep—
Her phone received a new message.
She took out her phone and opened WhatsApp. Elisa, who was right beside her, inadvertently glanced over and saw that the person who sent the message was “Mr. York, Sudden Husband”.
Elisa teased, “Seren, does your husband send you messages every day on his business trip?”
Serena said with a smile, “My husband would text me when he has the time. Well, we’re in touch every time. Our marriage is at a much better place now.”
She even kept her argument with Zack from her sister, much less her aunt’s family. Serena did not want to worry her aunt.
“Relationships take time to build. You’ve been married for three months now. It’s only normal for your marriage to get better.”
Elisa leaned in and whispered nosily, “How are things going on with Josh and Jasmine? I’m dying to find out.”
Josh was Zack’s right–hand man.
He also came from a family that specialized in intelligence.
Elisa could not believe Jasmine had gone on a blind date with Josh.
She believed she could earn a lump sum for selling this information to the press but of course, Elisa was not short of money. She was friends with Jasmine too and she was not the kind of person who would do anything to betray her friends.
Elisa would keep the secret about them until Josh was ready for the world to know. The last thing Elisa would want was for the media to be all over Jasmine and disrupt her peace.
After Serena replied to Zack through text message, she chuckled and said, “Didn’t my aunt say she wanted to have a party tomorrow night? Get Alice to send Jasmine an invitation and get your brother to send Mr. Bucham an invitation, so they both could attend the party. You can see how things are going between them then.”
With her eyes lighting up, Elisa giggled. “You got it all thought out for sure. I wanted to invite Jasmine anyway since she’s your best friend and my new friend. I don’t feel right leaving her out of the party.
“But Josh might not come.”
He was the executive assistant of York Corporation after all.
Serena smiled. “Tell your brother to let Mr. Bucham know that Ms. Sox will be attending. I think that should be enough reason for him to attend the party. My aunt organized the family event to introduce me and my sister to everyone. It’s not business related. Mr. Bucham can attend as a member of the Bucham family.“
Elisa believed Serena made a great suggestion.
She said to her brother and sister–in–law, “Clive, send the Buchams a few invitations and make sure Josh gets one. Alice, please help me deliver an invitation to Jasmine. Jasmine is a good friend of mine and Serena’s.”
Elisa was going to take her mom along with Serena and her sister shopping this afternoon.
As Alice and Clive were the heads of the household, Elisa needed to let them in on it.
Clive and his wife agreed to Elisa’s request.
Meanwhile, Zack found out through the text message that Serena was at the Stones‘ residence for a meal.
Zack: [Enjoy your meal. It’s a shame I’m not there to help you peel the shrimps.]
Serena: [I usually eat the shrimp together with the shell.]
Zack: [… Tiny lazy bug.]
Serena: [How am I tiny?]
Zack grinned without a word.
Serena peevishly retorted and added: [You’re tiny! You have a tiny mind and heart. Yo’re such a petty guy
The couple exchanged messages for a while before Serena ended the conversation.
[I got to eat now. We’ll chat when we have time. Don’t forget to have your meals on time. Don’t ruin your health. I’m not going to nurse you back to health.]
Zack replied with an emoji to acknowledge the message.
After the meal, Mrs. Stone and her daughter went upstairs to get dolled up.
Alice said to the Hunt sisters, “I’ll take you out for a walk, Serena, Liberty. You can get familiar with the place.”
“Sonny wants to take his nap, so I’ll have to pass on that. Go on with Seren.”
Liberty was carrying her son for an afternoon, not feeling in the mood for a stroll.
It suited Alice fine that Liberty was not coming along.
Several minutes later, Alice affectionately held Serena’s arm as they strolled and chatted.
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.