Serena looked so stunning that Wilson fell speechless. He was suddenly seized with a primal urge to kiss her.
Meanwhile, Justin was sipping champagne in a resplendent banquet hall somewhere in Nocturna, occasionally glancing at the entrance. Several guests came up to him in Hopes of making small talk, but he dismissed them after briefly humoring them.
Candice could tell Justin’s mind was far away. She pursed her lips as she looped her arm through his. “What a crowd, Justin. I don’t know any of these people. Care to introduce me to some of them?”
The Farrows were never ones to initiate small talk with other members of high society. It was always the other way around, and Justin was always their target. Unfortunately, Candice did not understand this unspoken rule. Justin pointed out with forced patience, “If you want to get acquainted with the other heiresses and socialites, have Mollie hook you up. I wouldn’t know what young ladies talk about these days.” He then turned to beckon Mollie over. “Make a found with Candice, will you?”
Mollie pointed at herself in disbelief. “Me?”
“Yes, you. She doesn’t know anyone here. Introduce her to your usual gaggle of socialite girlfriends.”
Mollie’s brows furrowed at the suggestion. None of her socialite friends would want to be acquainted with someone like Candice. After all, Candice came from a rural district and had no distinguished background to speak of.
However, Justin’s gaze had darkened dangerously, and Mollie dared not go against the silent command in his eyes. She glanced at Candice cursorily and said, “Come along.”
Candice gave Justin a wistful look before reluctantly leaving with Mollie.
The socialites had already heard rumors about Candice before being properly introduced to her. They greeted her with polite smiles, but there was no hiding the contempt in their eyes as they appraised her.
As far as they were concerned, she was not worthy of Justin.
A young woman in a blue cocktail dress sauntered over to Mollie with a glass of red wine. “Mollie, is this Justin’s girlfriend we’ve heard so much about?”
“In the flesh,” Mollie replied. “Candice, this is Lynn Campbell, a good friend of mine.”
The Campbells ran a considerably prominent shipping line, and Mollie had known Lynn for years.
Mollie had always wanted Lynn as a sister–in–law, but fate seemed to have other plans. She thought Lynn might stand a chance with Justin after Serena left, but Candice had to come into the picture and spoil it all.
Lynn’s gaze swept over Candice condescendingly before she snorted. “No wonder your mom was so furious that she chose to skip the gala tonight. A bumpkin like Candice would never be good enough for Justin!”
Equally embarrassed by Candice’s lack of refinement, Mollie grumbled, “She’s probably just a shiny new toy for Justin. It’s not like they’d work out in the long run.”
“True. Women like her are just palate cleansers to men,” Lynn drawled.
They openly denigrated Candice, not at all caring that she was right before them. Her lips pressed into a thin line as a dark, venomous look crossed her face.
1/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Serena looked so stunning that Wilson fell speechless. He was suddenly seized with a primal urge to kiss her.
Meanwhile, Justin was sipping champagne in a resplendent banquet hall somewhere in Nocturna, occasionally glancing at the entrance. Several guests came up to him in hopes of making small talk, but he dismissed them after briefly humoring them.
Candice could tell Justin’s mind was far away. She pursed her lips as she looped her arm through his. “What a crowd, Justin. I don’t know any of these people. Care to introduce me to some of them?”
The Farrows were never ones to initiate small talk with other members of high society. It was always the other way around, and Justin was always their target. Unfortunately, Candice did not understand this unspoken rule. Justin pointed out with forced patience, “If you want to get acquainted with the other heiresses and socialites, have Mollie hook you up. I wouldn’t know what young ladies talk about these days.” He then turned to beckon Mollie over. “Make a round with Candice, will you?”
Mollie pointed at herself in disbelief. “Me?”
“Yes, you. She doesn’t know anyone here. Introduce her to your usual gaggle of socialite girlfriends.”
Mollie’s brows furrowed at the suggestion. None of her socialite friends would want to be acquainted with someone like Candice. After all, Candice came from a rural district and had no distinguished background to speak
- of.
However, Justin’s gaze had darkened dangerously, and Mollie dared not go against the silent command in his eyes. She glanced at Candice cursorily and said, “Come along.”
Candice gave Justin a wistful look before reluctantly leaving with Mollie.
The socialites had already heard rumors about Candice before being properly introduced to her. They greeted her with polite smiles, but there was no hiding the contempt in their eyes as they appraised her.
As far as they were concerned, she was not worthy of Justin.
A young woman in a blue cocktail dress sauntered over to Mollie with a glass of red wine. “Mollie, is this Justin’s girlfriend we’ve heard so much about?”
“In the flesh,” Mollie replied. “Candice, this is Lynn Campbell, a good friend of mine.”
The Campbells ran a considerably prominent shipping line, and Mollie had known Lynn for years.
Mollie had always wanted Lynn as a sister–in–law, but fate seemed to have other plans. She thought Lynn might stand a chance with Justin after Serena left, but Candice had to come into the picture and spoil it all.
Lynn’s gaze swept over Candice condescendingly before she snorted. “No wonder your mom was so furious that she chose to skip the gala tonight. A bumpkin like Candice would never be good enough for Justin!”
Equally embarrassed by Candice’s lack of refinement, Mollie grumbled, “She’s probably just a shiny new toy for Justin. It’s not like they’d work out in the long run.”
“True. Women like her are just palate cleansers to men,” Lynn drawled.
They openly denigrated Candice, not at all caring that she was right before them. Her lips pressed into a thin line as a dark, venomous look crossed her face.
Chapter 45
+25 BONUS
Just then, Lynn asked, “Oh, by the way, what happened to Serena? Where did she wind up after Justin kicked her out? She loved Justin, didn’t she? I hope she didn’t do anything foolish or hurt herself, lest she drags the Farrows‘ reputation through the mud.”
She sounded triumphant and smug despite her words of concern. She had been wildly jealous of Serena for staying by Justin’s side for so many years.
Serena had always been the strong, silent type. She couldn’t care less about Lynn’s taunting, which irked the latter
even more.
But in truth, Lynn couldn’t stand Serena because of her looks. The young lady was breathtaking, and though her background was not half as impressive as Lynn’s, her beauty alone was enough to make her jealous.
“It’s too bad she isn’t here.” Mollie swirled the wine in her glass. She could have openly belittled Serena otherwise.
Mollie was about to say something more when she heard the guests around her gasp. She followed the crowd’s line of vision and turned toward the entrance.
