Chapter 11

“Right? What’s going on?”

For Serenity, life was straightforward. Her days were filled with managing the shop and looking after her sister’s son.

“There’s a dinner party tonight,” Jasmine announced. “It’s a gathering of high society, and I received an invitation. Would you like to join me and see what their world is like?”

Serenity politely declined. “I don’t belong to that circle. I’m not interested.”

Despite her decent earnings, she felt that the elite were out of her reach. Serenity had no desire to force her way into their community, nor did she have the financial means to do so.

Honestly, if someone of her status attended such an upscale dinner party, she might easily be mistaken for a server.

“I don’t want to go either,” Jasmine confessed, “but my mom pleaded with my aunt for an invite. Since I can bring a plus one, I thought of you. Seren, please, come with me! I need you to help me get through it. I don’t want to deal with my mom’s nagging.”

The Sox family was affluent and well-known in Wiltspoon, owning various properties and several storefronts that generated significant rental income. Yet, their wealth didn’t guarantee them social prestige.

Mrs. Sox took great pride in her daughter’s beauty, believing that marrying Jasmine off could elevate their social status. Jasmine’s aunt had married into a wealthy, influential family after years of hard work. Now, she enjoyed mingling with the upper class.

The aunt was very fond of Jasmine and thought her niece had everything it took to attract a rich and powerful bachelor. When Jasmine’s mother made the request, the aunt was more than willing to help.

“Is Mrs. Sox pressuring you to marry again?”

“Isn’t that what all mothers do? They can’t wait to push their daughters out into the world to become someone else’s responsibility the moment they turn eighteen. I can make…

her along to the event. Serenity was determined to be financially independent and enjoy life on her own terms, without relying on a man for happiness.

“I believe you shouldn’t marry outside your social class,” Jasmine remarked. “I don’t want to marry up either. My aunt managed to fit into that world, but it took her decades. She went through a lot of struggles when she first married my uncle and often cried to my mom during those early days. She understands the challenges.”

Jasmine was a strong advocate for freedom and rejected the unspoken rules of the upper class.

“Come on, Seren! Just this once. We’ll experience how the top 1% live. My aunt mentioned there will be plenty of young, eligible bachelors at the dinner party tonight. They’re all from Wiltspoon’s elite and wealthy families. We can enjoy the atmosphere even if we’re not looking to find a man. Plus, it’s a dinner party, which means there will be plenty of great food!” she urged.

Serenity, like Jasmine, had a soft spot for good food.

After an hour of persuasion, Serenity finally relented and agreed to join her best friend at the event. They decided to close the store a bit earlier to make their way to the party.

Before leaving, Serenity called her sister to check on her nephew. It was a relief to learn that he had seen a doctor and that his fever was just a minor case of sniffles.

Feeling reassured, she then informed Liberty about the dinner party she was attending with Jasmine.

“It’s a nice experience, even if it’s just for the sake of it. You might end up making some friends from that social circle,” Liberty said, fully supportive of Serenity’s decision to go.

Her sister encouraged her to witness this different side of life.

The shop was officially closed just after lunch to allow them to attend the evening’s festivities. Jasmine eagerly whisked her best friend home to find a fancy dress and apply some makeup for the event.

Since the Sox family adored Serenity, they had no objections to Jasmine bringing her along to the gathering.

Serenity accompanied Jasmine to the dinner party, and since she was already married, there was no worry about her overshadowing Jasmine.

Just after six in the evening, a sedan, arranged by Jasmine’s aunt, pulled into the Soxes’ driveway.

“Have fun!” Mrs. Sox called out as she saw the girls off at the door. Turning to Serenity, she added, “Please help me keep an eye on Jasmine. Make sure she doesn’t overindulge at the buffet—encourage her to mingle with the young bachelors instead.”

She then addressed her daughter, “Jasmine, remember that your aunt has put in a lot of effort for you. Don’t let her down.”

With a reassuring smile, Serenity responded, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Sox. I’ll make sure Jasmine doesn’t just gravitate toward the buffet.”

They planned to enjoy the buffet together.

“I feel relieved knowing you’re here,” Mrs. Sox admitted. She appreciated Serenity’s sensible and independent nature. If only her son weren’t much younger than Serenity, Mrs. Sox would have surely tried to play matchmaker.

It was unfortunate that Serenity was already taken. The Sox family had plenty of eligible young men, and Serenity could have chosen any of them if she had been looking to get married.

But it was what it was—there was no use dwelling on it, as Mrs. Sox’s regrets wouldn’t change the situation.

With Mrs. Sox urging them to hurry, Jasmine, adorned in glamorous makeup, a stunning white gown, and sparkling jewelry, playfully nudged her best friend into the sedan provided by her aunt.

Since Serenity was married and attending as a plus-one, she opted for her usual attire and minimal makeup. Yet, her natural beauty radiated, even in her understated look.