Chapter 89
In the quaint bookshop near Wiltspoon School, Serenity was stationed behind the cash register, absorbed in her phone while browsing the latest news. Meanwhile, Jasmine, the shop’s owner, was completely immersed in a romance novel. As the proprietor of the bookshop, Jasmine enjoyed the delightful freedom to explore any book that caught her fancy—one of the many perks of pursuing her passion for a living. She had devoured nearly all the romance titles available in the store.
At times, Serenity playfully suggested that Jasmine should consider becoming a writer, given her enthusiasm for a good chick lit novel.
“Seren, you won’t believe it! The main characters in this story got married at first sight!” Jasmine exclaimed as she set her book down, a smile spreading across her face. “Just like you!” Serenity looked up, her attention fully captured by Jasmine’s excitement.
“Sure, lots of people do marry after a brief courtship. But you mentioned that the female lead in that book married a billionaire without thinking twice,” Serenity pointed out. “My husband, on the other hand, is just an ordinary wage earner.” Even though Zachary held a senior position in a prominent company, he was still working for someone else.
“You might want to ease up on the reading a bit,” Serenity advised with a chuckle. “I think those stories are starting to distort your reality. You’ll never find your Mr. Right if you keep comparing real men to the fictional heroes in your books. Those irresistible male leads only exist on the pages.” After all, it was rare to encounter young, charming, wealthy, and devoted CEOs in everyday life.
“I’m just passing time with these novels,” Jasmine replied, closing her book and pulling out her phone to search for intriguing news. Her usual go-to was the tabloid section. She navigated to her favorite site, eager to catch up on the trending stories of the day.
Suddenly, an article caught Jasmine’s eye, and she gasped, “Seren, take a look at Twitter!”
“What’s the big news?” Serenity asked, glancing over but still focused on her own screen.
Serenity had an account, albeit one she seldom managed, as her follower count remained firmly in the double digits. Every now and then, she would share updates about her crafts, knowing that her loyal customers made up her small audience.
“Did you hear? Someone has declared their love for the heir of the York family.” “Oh,” Serenity replied, her interest piqued not at all. In her mind, it was clear that she would never encounter the prominent figure of the York family. After all, why should she invest time in someone who had no impact on her life?
“I’ve heard the heir has quite a few admirers,” someone chimed in. “I mean, he’s not just the heir; he’s also the CEO of York Corporation. Marrying him would mean marrying into wealth and power.”
“The woman must be someone special to make such a daring move towards the heir,” another voice added. “Any guesses on who she is, Serenity?” “It’s definitely not you or me,” Serenity quipped, effectively silencing Jasmine.
Jasmine, looking disappointed, protested, “How can you not be intrigued by the hottest gossip of the year? It’s the sister of the CEO of Stone Group—the only sister, mind you. Stone Group is second only to York Corporation in Wiltspoon. Yet, it seems the two companies are not on the best of terms. I can’t believe Elisa has feelings for young Mr. York! I really admire her bravery and confidence in expressing her feelings!”
Serenity, however, brought Jasmine back down to earth. “Remember, we discussed last time that Mr. York might not be interested in women. Ms. Stone’s feelings may not be reciprocated. We might see a more hopeful outcome if Mr. Stone pursued him instead.” Jasmine was left speechless. After all, Mr. Stone was married, and his wedding had caused quite a stir in the Wiltspoon community. The couple was undeniably in love, and Mr. Stone had carved out a significant reputation for himself.
Wiltspoon was known as a devoted husband who would provide his wife with anything she desired. On the other hand, Jasmine held the belief that Mr. Stone was akin to a character pulled straight from the pages of a romance novel—young, attractive, and wealthy.