Empire 184

Wisteria faces a tense confrontation with Solenne, whose cutting remark deeply wounds her pride. Despite her anger, Wisteria controls herself, responding with a cold laugh and a challenge before entering the private lounge where Halcyon’s birthday celebration is underway. The event is held at a Huxley Toy venue, chosen by Yancey to impress Halcyon, his fiancée. The guest list includes Halcyon’s close friends and Yancey’s longtime acquaintances, many of whom know of Wisteria’s past relationship with Yancey and her reputation as a serial dater.

Wisteria’s unexpected role as the server at the party shocks everyone, especially since it’s her family’s venue and she is serving Yancey and his fiancée directly. The atmosphere freezes as guests watch the unfolding drama in silence, speculating whether this is some sort of revenge or humiliation. Despite the tension, most guests side with Yancey, viewing Wisteria as the one at fault. Yancey himself appears troubled, his emotions flickering as he watches Wisteria.

When Wisteria delivers the orders without the usual pleasantries, she is immediately criticized by Halcyon’s friends and Solenne, who mocks her for her attitude and questions how she ended up managing the event. Solenne’s taunts escalate, and the guests pile on, ridiculing Wisteria for her perceived temper and refusal to serve Yancey properly. Yancey intervenes, telling them to leave Wisteria alone and to send another server if needed, though his stern glare quickly silences any further protests.

As Wisteria prepares to leave, Solenne blocks her path and demands she make amends by drinking a bottle of wine in honor of Halcyon’s birthday, knowing Wisteria’s intolerance to alcohol. This cruel challenge highlights Solenne’s intent to humiliate Wisteria further, with Yancey fully aware of Wisteria’s limitations. The chapter ends on this tense note, with Wisteria caught between maintaining her dignity and enduring the hostile environment.

Solenne’s cutting remark struck Wisteria like a sharp blade, piercing right through her defenses. She clenched her fists tightly, biting her lip to hold back any retort. Their eyes locked in a silent battle, neither willing to yield even a fraction of ground.

Finally, Wisteria let out a cold, humorless laugh. “So what if I’m just serving people? If you want a show, then keep your eyes peeled.”

Without another word, she grabbed the tray, spun on her heel, and strode purposefully into the private lounge. For more chapters visit

Solenne’s lips curled into a smug smirk as she followed close behind.

The lounge was alive with a buzz of excitement. It was Halcyon’s birthday, and since she was a devoted fan of Huxley Toys, Yancey had chosen a Huxley Toy venue to host the celebration, clearly aiming to impress her.

Yet, Halcyon had only invited two of her closest girlfriends from their elite social circle. The rest of the guests were Yancey’s old acquaintances—childhood friends, former classmates, and colleagues he had known for years.

In the past, Yancey had always been seen hanging around Wisteria, but in recent years, he had finally severed ties completely. Half of the people here recognized Wisteria, and most knew about Yancey’s past pursuit of her, only to be rejected in the end.

Yancey’s reputation was spotless—friendly, easygoing, the kind of guy everyone liked. Though he never spoke about what had happened between him and Wisteria, the assumption was widespread that she had been the heartbreaker.

Thanks to Solenne’s loud mouth, even those who hadn’t witnessed the drama firsthand had heard every sordid detail of Wisteria and Yancey’s messy history.

Wisteria had been involved with six men in total, the last breakup occurring shortly after her relationship with Yancey ended. Now single, she was rumored to have attended a lavish mixer just last week. Within their circles, she was known as something of a serial dater.

The moment Wisteria stepped into the lounge, it felt as if the air itself had frozen.

Yancey’s friends never expected to see her working as a server at her family’s own venue, let alone serving Yancey and his fiancée with her own hands.

It was a spectacle so rare it felt almost surreal. No one dared speak, but everyone was desperate to watch the unfolding drama.

Those closest to Yancey glanced at him immediately, wondering if this had been some kind of orchestrated revenge. Was this his way of showing off his new fiancée while humiliating his ex?

But given Wisteria’s reputation, no one felt any sympathy for her. If anything, they secretly relished Yancey’s apparent victory.

Only Yancey himself looked anything but pleased.

Wisteria set the tray down and was already halfway out the door when someone called her back.

“Hey, aren’t you going to tell us what’s being served? That’s pretty basic service, isn’t it?”

She turned slowly, her voice sharp and cold. “Here are your fruit platters and snacks. Everything you ordered is on the table.”

Her tone immediately drew disapproval from Halcyon’s girlfriends.

“Aren’t you supposed to be the manager? I thought the Huxley family prided themselves on excellent service. How does someone like you end up in charge?”

“Yeah, and do you even know who you’re serving tonight? This is the Covington boy! With that attitude, don’t expect a tip.”

Halcyon herself wasn’t thrilled either. She had noticed Wisteria the moment she entered—pretty enough, but so cold, without even a word of welcome.

Still, it was her big night with Yancey. She had an image to uphold, so she kept silent.

Just then, Solenne breezed in, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness as she joined the pile-on. “Sorry, Ms. Loring. Our manager is usually too busy to serve guests personally. Maybe she’s just forgotten her manners.”

She turned toward Wisteria and smiled slyly. “Well? What are you waiting for? The guests aren’t happy. Don’t you think you should apologize?”

All eyes snapped to Wisteria.

She shot Solenne a hard glare, then swept her gaze around the room—catching Yancey’s eyes locked on her. His hand clenched tightly in his lap, brow furrowed, emotions flickering across his face like a gathering storm.

Everyone else quietly savored the spectacle. Nearly everyone here knew exactly who Wisteria was, though no one dared say it aloud.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Wisteria spoke. “I apologize for my attitude. If you’d prefer another server, I’ll send someone else right away.”

Halcyon’s friend waved her off dismissively. “Don’t bother. Everyone knows the manager’s service is supposed to be top-notch, right?”

Yancey’s buddies jumped in, eager to stir the pot. “Never heard of a server turning down guests before. You’ve got quite the temper for a manager!”

“Or maybe you just don’t want to serve Yancey, is that it?”

As the teasing grew louder, Yancey’s voice cut sharply through the chatter. “Let her go. Send someone else.”

“Why bother?” his childhood friend protested. “I think she’s perfect for waiting on us tonight!”

But Yancey shot him a glare so cold that the man immediately fell silent.

Yancey rarely lost his temper. When he did, everyone knew he meant business.

Taking the cue, Wisteria turned to leave, but Solenne stepped in front of her, arm outstretched. “You’ve put a damper on everyone’s mood. Shouldn’t you make it up to us? Here’s an idea: open a bottle of wine and toast Ms. Halcyon for her birthday. Drink it all in one go, and then you can leave.”

Solenne was deliberately making things difficult. Wisteria couldn’t handle much alcohol—just a few drinks and she broke out in hives.

Of course, Yancey knew this all too well.

The tension in the room was palpable, with Wisteria standing firmly at the center of a storm fueled by past wounds and present judgments. Despite the biting remarks and the cold stares, she held her ground, embodying a quiet strength that spoke volumes about her resilience. The chapter delicately captures the complexity of their intertwined histories, revealing how pride and vulnerability coexist in moments charged with unspoken emotions.

Amidst the social scrutiny and the sharp exchanges, the lingering connection between Wisteria and Yancey remains undeniable, marked by a mixture of regret, frustration, and unresolved feelings. This chapter gently underscores the painful reality of past relationships shadowing present interactions, while also hinting at the personal battles each character faces beneath the surface. The emotional undercurrents leave readers with a profound sense of anticipation for what lies ahead.

The next chapter promises to deepen the tension simmering beneath the surface, as Wisteria finds herself trapped in a web of social expectations and personal grudges. The charged atmosphere at Halcyon’s birthday party is only the beginning, and the subtle power plays among the guests hint at more confrontations to come. Wisteria’s resilience will be tested as she navigates the sharp tongues and pointed glances, all while wrestling with the complicated emotions stirred by Yancey’s presence.

Meanwhile, Yancey’s unusual behavior suggests that there is more to his feelings than the cold facade he presents. His protective stance toward Wisteria, despite the public humiliation she endures, raises questions about unresolved history and hidden motives. As the evening unfolds, the fragile balance between past wounds and present alliances threatens to shatter, leaving everyone wondering who will emerge victorious—and at what cost. The next chapter will reveal whether Wisteria can maintain her composure or if the night’s pressure will finally force her to confront her deepest vulnerabilities.