Chapter 391
Chapter 391:
ended up acquiescing.
“Nina.”
“Yes!” Nina’s demeanor brightened instantly, her earlier somber tone clearly an act.
“By the way, those bags Aiden is carrying…”
“They’re all for you!” Nina squeezed Janice’s hand and gave Aiden a significant look.
Aiden stepped forward, resigned, with the bags. “These are gifts my mom picked up from abroad for you. She really likes you. As her son, I didn’t even get one gift.”
Nina shot him a glare. “You dare ask for a gift? After you’ve lost my daughter-in-law, you still have the nerve to talk?”
Aiden stayed quiet, wary of triggering a more severe scolding from Nina.
“Janice, I don’t know why my son could be so stupid. By the way, I have a cocktail party this afternoon. Would you come with me?” Nina asked with expectation.
“A cocktail party?”
“Yeah, it’s just a small gathering with a few friends. It’s usually quite dull, and if I don’t show up, those old ladies will definitely start gossiping. It would be much nicer with you there.”
Janice’s thoughts briefly wandered to Leonie, and she wondered how Sierra was managing.
“Alright. Since you’re asking, I’d be happy to come along.”
The cocktail party brimmed with sophistication, exuding elegance and style.
On the surface, it was for socializing and bonding, but in truth, it served as a stage for forming alliances and gaining influence for their high-society families.
Nina had little interest in these schemes. The Green family stood at the pinnacle of power, their strength unmatched even by coalitions of other elite families.
So, she and Janice tucked themselves away in a corner. Janice hid behind sunglasses, and Nina wore a fisherman’s hat, keeping a low profile.
“Janice, look at that woman in the black dress covered in jewelry. That’s Wendy Chadwick. The Chadwick family is a newly emerged elite in Efrery, quite similar to what the Edwards family once was.”
₥ₒᵣₑ ᵤₚdₐₜₑₛ ᵢₙ gₐₗₙₒᵥₑₗₛ.𝒸ₒₘ
Nina carefully watched Janice’s expression at the mention of the Edwards family.
Noting her composed demeanor, she realized Janice had completely moved on. Besides, Aiden had revealed that Janice wasn’t even an Edwards—her true family was elsewhere.
That revelation brought Nina a sense of relief.
Someone as gifted as Janice deserved far better than the lowly Edwards family.
“Normally, families like hers wouldn’t even register on the radar of old money like us. But she’s clever—she’s managed to gain the support of some powerful society matrons.”
Janice glanced at Wendy, her eyes narrowing. “Could the Chadwick family be Laurie’s maiden family?”
“Now that you say it, it really does seem like that might be the case.”
Janice’s remark sparked a connection in Nina’s mind. “I never considered that before, but now that you mention it, it really is Laurie’s maiden family.”
Nina now regarded Wendy with newfound interest.
The Chadwick family was a recent addition to the elite, and Wendy had swiftly joined their social circles. Clearly, both she and her family harbored considerable ambition.
“Laurie’s fled overseas, yet the Chadwick family remains indifferent. That’s curious,” Nina mused, though Janice shook her head in quiet disagreement.
“What do you think, Janice?”
“The Chadwick family’s swift ascent likely had Laurie’s covert backing.”
Janice recalled that during her time advising the Edwards family, Laurie frequently funneled money to her maiden family under her company’s name. She’d then claim to Connor that her business was struggling and needed financial backing. Connor, ever trusting, had always obliged without question.
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