Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Jasmine’s transformation presented a significant risk.
Raymond’s expression hardened as he replied, “Luna, don’t think for a moment that I’m oblivious to your thoughts. Jasmine’s understanding of the situation is a reflection of the values I’ve imparted to her.
“She’s my daughter, and I know her well. And as for you, don’t assume that Asher’s official status as my grandson entitles you to inherit anything from the Shelbert family.
“Let me be clear—you won’t receive a cent from me. Everything I have is for Asher. Don’t even entertain the notion of claiming a share.” In that instant, Luna felt a pang of foolishness sweep through her. @& It became clear that Raymond had seen through her intentions all along. Yet he chose to remain silent, maintaining the facade of a caring father while Luna played the role of the concerned daughter. a This pretense persisted until today, the very day when Asher was officially adopted into the Shelbert family.
Luna had envisioned a dramatic turnaround in her life from that moment on, believing it was her opportunity for redemption.
Nonetheless, she couldn’t help but notice Raymond’s profound joy, which seemed to stem solely from Jasmine’s transformation. It underscored just how much he valued her.
On the flip side, Luna felt relegated to nothing more than a means to an end.
She was well aware that if it weren’t for Raymond’s desire to adopt Asher, she wouldn’t have had any reason to remain in the Shelbert family.
As she lowered her head, Luna’s eyes betrayed a mix of resentment and frustration.
Why did Jasmine receive such special treatment when they were both Raymond’s daughters? Why was he so ecstatic about Jasmine’s acceptance of Asher? Throughout the remainder of the party, Jasmine took Asher around, introducing him to the guests.
Luna found herself pushed to the sidelines, feeling like an outsider witnessing what should have been her moment, now claimed by Jasmine.
Feeling adrift, Luna retreated to the food area, hoping to distract herself and hide her inner turmoil. But lost in her thoughts, she accidentally collided with a waitress.
Luna’s rage surged. The audacity of a mere waitress to trigger her now was beyond belief.
In an instant, her hand shot forward, delivering a sharp slap. “Are you blind? Do you have any idea how much this dress costs? Your entire salary wouldn’t even begin to cover it!” The waitress rushed to apologize, saying, “I’m sorry, it was an accident.
Allow me to help you clean your dress.” Luna’s expression remained scornful as she fixed her gaze on the waitress.
“Do you even recognize the brand of this dress? It’s unlikely you can clean it adequately! Hand -washing simply won’t suffice.”
Feeling embarrassed by the situation, the waitress proposed, “I’m terribly sorry. May I cover the dry cleaning costs for you?” “Dry cleaning costs? Are you truly unaware or simply feigning ignorance?” Luna shot back, her tone dripping with disdain.
Suddenly, she lunged forward and delivered a sharp jab to the waitress’s head. “This dress is made from high- quality fabric. Whether it’s hand – washed or dry-cleaned, these stains are nearly impossible to remove. You were deliberately attempting to ruin it, weren’t you?” “Ms. Maynard, I swear it wasn’t intentional! I’m truly sorry!” the waitress replied, her voice brimming with remorse,
“Apologies won’t suffice. If they did, we wouldn’t need the police, would we? I already knew someone like you would envy the dress I’m wearing.
“But sadly for you, you’ll never have the opportunity to wear something like this in your life. That’s why you’re filled with jealousy.
“You purposely spilled the drink on me, ruining my dress, and now you’re here, pretending to be innocent, seeking sympathy as if you’re some helpless victim, am I right?” Luna’s boiling anger surged forth as she directed her frustration at the waitress.
Although she couldn’t afford to offend the guests present, berating a waitress came naturally to her, especially since she was hosting today’s banquet
Just then, Mia intervened, She glanced at the waitress before addressing Luna, “Luna, don’t assign blame where it doesn’t belong. She hasn’t wronged you.” “She hasn’t wronged me? Look at my dress stained with red wine! Is this the level of service provided by Aide Castle Hotel?” “This incident was clearly accidental, and I saw it unfold. It’s apparent that you inadvertently bumped into the waitress’ tray, resulting in the mishap.
“Furthermore, it’s just a dress, and considering the status of everyone here, it’s reasonable to assume that we all have spare outfits.
“Ms. Maynard, your reaction seems excessive and lacks maturity. If Mr
Shelbert were to become aware of this, how do you suppose he would regard you?” “Leave my Dad out of this,” Luna sharply retorted.
Despite projecting confidence, she couldn’t shake a lingering sense of unease.
With her newfound status, Luna knew she couldn’t afford to act impulsively as she once did; she had to be mindful of her public image.
Shooting a sharp glare at the waitress, Luna delivered her warning. “You should count yourself fortunate today.
I’ll let this incident pass, but remember this warning for the future.
If such a mishap occurs again, your paycheck won’t be enough to cover the damage to my dress!”
Having vented her frustrations, Luna turned on her heel and made her way to the restroom to change her attire.
Mia couldn’t overlook Luna’s arrogance and hostility, reinforcing her suspicions about Luna’s hypocritical nature.
She believed that once Luna gained power, she would probably seek revenge against those from her past.
“Ms. Lane, I apologize sincerely for the inconvenience,” the waitress muttered nervously.
Addressing the waitress, Mia advised, “You should offer your apologies promptly. Such accidents can occur frequently, so you must be quick to avoid trouble. Not every situation will end as fortunately as this one. It’s essential to learn how to protect yourself.” – After dismissing the waitress, Mia couldn’t help but glance at Jasmine.
Despite her composed smile, it lacked the innocence she once exuded.
However, the banquet veered unexpectedly with the arrival of two uninvited guests—elderly individuals whom Luna immediately recognized as Jasmine’s maternal grandparents.
Mia’s mind raced with questions as she observed the unexpected arrival of Jasmine’s grandparents. Why were they here? Hadn’t Jasmine informed her family about the event beforehand? These thoughts stirred a sense of unease in Mia.
Raymond’s reaction mirrored Mia’s concern.
With a glance at Jasmine, he noted, “Your grandparents have arrived.” His words carried an unspoken request for Jasmine to shed light on Ernest and Irene’s unexpected presence at the event.
With the party already in full swing and proceeding smoothly, Raymond hoped to avoid any disruptions their presence might bring, especially at such a late stage.
Jasmine’s expression tightened as she explained, “Dad, I’m not sure why Grandpa Ernest and Grandma Irene decided to come to today’s gathering, but I’ll ensure to handle this situation appropriately. You can count on me.” With Jasmine’s assurance, Raymond breathed a sigh of relief.
Approaching Ernest and Irene, he inquired, “Mom, Dad, what prompted your sudden visit? You should have notified me earlier, and I would have arranged transportation for you.” Irene responded with a chilly huff, “Given my current circumstances, [
couldn’t possibly trouble you to send a car for me.” Her words dripped with tension from the moment she spoke.
Meanwhile, Ernest cast a disdainful glance at Asher beside him before speaking in a frosty tone, “So, this is the young lad you’re so eager to welcome into your family, huh? Honestly, he doesn’t strike me as particularly sharp.
“If you’re so insistent on having an heir, Jazzy can always have children after she’s married. Bringing someone from such a questionable background —aren’t you concerned about becoming the subject of ridicule?” Upon overhearing their conversation, Raymond looked at Jasmine with disbelief and remarked, “Jazzy, didn’t you mention that you had convinced your grandparents?” Indeed, it was evident from Ernest’s and Irene’s demeanor that neither of them was supportive of the idea, and Jasmine had failed to persuade them.
Jasmine’s expression hardened as she hurriedly guided Ernest and Irene away, urging, “Grandpa, Grandma, let’s continue this discussion in the lobby. It’s too crowded here for a proper conversation.” With a disdainful snort, they reluctantly complied and followed her toward the lobby.
Raymond breathed a slight sigh of relief as Ernest and Irene left. The last thing he wanted was a public confrontation in the crowded lobby.
After stealing a glance at Ernest and Irene, Raymond turned to Jasmine.
“Tell me the truth, did you really manage to persuade your grandparents?” Jasmine’s expression betrayed her unease. “I’m sorry, Dad. I misled you. I did talk to them, but Grandpa and Grandma were firm in their refusal.
However, I’ve had a change of perspective now. I stand with you, and I believe given some time, I can sway them.” “How could you deceive me like this, Jazzy? How could you lie about something so important?” Despite his inner turmoil, Raymond held his tongue. After all, Jasmine’s newfound allegiance was a positive development; as long as she was on his side, Ernest and Irene’s opinions mattered little.
However, Raymond knew that escalating the situation would only fuel conflict and provide ammunition to his adversaries. Thus, for the sake of peace, he chose to remain composed.
Without hesitation, Raymond quickly followed suit, heading toward the lobby.
Seizing the moment, Mia approached Jasmine and asked, “What’s going on? Do you need my assistance?” Jasmine’s demeanor shifted from nervousness to confident composure.
“Thanks, but I’ve got it under control. I can handle this myself,” she assured Mia before joining Raymond in the lobby. &? Despite Jasmine’s reassurance, Mia couldn’t shake her concern. What if there was a way she could lend a hand? Shortly after Jasmine entered the lobby, Luna emerged, having changed her attire.
Noticing Ernest and Irene, her expression turned to surprise. Could it be that they too were here to celebrate Asher’s occasion?
As Luna wrestled with her thoughts, apprehension churned within her.
Glancing at her, Raymond suggested, “Why don’t you come over and say hello to your two elders? And later, make sure to bring Asher over to greet them as well.”
With a heavy heart, Luna complied. But before she could approach, Irene’s voice cut through the air like ice. “There’s no need to bring the kid over. Our family doesn’t have any such child, and I refuse to acknowledge his identity.”
A glint of surprise flickered in Luna’s eyes at Irene’s words. Could it be that Jasmine hadn’t convinced her grandparents, but had deceived them instead?
This realization brought some comfort to Luna.
Without hesitation, she turned to Raymond, feigning concern as she asked, “Dad, how do you think we should handle this situation?”
Meanwhile, Jasmine cautiously approached, addressing Ernest and Irene, “Grandpa, Grandma, could we please return home for now? I promise to explain everything later.”
“Jazzy, you’ve deeply disappointed us. How could you possibly accept Asher? Are you disregarding your mother’s feelings, imposing upon her to accept a child born from your father’s affair? Are you intentionally trying to inflict pain on her?”
“Jazzy, after all the values we’ve taught you, how could you sink so low? Even if you choose to distance yourself from your father, our family would still support you. Why degrade yourself by accepting that illegitimate child?”
With a heavy thud, Jasmine dropped to her knees before Ernest and Irene. “Grandpa, Grandma, both Dad and Mom mean everything to me. Asher is just a child, innocent of his origins. It’s not his fault. “I understand Dad’s decision to bring him into our home. In time, we can all become one family, and I trust Dad won’t treat me unfairly. All I want is a sense of belonging and a complete family!”
Raymond found himself briefly moved by Jasmine’s pleading posture. After all, he had cared for her for years, nurturing her as he would a son.
Not to mention, Jasmine had consistently exceeded Raymond’s expectations. Whether through her outstanding academic achievements or her remarks ine social finesse, she excelled in every aspect of her life.
Stepping closer, Raymond gently implored, “Jazzy, please, stand up. This issue is for us adults to resolve. You don’t need to involve yourself.”
“Dad, I promised I would take care of this. I’ll do everything in my power to convince Grandpa and Grandma to accept Asher!” Jasmine assured him.
“This is absolute nonsense,” Irene interjected sharply, her hand poised to deliver a stinging slap to Jasmine’s cheek. “If you choose to accept Asher, then consider yourself disowned from this family!”
As Luna watched Jasmine being slapped, a slight smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. She couldn’t help but find Jasmine’s abrupt change and her knack for swaying her elders suspicious.
Indeed, the realization that Jasmine had been deceitful brought a sense of relief to Luna.
Meanwhile, Raymond’s heart went out to Jasmine. “Jazzy, regardless of what may come between your mother and me, I’ll always be your father, and they’ll always be your grandparents. There’s no need to strain your relationships with them like this.”
Clutching her throbbing cheek, Jasmine implored, “But Dad, I don’t want you and Mom to split up! All want is a complete family. Is that too much to ask for? As long as you and Mom stay together, I’m willing to accept Asher.”
Raymond was overcome with guilt and unease as he listened to Jasmine’s heartfelt plea. “Jazzy, I promise you, I won’t divorce your mother.” Meanwhile, Ernest and Irene exchanged a knowing glance before releasing a heavy sigh, seemingly conceding.
With a resigned expression, Irene turned to Raymond and stated, “Alright, we’ll agree to it, and Asher can remain. But we do have one condition.”