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Novel Catalog
Chapter 11
“Let’s go.” Despite his frustration with Serenity, Zachary had no intention of confronting her about it. Even though Serenity was his wife on paper, the distance between them was clear, and they were no different than strangers. Too afraid to speak up, the driver started the car, silently accepting the awkwardness in the air. Serenity, meanwhile, had no idea how close she had come to crashing into Zachary’s car. She zoomed off on her e-bike, quickly reaching the shop. Jasmine, who lived nearby, was always there earlier than Serenity.
“Seren.”
Jasmine, already settled in and having ordered breakfast, greeted her best friend with a smile. She was halfway through her meal when Serenity walked in. “Have you eaten?”
“Yeah,” Serenity replied casually.
“Oh,” Jasmine responded, continuing to enjoy her food. “I brought you some desserts. They’re delicious. Try them.” Jasmine handed her a bag of treats she had picked up by the cash register. Serenity placed her bike key on the counter and sat down, pulling the bag of desserts closer. “You can’t go wrong with desserts,” she said before adding, “I saw a Rolls-Royce on my way to work, Jasmine.”
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. “I see. It’s not unusual to see a Rolls-Royce in Wiltspoon, but it’s definitely not something you spot every day. Did you see who was inside? Was it like in the books—a hot, single CEO?”
Serenity gave Jasmine a pointed look.
Jasmine laughed. “That’s how it goes in the stories, right? Why do all the hot, rich CEOs seem to be avoiding us?”
“The storylines are just made up to cater to the market. Would anyone read a book about an average wage earner? The leading man has to be someone from the top of society, even if he’s not a CEO.”
Jasmine burst into more laughter. “That’s so true.” She paused for a moment before asking, “By the way, are you free tonight, Seren?”
Serenity raised an eyebrow. “You know I’m usually either at home or at the shop, right? What’s up?”
Life was simple for Serenity, revolving around managing her shop and caring for her nephew.
“There’s a dinner party tonight. It’s a gathering of high society. I got an invite. Want to come with me and see how they live?” Jasmine asked, her voice excited.
Serenity shook her head. “I don’t run in those circles. I’m not really interested.”
Although she earned a decent living, the upper class was something far out of her reach. She had no desire to infiltrate that world, nor the means to.
“To be honest, I don’t want to go either. But my mom begged my aunt for an invite. I can bring a plus one, and I thought of taking you. Seren, please come with me. I need someone to be my rock there. I don’t want my mom to nag at me the entire time.”
The Sox family was wealthy and well-known in Wiltspoon, owning several properties and a block of shops, making millions through rent. However, despite their wealth, they struggled to enter the higher social strata. Mrs. Sox, Jasmine’s mother, always dreamed of marrying her daughter off into a higher social class. Her sister, Jasmine’s aunt, had managed to marry into a rich and influential family after decades of hardship. Finally, after many years, she was able to mingle with the upper crust.
Jasmine’s aunt, proud of her niece’s beauty, believed she was the perfect match for a wealthy bachelor. Since Jasmine’s mom had asked, the aunt was more than happy to help her niece climb the social ladder.
“Is Mrs. Sox pressuring you to get married again?” Serenity asked, her voice laced with concern.
“All mothers are the same,” Jasmine sighed. “They can’t wait to get rid of their daughters and make them someone else’s problem as soon as they turn eighteen. I can make my own money and live independently. I don’t need a man to enjoy life.”
Jasmine’s voice grew firm as she added, “I think it’s a mistake to marry out of your social class. I don’t want to marry up. My aunt may be doing well now, but it took her decades to get here. She faced so many struggles when she first married her husband. I remember she used to cry when she visited my mom back then. She…”
