Chapter 498
498
498
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers. As the kiss ended, Caitlin gave Sebastian a look, warning him silently not to push his luck.
Sebastian grinned, slid off the sofa, and wrapped an arm around her as they returned to the crowd.
From that moment on, the magical birthday celebration officially began.
While Vienna Hall felt like a dreamy, enchanting fantasy, Florence Hall had the lively but ordinary atmosphere of a typical party.
Guests continued to arrive. Reese’s cousin Virgil showed up with a few friends. Her parents and other family members also made their appearances to celebrate her birthday.
Zora was among the invited guests and presented a gift she had picked out specifically for Reese.
“Thank you, Zora.”
“You’re welcome. Happy birthday. Just a little something from me.”
“That’s so thoughtful of you.”
Reese chatted with Zora for a while. Then Yasmin and her boyfriend Connor arrived.
“Yasmin, Connor, thank you so much for coming.”
Yasmin handed over a present. “Here’s your birthday gift. Wishing you all the best, Reese.”
“Thanks, really, thank you.”
Suddenly, Yasmin mentioned, “By the way, I heard it’s Caitlin’s birthday too. She’s apparently having her party in this same hotel. What a coincidence.”
Yasmin’s brother and sister–in–law had gone to Caitlin’s party instead. Yasmin hadn’t been invited, but luckily Reese had included her.
The comment hit a nerve.
Reese scowled. “Yeah. Of all the cursed luck, I end up sharing my birthday with her. Just thinking about it makes me sick.”
Zora, visibly surprised, asked, “Today is Caitlin’s birthday too? And she’s hosting a party here?”
“Exactly. You didn’t know?” Yasmin asked.
Zora didn’t respond but fell into thought. She was curious what Caitlin’s celebration might look like.
Yasmin glanced around and noticed Jillian was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Jillian? Isn’t she coming?”
“She’s not. She went with her brother to Caitlin’s party,” Reese said, clearly irritated.
“What? Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know. She’s been acting off lately. She even bailed on a few invites.”
Zora nodded subtly. Jillian had also turned her down for shopping trips.
Still curious, Yasmin said, “I’m going to text Jillian, ask what Caitlin’s party looks like. I bet it’s nothing compared to ours.”
No one objected. Yasmin sent a message, and Jillian replied with a short clip of the venue, making sure no faces were shown.
Tue Aug
498
Yasmin opened the video and gasped. “Wow. That’s stunning. Is that Vienna Hall?”
Reese and Zora leaned in for a better look. The jealousy was instant.
The venue was gorgeous, almost surreal. Just the decorations must have cost a fortune, not to mention everything else.
The women couldn’t hold back their envy.
“Seriously? It’s just a birthday, not a royal wedding.”
“She only pulled this off because of Sebastian. Without him, she’s just average,” Zora scoffed.
Noticing Reese’s sour expression, Zora added, “But Florence Hall is still amazing. Our party has way more energy.”
“That’s right. My uncle didn’t even try that hard. If he really wanted to, he could crush Sebastian’s efforts without breaking a sweat . ”
Reese muttered under her breath, “Whoever ends up marrying my uncle is going to live like a queen. Just thinking about it makes me jealous . ”
She said it casually, but Zora was paying close attention. Her gaze drifted to where Thomas sat, alone on a nearby sofa.
Now that was an opportunity worth chasing.
If she could get close to Thomas, maybe even marry him, she would have the full backing of Talon Quarters. She could do whatever she wanted in this city.
Abel? He was history. That man had already outlived his usefulness. With prison looming over him, there was no reason to keep him around.
Thomas, on the other hand, was power, wealth, and influence wrapped in one dangerously attractive package.
Reese continued greeting guests and introduced Zora to her family, including her cousin Virgil and, most importantly, her uncle Thomas.
By chance or luck, Zora was seated right next to Thomas, giving her the perfect opportunity.
“Mr. Quick, it’s truly a pleasure. I’ve heard so much about you.”
She had only heard of Thomas through rumors and whispers, tales of Talon Quarters and its intimidating reach. Seeing him up close, she was instantly taken aback.
Compared to him, Abel was nothing.
Thomas had a presence that could rival Hollywood’s top leading men.
The more she looked, the more obsessed she became. She wanted what Caitlin had. Influence. Power. The attention of powerful men.
There’s a saying: behind every successful woman is a line of exceptional men
That was the only difference between her and Caitlin. Caitlin had more powerful men behind her.
Zora tried to keep the conversation going. Thomas remained cool and mostly uninterested.
Still, she pressed forward, searching for common ground.
Then she said something that finally caught his attention.
“I’ll be competing against Caitlin in the upcoming World Design Expo. We agreed to a public design face–off. Would you be interested in attending ? ”
Thomas paused before nodding slightly. “Sure. I’ll be there.”
Zora smiled with satisfaction. That was a start. Now she just needed to keep the momentum going.
498
Meanwhile, in Vienna Hall, the fantasy masquerade was already in full swing
Games, surprises, and live performances kept the energy high and the smiles wide.
Even Caitlin, usually reserved and composed, had relaxed and joined in the fun, mingling freely with her guests.
Yates and the VX boys danced and sang around her, their charisma lighting up the room.
Every pair of eyes was drawn to her.
Tonight, she was the star of the show, radiant and unforgettable.
As the round stage curtain slowly opened, everyone took their seats, ready for the next big surprise.
#
AE
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