Chapter 332 - 330: Private Party

After agonizing over it for a long time, Jasmine Sterling finally chose a simple yet elegant black silk long dress. The fabric was soft and smooth, and the cut was exquisite, flawlessly accentuating her figure.

She put on a matching set of top-tier luxury jewelry from Bulgari’s red diamond collection, instantly completing the look.

Picking up the Chanel "swan egg" clutch from the side, she examined herself in the mirror. Seeing her glamorous, brand-new reflection, Jasmine found herself momentarily lost in a daze.

Normally, she was used to simple and comfortable clothes, as they were more practical for getting things done.

The rare times she did dress up, it was only with a touch of makeup. She had never before so meticulously put together such a high-end, sophisticated ensemble.

Most of these expensive outfits her daughter had bought for her still had their tags on. But at this moment, looking in the mirror, Jasmine felt a dreamlike sense of unreality.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Hearing the sound, Yoda leaped off the sofa and ran toward the entryway, tail wagging.

Jasmine barely snapped out of her daze and followed. When she opened the door, it was Wendy Duncan!

"Oh my god, Jasmine, you look absolutely stunning today!" Wendy couldn’t help but exclaim at first glance, a cry of sincere amazement.

Her eyes were filled with wonder as she looked Jasmine up and down several times. "So beautiful! Did you put this together yourself?"

Jasmine felt a little embarrassed by her reaction and nodded with a smile.

’Her sense and grasp of beauty seemed innate; she rarely made a misstep when it came to fashion.’

The black dress was adorned with red diamond jewelry—a timeless, classic color combination. Against her naturally snow-white skin, the black and red looked all the more striking and bewitching, making it impossible to look away.

"I was afraid I’d embarrass you, so I made a special effort to dress up."

Wendy nodded in satisfaction. "You truly look gorgeous. Jasmine, you should dress up more often. It’s such a shame to let your natural beauty go to waste!"

The night air was cool, so Jasmine put on a fur coat before leaving.

On the way there, the two shared a car, sitting in the back seat as Wendy casually chatted with Jasmine about the private party that evening.

"The Perry Family is quite prominent in Lorcain. Tonight’s private banquet is being hosted by Mrs. Perry. Monica and I have been good friends for many years. She doesn’t like being called Mrs. Perry, so we all call her Monica."

Jasmine nodded in understanding, but she still looked a little reserved and apprehensive.

Seeing this, Wendy patted her hand and said with a reassuring smile, "You don’t need to be nervous. Just standing there in that outfit, no one will dare look down on you."

"I’m okay. It’s probably just because it’s my first time, so I feel a bit lost."

"There’s a first time for everything. I’ll bring you to more banquets like this when I get the chance so you can meet more people."

"Thank you for taking such good care of me." Jasmine looked at Wendy gratefully and thanked her.

Wendy smiled at her words, then turned to the driver’s seat. "Jennings, sorry to make you wait outside for a few hours."

"It’s no problem, Ma’am."

The car drove all the way to a mountainside on the outskirts of the city, where the Perry Family’s mansion was hidden amidst lush greenery.

A few luxury cars were already parked in the open space before the main entrance, but it wasn’t the bustling, guest-filled scene one might expect.

"Today’s gathering is more private, so there aren’t many people. But don’t worry, I gave Monica a heads-up," Wendy explained softly.

After entering the estate, a butler led them along a quiet path to the main villa. The view suddenly opened up. The villa was brightly lit, and the garden was also exquisitely decorated and dazzling.

"This way, ladies."

The butler showed them inside before turning and retreating. The faint sound of chatter and laughter drifted from the living room, but surprisingly, Jasmine no longer felt nervous.

Just as she followed Wendy into the main hall, someone with a sharp eye spotted them.

"Mrs. Goodman is here!"

The group, who had been sitting on the sofas, all rose to greet them. Jasmine casually glanced around and noticed that in the vast living room, there was only this one small cluster of people by the sofas—no more than seven or eight in total.

Furthermore, they were all high-society ladies; there wasn’t a single man.

"Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. Ashton..."

"Mrs. Chase, it’s been a while..."

Wendy first greeted each of them one by one, finally turning her gaze to Monica Coleman, who was in the center. "Monica."

Monica Coleman was about fifty years old but was impeccably well-preserved. She wore a dark green satin cheongsam, paired with a Crescent White pearl necklace and earrings, exuding the charm and grand elegance of an Eastern beauty.

She first smiled and nodded at Wendy, then her gaze shifted to Jasmine standing beside her.

The others, of course, couldn’t ignore Jasmine either and looked at her with curiosity.

"Wendy, is this that friend of yours?" Monica Coleman asked in a calm voice.

Wendy took Jasmine’s hand and introduced her to the group. "Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Jasmine Sterling, my friend. Since she’s new to Lorcain, I thought I’d bring her out to meet you all."

Jasmine smiled at the group, then looked at Monica Coleman and said, "Monica."

"Welcome."

With that, Monica Coleman gestured for everyone to sit down. "Dinner will be ready soon. It’s just us old friends gathering today, so there’s no need to be formal. Besides, there are no men here to impress."

Her words made everyone laugh.

’Jasmine looked at Monica Coleman with curiosity. She had such a naturally powerful aura; I hadn’t expected her to make such a playful joke.’

Wendy, seeming to fear Jasmine wouldn’t be able to fit in, pulled her along to introduce her to each of the wives after they sat down.

They were all wives from prominent Lorcain families. Perhaps because of their connection to Wendy, their gazes toward Jasmine, though probing, remained polite and friendly on the surface.

"Jasmine..." Mrs. Chase looked at her and spoke up. "Were you named after the flower?"

Jasmine gently shook her head and explained, "It’s a phonetic choice. My Chinese name actually means ’lush greenery’."

Monica Coleman then asked curiously, "Judging by your accent, are you from Veridia?"

"I’m from Fornan, but I’ve lived in Veridia for so long that my accent has probably been influenced."

"Fornan?" Monica Coleman nodded lightly. "I actually took a trip there after the New Year. We established a branch there that just started operations."

Jasmine was slightly taken aback. "Monica, you have your own company?"

Monica Coleman tilted her head and raised a delicate eyebrow, a hint of unconcealable pride in her eyes. The expression was even a little cute.

Just then, Wendy, who was sitting beside her, chimed in, "Monica’s company is no smaller than Director Perry’s. It’s been publicly listed for years!"

Someone else chimed in, "I’d love to start my own business in a field I enjoy, like Monica. But unfortunately, I don’t have her sharp mind or her skills."

"That’s right. I really admire Monica, but I think I’m more envious. To have your own ideas and your own career... you can always hold your head high, no matter what."