Chapter 381 - 379: She Is a Great Beauty

Charles Jennings: "..."

"I was just kidding," Cecilia Sterling said quickly. "You just overthink things. It’s really not as complicated as you’re making it out to be."

Cecilia opened her mouth, but in the end, she swallowed her words.

She felt that saying more would be pointless. Charles wasn’t an idiot; he surely understood the reasoning, he just couldn’t accept Estelle’s sudden distance.

"Why don’t you head back and cool off for a bit? You don’t have to worry about Estelle not having anyone to look after her. I’m here."

When Charles didn’t react, Cecilia frowned. "This is a women’s dorm. It’s not appropriate for you to stand here for hours. Hurry up and go back."

Some expression finally returned to Charles’s face. "Goodbye, Cecilia."

He walked on alone, his back radiating a sense of loneliness.

Just then, Estelle Goodman was standing on the balcony, watching him walk away. Her heart ached a little. She jumped when the dorm room door was pushed open and quickly turned around.

"You’re back?"

Cecilia pouted, annoyed. "Just came from downstairs. Had to console a heartbroken pretty boy."

"Oh." Estelle walked over to a chair and sat down, fiddling with her fingers as she asked, "What did you say to him?"

"What could I say?" Cecilia retorted.

Estelle was left speechless, clearly feeling bad as well.

Cecilia was at a loss for words. She understood that you can’t force a relationship—a twisted melon is never sweet. She thought Charles Jennings was a decent guy, but since Estelle didn’t feel the same, she would never offer any unsolicited advice.

When it came to matters of the heart, playing matchmaker was the biggest taboo.

Just then, a message came from her mother.

"Cecilia, are you free tonight?"

Cecilia was taken aback. Usually, her mother’s messages just asked if she was coming home for the night. This was the first time she’d asked if she was free.

This clearly meant she needed her for something.

"I’m free. What’s up, Mom?"

"A friend invited me to her home today. When we were chatting last time, I mentioned you, and she was very interested. She’d really like to meet you. Will you come with me?"

Before Cecilia could reply, Jasmine Sterling sent her a link to a webpage.

She casually tapped it open, and a personal online encyclopedia entry popped up.

Monica Coleman, Chairman of the Aurelian Group...

The page covered Monica Coleman’s personal information and a detailed introduction to the group under her name. She was a very famous and influential female entrepreneur.

Cecilia was a little surprised. Her mother had only been in Lorcain for a short time, and she’d already met someone so powerful?

’It must have been Mrs. Duncan who played a key role in this,’ she thought.

Her mother’s next message quickly followed: "She really wants to meet you. Do you want to go?"

"No problem, I’ll go with you."

Cecilia had no reason to refuse. The other party had made the first move, she was a new friend of her mother’s, and she was an elder with extremely high social status. It was only right to show her that respect.

In the evening, Cecilia went home first.

Jasmine Sterling had already done her makeup. She was as meticulously dressed as last time, but this was the first time Cecilia had seen her mother looking so graceful and magnificent.

She couldn’t help but exclaim, "Mom, you look absolutely beautiful!"

Slightly different from last time, Jasmine was wearing a green qipao that accentuated her figure perfectly, paired with jade jewelry. She looked like an Eastern beauty who had stepped right out of a painting.

Cecilia always knew her mother was a beauty, but the saying ’fine feathers make fine birds’ was certainly true. After dressing up, she was truly stunning.

Seeing her daughter’s reaction, Jasmine Sterling couldn’t help but smile shyly. "I just threw something together. Is it okay?"

"Okay? It’s more than okay! Mom, the reason Lily and I are both so pretty is all thanks to you!"

"You’re just saying that!" Jasmine was happy inside but explained, "When you’re a guest in someone’s home, you can’t be too casual. I went to a lot of trouble last time too, I just forgot to take a picture for you."

Cecilia nodded in agreement. "The fact that you put in so much effort shows how much you value this friend. But then again, as your daughter, I wish you would dress up like this every day. What woman doesn’t love to look beautiful? Before, we didn’t have the means. Now that we do, you should spare no effort in indulging yourself and making yourself happy."

Jasmine was only just beginning to understand the wisdom in her daughter’s words.

Seeing her own condition improving day by day truly did bring her mental and physical joy. This was a kind of happiness that could only be fully experienced with financial security.

The mother-daughter duo only left after Wendy Duncan arrived to pick them up.

Jasmine’s new look stunned Wendy Duncan as well. She couldn’t stop complimenting her taste in clothes and jewelry after just one glance.

Cecilia greeted her and then took the front passenger seat. After praising Jasmine, Wendy finally had a moment to ask, "Monica must have asked you to bring Cecilia, right?"

Jasmine smiled and nodded.

"That’s great. Cecilia will make you look good. All of us in our circle of friends have sons or daughters, but this is the first time Monica has ever wanted to meet one of the younger generation."

As she spoke, Wendy Duncan looked at Cecilia and advised, "Cecilia, your Miss Monica is an incredible woman. Aren’t you investing and doing business? If there’s anything you don’t understand or need help with, you have to seize this opportunity to ask. She has a ton of experience in this area."

"I understand, Mrs. Duncan. Thank you for the reminder."

About an hour later, the car stopped outside the Perry Family’s estate.

The process was the same as last time: a butler led them into the estate’s villa. But unlike last time, Monica Coleman had only invited the three of them, none of the other wealthy wives.

"Oh, Jasmine, you look so beautiful today!"

The moment they met, Monica Coleman came forward to greet them, showering Jasmine with praise.

"Monica," Jasmine greeted her, then immediately introduced Cecilia, who was beside her. "This is my eldest daughter, Cecilia. Cecilia, this is Miss Monica."

Cecilia had already sized her up. Monica Coleman’s aura was completely different from the other wealthy wives. Though her attitude was warm and friendly, she exuded a powerful presence that came from deep within.

"Hello, Miss Monica. I’m Cecilia."

Monica Coleman looked at Cecilia with admiration for a moment before nodding. "So beautiful, just like your mother."

Hearing this, Cecilia smiled gracefully, without any false modesty.

She was gorgeous, and she knew it.

The group sat down on the sofa. It wasn’t as crowded as last time.

After sitting down, Wendy Duncan subconsciously asked, "Monica, is Director Perry not home today either?"

"He’s not!" Monica Coleman said with a laugh. "I specifically invited you all over when he’s not here. Otherwise, with a man around, you’d inevitably feel a bit constrained. Plus, it saves us from listening to his nagging. Even I don’t like to hear him go on."

Hearing her say that, the others couldn’t help but smile.

Just then, however, footsteps sounded from the second floor of the villa. A man in his twenties, neatly dressed, came jogging down the stairs. "Mom, I was about to go—"

The man hadn’t finished his sentence when he looked up and saw the guests in the living room. His gaze landed squarely on Cecilia.

He froze, his eyes instantly glued to her.

’Holy shit, a total knockout!’