Chapter 172: Party time

Words : 1147 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Chapter 172: Party time "Anne, right?" the woman said warmly, extending her hand. "Hello, I’m Gracie. I used to be a friend of your father-in-law." Anne blinked in surprise. Augustine had never spoken of his parents’ old friends or colleagues. Still, she smiled politely and took the woman’s hand. "Oh—hello. It’s nice to meet you." Gracie’s expression softened with a trace of melancholy. "Your father-in-law was a good man. Strong, kind. We always believed he’d take the reins of the Beaumont Group someday. He had the vision, the heart. But..." Her voice trailed off into silence, her eyes drifting for a moment. Anne’s heart tugged at the heaviness in her tone. "His sudden passing was a terrible shock to all of us," Gracie continued. "Then we heard Augustine had gone abroad. And after that... no news of him. It’s truly heartening to see him again tonight. And I’m so glad to know he is married." She stepped closer, her hand resting gently on Anne’s shoulder. "Tell him you met Gracie. He’ll remember. And please, come visit when you have the time. I’d love to know you better." Anne’s heart softened. The woman’s kindness felt genuine, unexpected. She nodded enthusiastically. "I will. Thank you so much." A soft smile lit her face. However, Gracie’s smile faltered, and her eyes widened as they locked onto the necklace resting against Anne’s collarbone. Her hand lifted almost involuntarily, fingertips brushing the sparkling blue diamond with a mixture of awe and disbelief. "This is..." she whispered, her voice catching. "Oh my God! This is the antique necklace that once belonged to the mayor’s wife. It was auctioned a month ago..." She stopped mid-sentence, stunned, her mouth hanging open. Anne blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Oh, you must be mistaken," she said with a calm smile. "It’s not that necklace. It’s—" But Gracie interrupted her, eyes sharp now with conviction. "What are you talking about? This is the necklace. I’m certain. I’m a jewelry designer, and I specialize in antiques—I’d never mistake a piece like this." For a heartbeat, Anne hesitated. Gracie’s voice was sincere, a certainty that rattled her. But then she remembered that the real necklace had been purchased by Mr. Bennet. ’This couldn’t be it.’ Still, she didn’t want to offend Gracie. She kept her tone polite, even. "It’s easy to be mistaken. This is just a replica. It’s not the original." Gracie didn’t seem convinced. "That’s hard to believe. I can prove it’s the real one," she said firmly, reaching forward to inspect the gem more closely. Her fingers delicately flipped the diamond, searching for some mark or sign. Before she could go further, Audrey suddenly burst in like a whirlwind of color and energy. With a wide smile and bright eyes, she slid beside Anne and grabbed her arm, gently tugging her away from Gracie. "Oh, Anne, you look stunning!" Audrey gushed, her gaze sweeping over Anne’s gown with admiration. "This dress is breathtaking. And you, my dear, you’ve completely stolen the spotlight tonight. Everyone is talking about you." Anne let out a soft laugh, trying to hide her fluster. "You are exaggerating." Audrey then noticed the middle-aged woman watching them with a curious expression. She felt embarrassed. "I’m so sorry," she said awkwardly. "I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just got a little too excited. May I borrow my friend for a moment?" She gave an innocent blink. Gracie lingered, clearly unwilling to let the matter drop. Her eyes were still fixed on the glittering blue diamond, her fingers twitching slightly as if itching to inspect it more closely. But before she could speak again, Anne stepped in with gentle finality. "I’m sorry, Gracie," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I need to go with my friend." Gracie hesitated, then let out a resigned breath and gave a tight smile. "Enjoy yourself." Anne gave her a polite, grateful nod and quickly walked away with Audrey. As soon as they were a few paces away, Anne leaned in and whispered, "Thank goodness, Audrey. You saved me." Audrey smirked, casting a glance over her shoulder at Gracie. "I saw her eyeing that necklace like a hawk. Figured you needed a little rescue." Anne smiled warmly at her. "You are my savior. Thank you." Audrey chuckled. "Anytime. Now, let’s talk about the real treasure of this party—the food." She wiggled her eyebrows dramatically. "Did you see that buffet? The spread is insane—appetizers, desserts, drinks... my mouth is already watering." She looped her arm through Anne’s and steered her playfully toward the far end of the grand hall, where the buffet table gleamed under soft golden lights. Rows of silver trays released tantalizing aromas—crispy hors d’oeuvres, delicate pastries, fruit arrangements, and glasses of champagne sparkling like liquid gold. Anne let herself get swept into Audrey’s cheerful energy, grateful for the momentary escape. "I don’t even know where to start," Audrey said, her eyes darting across the lavish buffet table. Platters of bruschetta with sun-dried tomatoes and basil, shrimp cocktails, and an array of exotic cheeses paired with grapes, figs, and assorted crackers stretched before her in a colorful parade. The main buffet featured carved roast beef with herb butter, grilled salmon, and mushroom risotto simmering in a large copper pot. The dessert section was nothing short of divine. A multi-tiered chocolate fountain stood tall, surrounded by skewers of strawberries, marshmallows, and chunks of pineapple. There were slices of rich red velvet cake, lemon tarts, and a tower of cream puffs. "I want to explore the cocktails first," Anne said with a smile, reaching for a glass of chilled mocktail. She took a sip, and the cool, sweet flavor burst on her tongue. "Mmm... sweet and refreshing." "I’m going for the lemon tart." Audrey grabbed a small porcelain plate and carefully selected a slice. She took a bite and paused mid-chew, eyes closing as she savored it. "Oh, this is really good." Before they could sample more, a man in a crisp black uniform, the event staff, approached Anne. "Madam, sorry to disturb you, but Sarah is looking for you. She said it’s urgent." Anne blinked, surprised. "Me? Why would she want to speak with me? She should be speaking to Tania or Denis." "I tried, but they were busy with guests," the man replied. "Please, would you come with me? It won’t take long." Anne’s gaze flicked toward the crowd. She spotted Augustine engaged in conversation. A thread of hesitation tugged at her. "What is the issue? Ask Sarah to come here instead." "She is in the tool room, madam." Anne exchanged a glance with Audrey. "I should see what is going on." "I’m coming with you," Audrey said immediately. Anne shook her head gently. "No, enjoy your dessert. I’ll be back in a minute." With a nod, she followed the staff member and went out of the hall.

Chapter 172: Party time

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