Chapter 100: We’re Sisters!
Meanwhile, on the other side of the function hall, Carmella and Marshal had already joined some familiar faces. Since they had arrived earlier to make Isabella shine, they hadn’t seen her yet.
"Hmm? What is the commotion over there?" one of the madams in their group asked, turning across the large hall. "Did someone important arrive?"
Curiosity was evident in their eyes, some even stretching their necks to satisfy it. However, with so many people—mostly younger guests—it was hard to see what was truly going on.
When Carmella turned and noticed that the disturbance was near the main entrance, she smiled in satisfaction.
"It’s probably Isabella," she said as she faced their group. "That young lady was a little late, but she’s likely here now."
"Haha!" Marshal laughed heartily. "That young lady—she’s a shy one, but I guess she got herself into a situation again."
The others chuckled, already familiar with Isabella.
"Oh, dear," one of the madams humored. "Marshal, Isabella is truly the apple of your eye. She’s even more stunning than most celebrities."
A man snorted lightly as he raised his glass toward Marshal. "Marshal, I heard your daughter has yet to accept any proposals."
"With how beautiful and smart that young lady is, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has received countless marriage proposals," another quipped, making Carmella and Marshal laugh.
"Oh," Carmella shook her head. "Isabella is a stubborn one... and ambitious too. She keeps saying that if she marries, she wants to be worthy of her husband. So she’s been focusing on herself."
Marshal nodded. "It’s why she got us interested in this industry in the first place!"
"Really?" The older men and women around them leaned in with interest. "Such a perspective from a young lady. Most people go for tech or fast-growing industries that suit the younger generation’s interests."
"She’s right," one agreed. "Even the young ones here are either from families already in the business or those who need connections within it. For someone so young to take an interest in this industry without any prior ties shows just how brilliant your daughter is."
Carmella and Marshal laughed, flattered by the praise. Though, in truth, it was Marshal who had grown interested after hearing that Dominion had taken an interest in the industry. He had people investigate it and learned just how much money circulated within it.
As the conversation drifted, they paid little attention to the commotion near the entrance.
Little did they know, Isabella had already been pushed aside as a more important figure took the spotlight.
*
*
*
Because of the attention they received, Lucian and Ashley eventually separated.
Lucian wouldn’t have agreed, but he was reminded that he was merely the plus one. Besides, he didn’t want to get in the way of her business.
For the past six months, Ashley had been doing what she always did—trapping him and everyone else in an endless cycle. But this was the first time she was expanding her network outside of Dominion.
Even so, as he stood surrounded by men—both young and old—who wouldn’t stop talking, Lucian raised his glass of wine to his lips, his eyes fixed elsewhere. Though they had parted, his gaze never left her.
"Haha! Mr. De Luca, you truly are fond of your wife!" an older man laughed heartily. "Your eyes follow her wherever she goes."
Lucian didn’t even turn his head. It was simply the movement of his eyes that gave him away, and he wasn’t discreet about it either.
"You shouldn’t worry about the madam," another man joked, following Lucian’s gaze and quickly spotting Ashley speaking with a group of ladies. "Knowing her husband, who would dare approach her?"
The others laughed.
"That’s right. Unless they’re not afraid of Dominion, no man would approach the madam with such intentions."
Lucian didn’t respond. He took a sip of his wine, his eyes sharpening as he watched Ashley laugh with the ladies. She was across the hall, yet in his eyes, she was the only one there. Everything else blurred into insignificance—annoying, irrelevant figures.
She’s smiling too much, he thought, completely tuning out the chatter. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Too intoxicating... I want to bite her.
Lucian took another long drink, trying to suppress the rising desire in his chest. This time, he briefly looked away and faced the men before him.
Even though he had been ignoring them, he had still been following the conversation.
"It’s not me," he cut in as they discussed Dominion’s success and his supposed sharp eye for profit. "I came as a plus one."
"Huh?" One man paused, confused. "A plus one?"
Lucian glanced down at his wine, swirling it effortlessly. "It’s not Dominion’s business. It’s hers."
Slowly, he lifted his sharp gaze, carrying a quiet warning only they could understand.
"My wife’s," he stressed, as if daring them to approach her for favors. "She’s the one invited here, not me."
*****
Meanwhile, Ashley laughed along with the ladies as their conversation continued. They were mostly around her age, with a few older women among them. Despite their status, Ashley had a good impression on them so far.
Thankfully, Reina and the others had prepared her well and taught her what to focus on. One of those lessons was assessing a person based on their attire: the brands they wore, the number of accessories, and their overall appearance.
From that, she could determine whether they were worth her time.
But they’re not the people I want to approach, she thought, discreetly glancing across the hall and catching sight of Lucian.
He was easy to spot.
Thanks to him, I already have background information on the people worth connecting with.
A few names had already caught her attention.
I’ll just have to excuse myself...
Just as Ashley was about to step away, having indulged the ladies long enough, a familiar voice stopped her.
"Ashley!"
Ashley and the women around her turned toward the voice, brows raising in curiosity.
A figure quickly stepped into their group and went straight to Ashley, pulling her into a tight hug.
"I knew it was you!" Isabella exclaimed, hugging her tightly before pulling back with a bright smile, like a loving sister. "How are you, sis?"
"Sis?" The ladies frowned, exchanging confused looks.
Isabella maintained her smile and turned to them, wrapping an arm around Ashley.
"I’m Isabella—Isabella Di Carpio," she introduced sweetly. "And we’re... sisters."