Chapter 1356: A greeting would be nice
"Thank you all for coming to my 32nd birthday!" Grace stood at the end of the table, gazing at everyone seated around it, their faces alight with smiles. Her lips curled up as she looked at her friends and a few close co-workers.
"I know you’re all aware that I am not actually 32, but still, I appreciate that you’ve humored this crazy idea of mine," she said, raising a glass of champagne. "Cheers to all of you."
A soft round of applause filled the private dining space as glasses clinked together in a toast. With that, the feast began, and the food was served, a spread Grace had carefully prepared for them. As she sat down, Lily quickly approached her, tossing a sash over her and placing a small crown on her head.
"Grace, if you’re hosting a party, you should never forget that the host is the star of the night," Lily giggled. "You’re going to learn."
Grace chuckled, adjusting the tiara on her head. "Well, you’re right. I am learning. Thank you."
Over the years, Grace could count on one hand the times she had actually celebrated her birthday. Most of them had been her mother’s doing—either a small surprise or just the two of them sharing a special meal. Even with the Bennet Family’s support, Grace and her mother had always preferred to stand on their own, even for something as simple as a birthday. An intimate celebration had never felt like a bad thing.
Even now, with the means to throw a lavish party, Grace often found herself too busy for such things.
"I hope you’re all enjoying the food." After a while, Grace’s eyes drifted to her left, where Penny and Zoren sat. Next to them, Hugo was eating to his heart’s content.
Penny, her mouth already stuffed, nodded enthusiastically. "It’s so good."
Grace chuckled, watching as Zoren’s plate remained full—only for him to silently transfer food onto Penny’s plate. He didn’t say a word about it, nor did he stop eating himself. It seemed he filled his plate just so his wife wouldn’t have to worry about refills.
"How sweet," she murmured before shifting her gaze to her right. Seated there were Lily and Nina, along with a few others close to her. Ginnie had been invited as well, but unfortunately, she couldn’t make it due to a conference.
"I haven’t heard of this restaurant before," Lily remarked, a surprised look flickering in her eyes. "I think I just found my new favorite spot."