Chapter 284: Unannounced Companion
[ A/N: the second half of this Chapter has been rewritten. If you have read the previous version, please note that the plot has changed, and part of the original reveals have been moved to a later Chapter. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding! ]
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** Harper **
After following Tyler and Chelsea into the crowd, Harper joined the two for a bit of luxury bar-hopping, going around the various cocktail and dessert stations to sample treats of the evening. But when her companions started casually chatting with other guests in business jargons, she quickly got bored, and it wasn’t long before she slipped away to explore on her own.
A few sips of wine and some random small talks later, she found herself wandering off to the other end of the ballroom, where the crowds were thinner and the decor of the hall started changing subtly. The gilded wall paneling was replaced by carved wood, turning the extravagant atmosphere into a more natural ambiance, and the chandeliers overhead glowed a bit dimmer. Instead, tall windows reflected string lights hanging above, leading to a row of glass doors that opened ... to a rooftop terrace?
Curious, Harper stepped outside. And then she realized why the name of this venue was Garden Royale.
It really was a garden. Despite being on the fiftieth floor, its terrace was filled with real turf, rose vines, flowering trees, and a large fountain shaped into a waterfall cascading down the rocks. The whole space was a hanging oasis, dotted by park benches and even a tiny gazebo. Looking over to the horizon, it felt utterly surreal to soar over the city’s skyline at such height, surrounded by stars and all the earthly charm at the same time.
"Beautiful view, isn’t it? We’re standing at the most expensive wedding venue in the entire city, and it’s easy to see why everyone wants a photo of themselves tying the knot under a rose arch right here."
Harper swiveled at the unfamiliar voice behind her. A blonde woman in a royal blue dress was standing by the door, her face half obscured in the shadow. "Oh, and the reservations are always booked out at least a year in advance," she added. "Not that it’s of any relevance to you, I suppose, but that’s unbelievable especially given the price tag!"
The woman’s choice of wording was strange, and Harper could pick up a clear hint of superiority laced through with sarcasm in that tone. "Um, hi." She regarded her unannounced companion with a slightly alarmed puzzlement. "Have we met before?"