In the Lap of Luxury by Unsweetened Chestnuts

There was a woman standing beside Joshua. She looked like she was trying to keep a low profile, but anyone could see that she was dressed from head to toe in branded attire.

It was obvious that she was afraid that no one would notice her.

She took Joshua's arm and smiled sweetly. "Ms. Noelle, you're as beautiful as I imagined."

Noelle had been talking to Joshua, but the woman had interrupted them. The people around them looked at her strangely, and Joshua pulled his arm away.

In answer to Noelle's previous question, he said, "No."

The woman's expression darkened.

Noelle's lip curled. "No wonder. Since we haven't met for so many years, I thought that perhaps your taste in women got worse."

She was young and very charming. Joshua couldn't look away from her. "You're all grown up now, and you've got a sharp tongue. Do you have a boyfriend?" Noelle was about to speak when Anthony stopped her. "Not yet. She's still young. We're not in a rush about these things."

"She's reached the age for marriage."

Noelle hadn't seen Joshua for many years, and his rude behavior made her temper flare up.

Grace couldn't hold Timothy back any longer. He strode directly toward them.

"You haven't married, even though you're already 40 years old, Mr. Iverson. Why are you rushing a young lady in her 20s to do so? That's rather rude of you."

Timothy had a roguish air to him, and he swaggered over with a glass in his hand. He clinked glasses with Joshua.

then at Anthony. "This

the stem of his wine glass tightly. He was a gifted trader, and he was well known not just in Pamore but also on Bull Street,

investment bank, and I'm

big. I first saw you when your grandfather came to

dangerous look in Timothy's eyes, which was at odds

an elder, please

ahead of them, and

at the event

Since

didn't like Joshua to

she hadn't cared at

and she froze when she noticed

with the same

he stared at the woman next

was dressed so extravagantly as she walked with her head

It was Celia!

long time since they'd last

was she doing here?

She had never imagined that she would meet Celia again and that the latter would've latched herself

were facing Grace.

passed by, she

who only managed