Still, one couldn’t help but find him to be much less enthusiastic than before.
Lauren and Betty sat in front of their parents, with Lauren hunched tight around the teddy bear Alyssa
had given her so as tofort herself.
Betty wore a cocktail dress that had just been released to the market recently, looking quite the model
big sister beside Lauren.
“Tonight is Mom’s big day, Lauren. Why didn’t you put on any makeup?” Betty asked, a faux grin on her
face as she gently caressed Lauren’s long, sleek hair.
“Do you not know how to? You should have told me earlier. I would have loved to help.”
Lauren tensed up instantly, her lips pressing tightly together.
“That perm I gave you before was such a good look on you. I could have given you one today, too,”
Betty
snickered.
All of a sudden, Lauren pped Betty’s hand away.
Both Sophia and Javier were shocked by this. They had never seen their youngest daughter behave
like.
this.
“Ow! What was that for, Lauren? It hurts!” Betty cried, acting like she was the victim.
??
… never wanted you to do my makeovers. You were the one who forced me every time!” Lauren
tv bear eximed, ring at Betty as she held tightly onto her teddy
Javier narrowed his eyes inquisitively, ncing at Betty.
“What… What did you say?” Betty asked, astonished.
“And I hate that perm you gave me… I hate it so much! Can you not do that to me anymore?” Lauren
gritted out, her voiceced with hatred.
“What is your sister talking about, Betty?” Javier asked sternly.
“Dad, you know how Lauren is! She says nonsensical things out of the blue sometimes. I don’t really
know what she’s talking about either. Betty said sheepishly, ying dumb.
Sophia quickly changed the subject, holding Javier’s arm. “Javier, is … is Jasper really going to the
Taylor family’s celebration and not to ours?”
“I’m not sure.”
“I don’t mean anything else, just that it might be for the best if he shows up.” Sophia said, ying the
Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.
gracious card.
“It would make more sense for Jasper to attend Mandy Lovce’s birthday, given that it would help our
family if we had good rtions with hers.
“But this is just L Nelson’s birthday, who doesn’t evene from anywhere influential. I heard she
had
embarrassed herself in the entertainment industry when she was in her youth, too.
“Who knows what nonsense the media is going to write if they find out Jasper is attending her birthday
celebration?”
Sophia’s gaze darkened as she continued, “Plus, L is the least noteworthy wife Winston Taylor has.
In
fact, she’s no more than a concubine. I don’t think someone like her is worth the attention of Beckett
Group’s CEO. What do you think?”
For some reason, the term “concubine” made Javier deeplyfortable, even making him reminisce.
about Jasper’s birth mother.
“L didn’t have any support back then, but now she has Winston Taylor. That means she’s no longer
as
helpless and lowly.
“If it hadn’t been for what had happened in her youth, she would have made it to far greater heights in
the
industry too and not have ended up being Winston’s third wife, Javiermented.
Sophia bit back her shock, then asked gently. “Did I misspeak, Javier?”
“I heard Dad is going to attend the party too, to catch up with Winston, Javier continued, his tone
neutral,
“It’s not like L is the only person worth paying a visit to tonight. Did you forget how important Winston
Taylor himself is? Just let the old man and his grandson go on their way. I’m too tired to bother with all
this,” Javier concluded.
What was going on? Sophia was baffled. Why had Javier’s attitude shifted so drastically?
She chuckled awkwardly, unable to say much else.
Meanwhile, Lauren had found a cozy position to curl up in and was currently dozing off. She had been
spending her days and nights with Landon before, after all, and hadn’t had good sleep given how often
he
wanted to kiss or cuddle with her.