fantishu
Chapter 191
Tony was taken aback by the invitation.
The Imperial was the crown jewel of Eldridge City. Getting a reservation at the restaurant? Practically impossible unless you were someone really special.
Rumor had it that the menu was a lavish spread of one hundred and eight dishes, rivaling the grandest feasts.
Tony, all smiles and nods, said, "It's such an honor to be invited by you. Of course, I'll be there."
He gave Chloe a nudge. "Come on, say thanks. Dining at the Imperial isn't something that happens every day. It's a great chance to see and be seen."
Attending a banquet with Claire meant mingling with the city's elite.
Just as Chloe was about to speak, Claire cut in. "Places like the Imperial aren't really for young folks like you, Chloe."Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
The room suddenly felt awkward. Tony hadn't expected Claire to be so reluctant to bring Chloe along. Her disapproval was pretty clear.
Then, Claire pulled a gold-embossed invitation from her purse. "I figured you wouldn't enjoy a business dinner. There's a more suitable event tonight -a birthday party for the Ms. Gilbert. It's perfect for young people to have fun. All the notable young elites from Eldridge City will be there. Go and make some friends."
She placed the invitation right into Chloe's hands. Then, grabbing her purse, she headed for the door.
Before leaving, she turned back, "Oh, and could you order a bouquet of lilies for Ms. Gilbert?"
She didn't leave Chloe any room to say no.
Tony quickly followed Claire, patting Chloe on the shoulder as he passed. "Looks like you've passed the Sartori family's test. Ms. Sartori wants you to fit into the Eldridge City elite circles. I've got high hopes for you, future Mrs. Sartori."
Then, he dashed out.
Chloe stared at the gold-embossed invitation, feeling a mix of emotions. She had a hunch this wasn't as straightforward as it seemed.
She opened the invitation. It only had an address and no other details. However, the address looked familiar.
It was the Gilbert family mansion on Stratosphere Road.
Wasn't that Cassie's place?
Cassie was Chloe's childhood friend. They'd known each other since kindergarten.
In Chloe's memory, Cassie had no parents but lived in a big house and was taken care of by a butler and a nanny.
It wasn't until their sophomore year in high school that Cassie's father finally came for her.
It turned out that Cassie was the long-lost illegitimate daughter of the Gilbert family, one of Eldridge City's four major families.
The Gilbert family, though small, had a tangled web of relationships.
Lando Gilbert had two sons, Harry and Desmond.
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Harry married into the Nagel family, tying the knot with Julie, who's Devon and Eve's aunt. But even after more than a decade together they had no children.
Lando got anxious. Eventually, Harry confessed to Lando about a fling in his youth that resulted in a daughter he had kept hidden. This daughter was Cassie.
Cassie was officially recognized by the Gilbert family during her sophomore year.
Naturally, Julie was furious about
the sudden appearance of a teenage
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illegitimate daughter. Still, she had to swallow her pride after being childless for over a decade. She could only watch as Lando brought Cassie into the family.
Ironically, a month after Cassie's return, Julie, in her forties, got pregnant. This gave Julie more confidence. She made life hard for Cassie, using her pregnancy as an excuse, and sent Cassie back to Riverbrook.