Chapter 84
Anastasia wore an elegant champagne-colored midi dress with delicate silver embroidery along the hem, perfectly complementing her natural grace. The lavender jade bracelet Cassian had given her adorned her wrist, and she’d styled her hair in a sophisticated low chignon secured with a vintage hairpin. Her entire look was polished yet understated—exactly the kind of refined elegance that fit perfectly with today’s wine-tasting event.
The moment they entered the ballroom, all eyes turned their way.
“Mrs. Rhodes, and who is this lovely young woman?” A middle-aged socialite in a navy Armani suit approached them, her gaze appraising Anastasia with barely concealed curiosity.
Lancey’s face lit up with pride as she gently squeezed Anastasia’s arm. “This is my wonderful daughter-in-law, Anastasia.”
Anastasia smiled warmly and extended her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
The woman’s eyebrows shot up in surprise before she recovered her composure. “Well, aren’t you two just a perfect match! You have such wonderful poise, dear. No wonder Cassian fell for you.”
A soft blush colored Anastasia’s cheeks. “You’re too kind.”
At a nearby tasting station, several young socialites stood perfectly coiffed, their designer jewelry catching the light as they swirled their wine glasses and whispered among themselves. When they spotted Anastasia, their conversations halted, all attention focused on the newcomer with unmistakable scrutiny.
Just then, Joanne’s mother, Megan, swept in with both Joanne and Valeria in tow. They certainly made an entrance. Valeria was particularly eye-catching in a bold fuchsia cocktail dress that hugged every curve. She’d clearly gone all out with professional hair and makeup for the occasion. She strutted into the room with complete confidence, scanning the crowd until her gaze landed on Anastasia. Her perfectly contoured brow furrowed slightly. What the hell is she doing here?
Anastasia had never attended events like this before. What gave her the right to show up at such an exclusive gathering?
Valeria deliberately made her way over to them.
“Well, well, what a surprise seeing you here, sis. I’m guessing this is your first wine tasting?” Her voice dripped with fake sweetness.
Joanne chimed in with a cattiness that could cut glass. “God, are the standards for these events really that low now? I thought there was some kind of screening process.”
A few socialites exchanged meaningful glances before one spoke up with a saccharine smile. “So Anastasia, since this is your first time, what’s your experience with wine? Do you have a preference for reds or whites?”
Anastasia caught Valeria’s smug expression but kept her voice calm and composed. “I tend to enjoy lighter reds—maybe a nice Pinot Noir. Something that’s not too heavy for afternoon drinking.”
“Oh, how… basic,” another socialite remarked, her tone laced with subtle condescension. “Most of us here appreciate the complexity of a good Bordeaux or Burgundy. Something with real depth and character, you know?”
Anastasia recognized the implied insult but didn’t take the bait. “I think wine is pretty personal. What matters is finding what you actually enjoy, not what impresses other people.”
The socialite’s smile faltered slightly, clearly caught off guard by Anastasia’s gracious response. The other women quickly jumped in to smooth things over. “Anastasia’s absolutely right. Wine should be about pleasure, not pretension.”
Valeria’s lips curled into a cold smirk. Just because you’re dressed up and playing the part doesn’t make you one of us, she thought bitterly. The real fun hasn’t even started yet.
Soon enough, everyone began gathering around the main tasting table as the event officially began. That’s when Mrs. Patterson, the event organizer, stood up with an apologetic expression. “Ladies, I’m so sorry, but our sommelier had a family emergency and won’t be able to make it today. I know many of you are quite knowledgeable about wine—would anyone be willing to lead us through a tasting of today’s selections?”
Mrs. Patterson was clearly scrambling. She didn’t need anything too formal—just someone to talk through the wines and maybe share some tasting notes.
Before she’d even finished speaking, a voice called out from the audience: “Why don’t we have our newcomer lead? The rest of us have all done this before.”
All eyes immediately turned to Anastasia. She was the only unfamiliar face in the room.