Chapter 162

Maisie, drowsy from her hair appointment, awoke to the sight of Zinnia carrying several elegant boxes, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Zinnia! You went to Kensington Club? And you actually bought their pastries?”

“I just stopped by Kensington Club and remembered you said their pastries are really good, so I brought some back for you,” Zinnia said. “Yannis is monitoring my sugar intake now, so I can’t eat much myself.”

A few days earlier, Zinnia had overheard Maisie casually mention craving pastries from Kensington Club. These delicacies were notoriously difficult to obtain—over $3000 for five tiny pieces, with limited daily availability. That’s why Zinnia seized the opportunity. “Zinnia, I love you so much!” Maisie exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

“Let me feed you,” Zinnia offered. Maisie, still in the salon chair, couldn't move her head. Zinnia opened a beautiful box revealing five small pastries, each about the size of a walnut.

Zinnia picked one up and fed it to Maisie. “These pastries are so tasty! Zinnia, you should try one too. This one’s not too sweet,” Maisie said happily.

Kensington Club’s pastries were truly exceptional. Finding them not overly sweet, Zinnia tried one; her eyes widened in delight. It was delicious. However, she stopped after one, mindful of Yannis’s watchful eye.

Zinnia mused, ‘All these diet rules are such a nuisance. But I know Yannis means well, so I comply. No need to worry everyone.’

Maisie’s hair was nearly finished, and as evening approached, they decided to dine out. Zinnia’s dietary restrictions limited their options, so they opted for Perry’s restaurant, a perfect choice given the circumstances.

Upon entering, loud music assaulted their ears—Neo had booked the venue for his party. The restaurant was crowded and boisterous, a scene of wild revelry. Zinnia frowned at the noise. Noticing Zinnia’s discomfort, Maisie suggested, “How about we just go back and eat?”

Finding a restaurant accommodating Zinnia’s extensive dietary needs was challenging. But Perry’s was different; he was a family friend with a chef capable of preparing anything. However, they had inadvertently stumbled into Neo’s party.

“No need,” Zinnia said. “Let’s stay here. We’ll get a private room. The soundproofing will muffle the noise.”

She thought, ‘I can tell Maisie is starving, but if we leave now, it’ll take at least half an hour. And with rush hour traffic, we’d be eating far too late.’

“Okay, let’s get a private room then,” Maisie agreed, and they approached the front desk to request one.

“Is that Maisie Jenkins?”

“Wow, Neo really has a lot of power. Even a Jenkins showed up!”

“Hey, who’s that girl with Maisie?”

“She’s the long-lost daughter of the Shaw family, but they don’t really like her.”

“Maybe the Shaws don’t like her, but the Lynn family do. And honestly, the Lynns are far more influential than the Shaws.”

“Damn, Neo! You have so much influence—you even got Maisie and Zinnia to come!”

“Anyone who says the Moore family has fallen from grace will have to reconsider!”

“Exactly! Without Neo, we would never gain access to such upscale establishments.”

Even though the Jenkins family wasn't originally from Jinston, Maisie grew up there. The Spence family was prestigious, and as the sole heiress of the Jenkins family, Maisie was indulged by the Spence, Perkins, and Jenkins families. Among the younger generation of these three families, Maisie was the youngest and clearly the favorite; her privileged status was evident.

The Moore family moved abroad twenty years ago. The current head of the family lacked competence, relying solely on their former reputation. The Moores were no longer accepted in high society, having fallen so far as to be considered a third-rate family.

Consequently, Neo could only invite young socialites from lesser families and newly wealthy individuals. The truly elite families didn't even bother attending; they considered such parties beneath them.

Neo declared, “Of course, I can get Maisie to come! My charm is irresistible.”

He wore a blue denim jacket and black pants, his hair bleached blond, and his earrings gleaming. He listened to the excited chatter, a smug smile playing on his lips.

“I’ll greet her,” Neo said, pushing through the crowd towards the exit. Then, he remembered he hadn’t even invited Maisie.

‘Is she trying to flatter me?’ Neo thought happily, as he strode out, all eyes on him, anticipating his next move.

They mused, ‘So many lesser families could only dream of associating with Maisie and Zinnia, yet Neo actually managed to secure their presence!’

“But is Maisie really here for Neo’s party?” a girl whispered skeptically.

As Maisie was escorted to a private room, the guests exchanged glances.

“Neo is so handsome—of course Maisie and Zinnia would be captivated by him,” sneered Ingram, Neo’s thin lackey. Following Neo, he smiled proudly, glancing at the girl who had spoken.

“Exactly! Neo is the best. Look, even Maisie came!” said Kaelen, the red-haired man beside Neo.

“Neo, they probably just couldn’t find the right spot,” Ingram offered as they moved forward.

The girl rolled her eyes, thinking, ‘Handsome? Perhaps for ordinary people. But Maisie grew up surrounded by the most beautiful people in high society. Her cousin Yannis is strikingly handsome. She sees him constantly, so she’d never settle for someone as unremarkable as Neo. And Zinnia’s brothers are all incredibly attractive. Only a self-absorbed, average guy would believe those two stunning women are interested in Neo.’

Neo overheard the girl's comment, but his self-confidence remained unshaken. ‘With a face like mine, who wouldn’t be attracted to me?’ he thought assuredly. He refused to believe those two wouldn't fall for him.

‘Zinnia seems so sweet and innocent. She’d be amusing to tease. Maisie is too sharp for me,’ Neo reflected.

Neo flipped his hair, whistled loudly, and tilted his chin, regarding the two women with arrogant disdain. His expression darkened. He thought, ‘How dare they ignore me?’

Neo called out, “Hey! The party’s here. Where are you two going? Come over, let’s have a drink.”

Maisie and Zinnia frowned at Neo’s arrogant words. Maisie shot Neo a frigid look and retorted flatly, “The Moore family has truly sunk low to produce someone like you.”

Chapter 163