?Chapter 1672:


    With that thought set aside, she poured her energy into her boutiques. CloudPath was thriving, and she felt at ease running it, but her high-end custom shop still hadn’t received any orders.


    It was hard for her to ept this, since it meant Shirie’s upper crust didn’t recognize her talent as a designer. That, more than anything, stung her pride.


    The entire day slipped by with no customers at all. By four in the afternoon, Sandra gave up on waiting for orders and decided to leave work early.


    She went to visit Keira, who had recently moved into a spacious apartment gifted by Shepard. The ce covered three hundred square meters and was decorated in an elegant, modern style. Sandra especially admired thendscaped grounds nearby and the impressive selection of senior fitness equipment.


    Keira had sold her old house, with the money set aside for her retirement.


    “Mom.” Sandra looked around, but Keira was nowhere to be found.


    Just as Sandra started to worry that Keira might have slipped off to gamble again, Keira returned with the maid. They carried bags of fresh vegetables, some meat, and several big crabs. Keira had a new handbag over her arm, a perfect fit for her look.


    “Sandra, it’s been a while since you stopped by. I thought you mighte visit today, so I got some crabs. The maid will cook themter,” she said.


    Any concern Sandra felt vanished. As long as Keira wasn’t gambling, she didn’t care how her mother spent her time.


    “All right, Mom, have a seat. Let’s catch up for a bit.” Sandra guided Keira to a chair, and the maid brought them coffee before heading to the kitchen.


    Keira turned her attention to Sandra’s business. “How’s everything at the store? Any new custom orderstely?” She knew her daughter dreamed of bing a top designer, aiming to dress the city’s wealthiest people.


    Sandra shook her head. “No customers yet. I know sess won’te instantly, and I’m not giving up. Someone’s bound to ce an order eventually. By the way, Mom, my birthday ising up, and it feels like the Harpers don’t know that at all. I want to use my birthday party as a chance to show off my custom pieces, but what if they don’t even hold a birthday party for me?”


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    Keira scoffed, “Are you really expecting those people to remember your birthday? That’s wishful thinking. They can barely tolerate you as it is, so there’s no way they’ll remember something like that. Trust me, if you don’t say anything, there won’t be a birthday party for you.”


    The truth stung, even though Sandra hated to admit it, and her spirits fell a little.


    “Then what should I do, Mom? I honestly want a big birthday party.” Sandra pictured a grand banquet where all the city’s wealthy socialites would gather, but herwork was small. If she sent out invitations herself, hardly anyone would show up, and that was what worried her the most.


    Keira’s years of experience made her quick toe up with a n. “That’s simple. When you’re having a meal with themter, just bring up your birthday and mention wanting a celebration. Watch how the Harpers react. If they brush it off, it means they don’t care about you at all. If they offer to just give you some money, then you’re only an afterthought to them. But if they talk about throwing you a big party and inviting all the influential people in the city, then you’ll know they truly ept you as part of the family.”


    Sandra let out a weary sigh. “Not a single one of them knows when my birthday is. It’s like I don’t matter to them at all. I doubt it ever crossed their minds to even ask me about it.”


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