After Ste and Lauretta left, Rachel lowered her voice. "Haynie, Ste turned us down... What should we do now?"


    Haynes was silent for a few seconds before answering, "Invite someone else."


    Rachel instinctively bit her lip, unwilling to let it go. "But—"


    Haynes turned to look at her. "Unless you have a way to convince Lauretta? Or maybe you can talk Ste into giving up her spot for you?"


    Ste''s dislike for Rachel had always been obvious; she''d never bothered to hide


    it.


    As for Lauretta, she wasn''t someone you could easily manipte-trying to get her to change her mind was pretty much impossible.


    And Ste...


    A dull ache twisted in Haynes''s stomach. He knew Ste''s patience with him had worn thin, almost to the breaking point. If he pushed her any further, she just might do something drastic-something that would leave them both with nothing.


    She was Keen''s mother. Thest thing Haynes wanted was to turn her into a mortal enemy.


    Rachel dropped her head. "Well... if she''s a friend of Ms. Cameron''s, I guess there''s nothing we can do."


    ...


    After leaving the restaurant, Ste took Lauretta for a stroll around Neo-Vespera.


    Lauretta had grown up in Solmaris; even though she''d visited Novaris before, she''d never really explored the city.


    Katrina and Wendy, on the other hand, had both grown up in Novaris. They''d nned to take a long break, and since they finally had some free time, they decided to catch up with old friends and childhoodpanions.


    Katrina had barely arrived at her friend''s gathering when her father called. "Sunny, I heard you''re on vacation and hanging out in Neo-Vespera?" "Yeah, Dad. Why?" Katrina replied.


    "Well, here''s the thing I have a friend whose girlfriend is putting on a concert soon. He''s hoping you''ll agree to be a special guest."


    Katrina yed the cello. Despite her young age, she''d already made quite a name for herself in music circles.


    Her father, who had once considered arranging a marriage for her, had finally given up on the idea. Her own aplishments brought him far more pride than any society match ever could.


    The fact that he was calling her personally about this meant the request was no small matter.


    Katrina frowned. "When is it?"


    He told her the date.


    She didn''t hesitate. "Sorry, I can''t. One of my best friends is holding a concert at that time, and I already promised her I''d be there."


    Her father sounded puzzled. "Your best friend? I haven''t heard anything about Miss Chapman or Wendy Burke nning a concert."


    With Lauretta and Wendy''s current fame, news of a concert from either of them would have been buzzing all over social circles. Even his


    business partners would''ve started


    asking if Katrina might per art @


    quest.


    as a


    He was more than happy for Katrina


    で


    to be friends with Lauretta or


    Wendy. Especially the Chapman


    family without Katrina''s


    connection, their family wouldn''t even have the chance to introduce themselves.


    Katrina sighed. "It''s not them. It''s another close friend. Anyway, I''m busy now,


    Dad. I''ll have to call you backter.”


    She hung up quickly.


    Meanwhile, Wendy was facing a simr situation.


    Her brother, however, was far more blunt.


    "Wendy, this time the invitation is


    from Haynes. O''Brien, CEO of The O''Brien Group. Ourpany just signed a deal with them, so we really can''t say no to this request.


    Whatever ns you have during that time, cancel them. All of them."