"Let''s just forget him," Sophia said, her mood already souring.


    She realized she''d never understand that jerk. "The banquet is about to start. Let''s find our seats."


    The banquet was set with round tables, each seating about six guests.


    The closer the table to the front, the more important the guests were.


    To Sophia and Lyra''s shock, when they checked their invitation cards, they were assigned to the very front-the VIP table.


    "Chris, your father really pulled some strings to get us the best invitations, didn''t he?" Sophiamented.


    Chris wore a prout expression. "Of course, my father is very important to the Kingstons. That''s why I told you not to worry about thepartnership-you''ll have it."


    As they moved toward the front, they were stunned to find Jasmine and Alex already seated at their table,ughing and talking closely.


    "Alex," Chris approached, irritation clear in his voice. "Do you know this table is reserved for special invitations only? How dare you sit here? And how did you even get an invitation?"


    "We both don''t have invitation cards." Jasmine replied.


    Chris smirked. "Lady, it''s one thing to sneak into a luxury banquet, but without an invitation? Someone could report you to the guards, and you''d be dragged out. That would be quite shameful, don''t you think?"


    This time, Jasmine looked genuinely shocked.


    "Do I really need an invitation card to enter this banquet?" As if she found the whole situation ridiculous.


    "Of course! Do you have something wrong with your brain? Chris snapped, growing frustrated.


    Jasmine burst intoughter, finding Chris''s arrogance amusing.


    "I''m also wondering how you three got your invitation cards. Could it be that you used stolen ones?"


    Sophia''s heart pounded in her chest. Thest thing she wanted was to be used of something like this, especially when she needed to make a good impression at the banquet.


    "Be careful with your usations," she warned.


    "These invitation cards are real. Chris''s father got them directly from the Kingston family. They''repletely legal. You two, without any invitations, should be the ones worried."


    Jasmine turned to Alex. "Alex, I believe these three seats were supposed to be given to you. Did you hand over your invitation cards to them or to Chris''s father?"


    Alex shrugged, looking casual. "I handed out the invitations to Sophia, but somehow they think it was Jerry Rnd who did it."


    Jasmineughed heartily. "You know, Alex, I''veughed more today than I have in an entire year. You really have some amazing people around you."


    Chris bristled. "So now you''re spinning lies to impress her?''


    He red at Alex before turning to Jasmine. "Don''t let this loser fool you. There''s


    no way he could''ve gotten those invitations. He''s feeding you nonsense."


    Jasmine was practically doubled over,ughing as she hit the table in amusement.


    Alex sighed, rubbing his forehead, knowing full well Jasmine was the one who issued the invitations.


    Of course, she knew everything.


    "Jasmine, maybe let it go,” Alex suggested calmly. "They''re determined to believe their own fairy tales."


    "You''re right," she agreed, still giggling. "No point in shattering their illusions."


    Chris, Sophia, and Lyra took their seats, barely masking their irritation.


    "You two need to leave," Chris demanded coldly. "Or I''ll have the guards escort you out."


    Jasmine bit her lip, trying not to burst intoughter again. Chris, I checked on your father, Jerry White or Jerry Rnd, right? He was fired yesterday after preventing Alex from buying a piece of jewelry."


    Jasmine''s eyes moved to Sophia''s neck. "That ne."


    Sophia instinctively touched the jewelry around her neck. "What are you saying? This ne was a gift from Chris''s father."


    Jasmine couldn''t hold back herughter any longer and copsed onto Alex''s shoulder, patting his arm. "Alex, you live in a wonderful little world. Have you never told them the truth?"


    "I tried, but they''re stuck in their own fairy tale," Alex replied.


    Chris had enough. Standing up, he called for the guards, waving his hand with a polite but firm gesture.


    When the guard arrived, Chris spoke confidently. "Guard, I believe these two people don''t have invitation cards. I''d like you to remove them from this table."


    The guard nced at Jasmine, who was stillughing, then back at Chris, as if questioning his sanity.


    "Do you really think Miss Jasmine and her guest need invitation cards?"


    "Of course they do!" Chris snapped, his frustration mounting.


    "Everyone here needs an invitation to attend!"


    Jasmineughed even harder, her voice filled with amusement.


    "Guards," she managed between giggles, "for the sake of fairness, please kick us out."


    The guard shifted ufortably.


    He knew that if he chased out Jasmine Kingston-the host of the banquet- everyone would have to leave with


    her.


    "Miss, if you''d like, I can provide you with invitations," he offered cautiously.


    Chris scoffed. "You think Kingston''s invitations are just handed out like flyers? They''re exclusive. Not that you''d understand."


    Jasmine''s eyes widened, looking at Alex with mock seriousness. "Alex, are invitation cards really that rare?"


    "I don''t know," Alex replied honestly.


    Throughout his life, invitations to banquets and events piled up on his table.


    He could walk into any event without one, and people would still feel honored by his presence.


    That''s why I hate talking to poor people who don''t know anything the exclusivity of high-society events." Chris sneered, his frustration turning to contempt.


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