CHAPTER 142: TOASTS AND TACTICS

On the terrace of Emeralds

"Mora," Seraphina’s calm voice floated with the music, drawing the couple’s attention, "there’s no need to worry. After all, who better to appreciate perfection than the one who crafted it?"

Aveline could only hope she hadn’t offended the organizer of the event by dancing there. When she looked to see who was speaking, Alaric turned around with her.

Alaric’s eyes narrowed at Seraphina for less than a second before turning to Aveline. "I have a meeting downstairs. Find me if you need anything."

Aveline didn’t think too much about his suddenly distant voice, there were other people present, after all. She hummed in response when another voice cut through.

"Alaric, long time no see," Seraphina said, her tone carrying a deliberate edge.

Aveline didn’t recognize Seraphina. Calling Alaric by his first name? She couldn’t help but wonder how they knew each other.

Alaric would have preferred ignoring Seraphina, but with Aveline beside him, he reluctantly nodded in response to Seraphina. Then he walked away, completely ignoring Mora’s greeting.

Seraphina didn’t mind it. It had been the same from the very beginning. She flashed a practiced smile at Aveline. "Ms. Laurent," she said, crossing half the distance while Aveline also stepped toward her.

"I’m Seraphina Astor Lancaster. Alaric’s sister-in-law." She introduced herself smoothly. "Sorry, I wasn’t able to introduce myself properly during the meeting."

Aveline’s expression didn’t change, but her mind raced. She would have preferred Seraphina not mention her relation to Alaric, because the way Alaric had barely reacted to Seraphina’s presence only made her think about the Lancaster family complications.

Nonetheless, she shook Seraphina’s hand. "It’s alright." Then she gestured toward the terrace. "Let me know if you need any changes. The hot food will be served once the party begins. Cold appetizers are already arranged with the drinks." She pointed toward the door where a designated section had been created. "A manager will be stationed here if you have any requests."

Seraphina let her eyes sweep around and was genuinely impressed with the arrangements, especially how the glass panels were reflecting the candlelight without being overwhelming.

"As I mentioned earlier," Seraphina turned back to Aveline, "the arrangements are impeccable. Thank you for organizing everything on such short notice."

Aveline nodded and began moving toward the exit, but Seraphina touched her shoulder lightly. Turning around, she waited.

"Ms. Laurent, why don’t you freshen up and attend the event as well?" Seraphina asked, adding, "Mrs. Laurent has already responded positively to the invitation."

Aveline flashed a polite smile. She wasn’t invited as a guest, so she graciously declined. "Thank you, Mrs. Lancaster, but I’m working right now. Perhaps I’ll make some time for the banquet downstairs."

She would be appearing as an event manager, not as a socialite. She despised these parties where people talked about nothing but clothes, jewelry, gossip, and gloated over someone else’s misfortune. Her mother loved socializing, that was a different story entirely.

Seraphina nodded elegantly despite receiving such indifference from Aveline. As someone new to the industry, she had expected Aveline to fawn over her for a connection.

’She’s a Laurent. Money isn’t her motivation,’ Seraphina thought.

She didn’t try to stop Aveline as she walked away. Then she turned to her assistant. "Gather as much information about Aveline as possible. I need to understand how to approach her." She gave Mora a meaningful look.

"Yes, ma’am," Mora responded, adding another point to her to-do list on the iPad.

Soon after, the guests began to arrive. The soft music, warm lights, and glowing glasses set the perfect mood.

As planned, Isabella stepped forward with Seraphina at her side, gently drawing attention toward her.

"Ladies, let me introduce you to my daughter-in-law, Seraphina Astor Lancaster," Isabella announced with pride. "She rarely has time to attend events because of her work."

The ladies around them lit up with interest. One leaned in with a curious smile. "Oh, aren’t you the one who led the ’Support Initiative for Children of Public Servants’ campaign? My husband said it was handled brilliantly."

Seraphina nodded politely. "That was one of the campaigns I was involved in."

Truthfully, Seraphina hadn’t expected them to know of the campaign, as it was designed for middle-class people, where there were more votes. That was why she was hosting this party, to get everyone familiar with her.

Another guest chimed in, "We always wondered why you never appear at any events. Turns out, you’re doing the work that actually matters to people."

Seraphina didn’t miss the traces of judgment in the tone.

Margaret Laurent, who sat elegantly with a glass of champagne, simply smiled, saying nothing. She didn’t need to say a word, her presence alone commanded attention.

One of the younger wives whispered to her friend, "She’s not just a Lancaster. She’s the president’s daughter. No wonder everyone’s suddenly interested in her."

They all nodded, clearly impressed. A few complimented her dress, her poise, her intelligence. Most of them, in truth, wanted to be on her good side.

A woman like Seraphina wasn’t just for admiration, she was useful. Whether it was politics or business, Seraphina was a woman worth aligning with.

And tonight, she had everyone exactly where she wanted them.

As everyone enjoyed the welcome drinks and appetizers, Seraphina eventually heard a woman whispering about her, "Why isn’t the daughter-in-law of the Lancasters hosting this party at the Obsidian?"

Another one glanced at Seraphina and continued, "I know, right. I heard there were numerous party halls and top-notch service. She wouldn’t have had to lift a finger there."

Seraphina suddenly stood up and began clinking her glass with a fork to get everyone’s attention.

"I would like to propose a toast to someone special," she paused elegantly, letting the anticipation build.

"The exquisite arrangements, the perfectly curated food and drinks, and the stunning decor you have all been admiring and praising, all of this is the work of Aveline Laurent." She gestured gracefully toward Margaret, who sat with dignified pride, her champagne flute held delicately. "Daughter of the incomparable Margaret Laurent."

Seraphina’s smile was radiant as she continued, "Without her vision and expertise, this evening would have been merely ordinary. Instead, she transformed this space into something magical in less than six hours, with surprises awaiting you downstairs." Her voice rang with sincerity, masking the calculation beneath it.

Everyone raised their glasses in unison and took appreciative sips. Almost immediately, the guests turned to Margaret with renewed interest and admiration.

"Margaret, you must be so proud!"

"Such talent runs in the family, clearly."

"We absolutely must book your daughter for the charity gala next spring."

Margaret smiled gently, offering no words. She was aware that these were the same people who had been laughing and gossiping when Aveline was divorced.

Speaking of divorce, her eyes swept around, but she didn’t find Cassandra Ashford anywhere. The downfall of the Ashfords was evident.

However, Margaret did spot Isabella’s gaze on her more than twice. A few moments later, Isabella gave her a faint nod and quietly excused herself from the group.

Margaret understood the cue and excused herself. They moved toward the far end of the balcony, where the chatter faded just enough for privacy.

No smiles, no pleasantries, only an unspoken understanding between two women who had seen too much to bother with small talk.

Seraphina’s eyes followed them, a flicker of unease tightening in her chest. She had brought up Aveline to redirect the crowd’s attention, not to spark private discussions behind her back.

"How do they even know each other?" she muttered to herself. Or worse, ’how much do they know about Alaric and Aveline?’

Seraphina’s smile turned slightly bitter, though she expertly concealed it.

Initially, she hadn’t planned to host the party herself; she had assumed the Obsidian Club would be sufficient. However, only that morning had she learned about the hefty fees required to bring each non-member inside.

Even worse, if any of the ladies caused an incident or leaked pictures or sensitive information about members or the club’s activities, she, as an Astor, wouldn’t just lose her membership; she would face enormous fines.

She couldn’t take that risk, especially with several female celebrities and women from prominent political families attending. Their social media presence was more active.

Despite being a Lancaster daughter-in-law, she had received no special privileges or discounts when she asked.

To avoid asking her father-in-law for favors, her assistant had recommended Aveline’s services. Honestly, Seraphina hadn’t expected much until she saw the final arrangements.

As the guests continued laughing and clinking their glasses, Seraphina leaned toward Mora, her voice low and precise.

"Find out everything about Aveline Laurent’s schedule."

Mora hesitated slightly. "You mean her... daily routine?"

"Every detail. Where she goes, what she does, where she lives, who she meets, and what time she leaves her house. I want complete details."

"Yes, ma’am," Mora responded quietly and stepped aside to make the necessary calls.

Seraphina glanced across the room at her mother-in-law, who was basking in the compliments flowing her way. Then she observed Margaret Laurent more carefully, noting how Aveline’s composed demeanor clearly came from her mother’s refined bearing.

’If I can’t remove her from Alaric’s life quietly,’ Seraphina thought, her smile never wavering, ’I’ll just have to destroy their relationship in the most elegant way possible.’