Chapter 1116 - Happy Birthday, Jeff (1) (1/2)
~ Golden Ocean Resort ~
Jeffrey's birthday celebration is about to start soon.
Jeff requested it to be a small gathering, with only the people they trust. JoAnna agreed and promised that she will deliver on it. An intimate gathering of a handful of people. Well, that was the plan.
They are using the same hall they did for Jeff's and JoAnna's wedding rehearsal dinner.
Vincent, Russel, and Christopher are in the event hall for more than an hour, snacking on appetizers and enjoying drinks. The three of them spent the morning on the shooting range and now they are sulking.
”Bradley is a traitor…”, Vincent said dejectedly.
”Yeah, as soon as Paige is here, we don't exist.”, Christopher added.
Paige is the girl Bradley is in love with for many years, but his parents don't approve of her due to her family background. That is why for official functions (like the inauguration of the Master of the White family), Bradley went with whomever his parents set him up with, but for private events like Jeff's private birthday, he goes with Paige.
Everyone invited has a suite in the resort from Friday to Monday, and many of guests arrived the previous evening.
Bradley and Paige are sharing the suite. They arrived the previous evening and didn't come out of their suite yet. If not for used plates on the floor in front of their door, no one would know that the room is occupied… by live people.
Vincent, Russel and Christopher don't want to meddle in Bradley's private life, but they all admire Paige who is faithfully waiting for Bradley and believing in him while his photos with other women are surfacing in the media. That woman must have endless love for Bradley, or she is blind. Probably blinded by love. They all know that Bradley loves her, but they also know that he is unable to oppose his parents. How will this end? At this rate, twenty years from now, Bradley will still be single (or forced into a marriage), while sneaking around with Paige who will see him on the news with other women by his side. No matter how they look at it, Bradley is treating Paige like a mistress even though he is not married.
”If that is love, I don't want it.”, Vincent said.
Russel and Christopher cheered to that and clinked their glasses before downing them.
As much as they are enjoying their single-camaraderie, they are aware that not so long ago, there was six of them. And now that number is down to three.
No one wants to admit the obvious: Cupid is taking them down one by one.
…
Hill sisters met in JoAnna's office at the resort before lunch. Sarah told them that their mother is meeting with King and they all agreed to stay out of the way and let Stella handle that.
”We will go about our lives, as usually. If mom gets in trouble, Eve will notify us.”, JoAnna concluded.
Sophia agreed. ”For so many years she is doing everything without us. She can manage.”
All three of them believe in their mother, but at the same time, all three are upset that Stella is keeping this information from them since they were born. They chewed on this topic many times, and it always ends up leaving them bitter because they can't forgive Stella for acting like she is protecting them while in reality, their ignorance only puts them in danger.
…
Back to present...
Hill sisters entered the event hall and saw that most of the guests are there.
The seating is preassigned, but it's not strict. Each table is set up for ten people, and has at least two empty chairs, to allow for guests to move around if they wish. Number of sofas is arranged next to the wall to allow people to network in a casual atmosphere.