NovelBookChapter 431
Even so, Joyce was still taken aback by the dazzling opulence as she stepped inside.
“Lessie, is all of this real gold?” she whispered.
Alessia smirked. “Yes, it is.”
Joyce swallowed hard, instinctively hunching her shoulders.
“Already intimidated?” Alessia teased, making Joyce realize she was once again falling into the habit of
comparing herself to others.
“Not at all!” Joyce protested, though she could feel her nerves tightening.
“Con. The party's on the top floor-we’ll need to take another elevator.” As Alessia spoke, a server
approached and offered to show them the way. Alessia
explained why they were there, and after checking their invitation, the server gave a polite nod and led them to
the elevator.
Joyce kept close to Alessia, silent the whole way. She didn’t have Alessia’s easy confidence, but she listened to
her friend's advice, straightened her back, and did her best to hide the
inside her.
muttering
As the elevator numbers ticked higher, Joyce’s hands grew cold and clammy. Alessia glanced over and gave her
arm a gentle squeeze-a small, almost childish gesture, but one that startled Joyce out of her anxious thoughts.
They exchanged a look. Joyce couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, not even sure why she was laughing.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAlessia’s lips curled into a faint smile as she turned her gaze away.
With a soft chime, the elevator doors slid open.
Joyce understood that stepping through those doors meant entering a different world.
“They're just people. Nothing to be scared of, right?” she murmured,
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Chapter 43
unsure if she was asking Alessia, herself, or no one in particular.
“Exactly. Just people,” Alessia replied.
But she didn’t open the doors. This wasn’t her moment. Instead, she looked at Joyce, and Joyce, encouraged by
Alessia’s reassuring gaze, let out a shaky breath, closed her eyes for a split second, and pushed the doors open.
Even though the sun had already set, the top floor was bright as day.
There wasn’t a hint of cheapness to the décor-thick red carpets rolled out beneath their feet, flanked by elegant
pastries and a tower of sparkling champagne. As they walked down the corridor, the distant sounds of music and
laughter drifted toward them.
Joyce glanced at the beautiful pastries, untouched and perfectly arranged, and pressed her lips together.
It was in details like these that the differences between people became
obvious.
The first slice of cake she ever had was in college, a gift from Alessia and her friends. For these rich kids, though,
pastries were nothing more than decorative props, barely noticed.
Back home, even when the most respected elder in the village celebrated his eightieth birthday, the festivities
could never compare to the
extravagance of a casual party thrown by this crowd of heirs and heiresses.
After another server collected their invitation, he led them through a grand hallway to the main event.
Clusters of young people lounged on velvet sofas, tables strewn with cards and dice. Joyce's sharp eyes spotted
the stacks of chips on one of the tables.
“Lessie, what are those?” she asked quietly.
“Chips. When they play these little
games, they make betgahways
ney sometifies it's something of
iy value, or a favor,” Alessia The
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Chapter 431
explained, leaning in close.
Joyce nodded, only half understanding, as she scanned the room for
Fortune.
As if summoned by thought, Fortune suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“Joyce,” she called.
Fortune's voice drew the attention of
the room; several people paused
mid-conversation ig glance eit
1 E .
way Wher Joyce and Alessia looked
back at them, most quickly lowered
their heads, whispering among
themselves. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“Fortune,” Joyce replied, her voice
dropping unconsgjsgefpuridépthe
weight bis Many unfamiliar eyes.
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