"Zachary, congratulations on your engagement to Felicity."
"Thank you, Aunt." Zachary Faulkner smiled faintly.
The second branch of the family smirked coldly, feigning surprise as they asked, "By the way, isn’t the Jennings Family quite close to Felicity’s family?
I heard our Faulkner Family’s invitations were sent out, but no one from the Jennings Family has shown up. Perhaps Felicity could invite the Jennings Family over.
This way, the Faulkner Family will save face at this birthday celebration."
Politics and business always run on different tracks, and the Jennings Family has their own standing.
Though the Jennings Family is also a top-tier household in Aethelgard, they’re really not the same as the Faulkner Family, a giant in the business world.
To avoid criticism, the Jennings Family cannot be too closely associated with the Faulkner Family.
This time, it’s uncertain if anyone from the Jennings Family will attend; the second branch says this knowing well they won’t come, at most sending a gift.
They are deliberately trying to embarrass Zachary and Felicity Crawford.
Sure enough, as the second branch finished speaking, several faces changed, immediately realizing the malicious intent.
Felicity felt awkward, uncertain of how to respond to the topic.
Before the birthday banquet, Zachary had asked her, and she had asked her father if the Jennings Family would attend. Leo Crawford said they might send a gift but wouldn’t be there.
If her father couldn’t invite the Jennings Family, how could she possibly do it?
Juliet Sterling shot the second branch a glare and quickly shifted the topic, "Yvonne, you’re going too far; Felicity doesn’t manage these affairs. Why don’t you have your Wendell invite the Jennings Family?"
Yvonne Chapman muttered discontentedly, "Isn’t the Crawford Family on good terms with the Jennings Family? It’s not Wendell who knows them."
Hearing the second branch’s sarcastic remarks, Juliet Sterling was furious but couldn’t do anything.
Felicity’s eyes darted around, intentionally shifting attention.
She took out a beautifully crafted gift box and handed it to Madam Faulkner, saying with a smile, "Grandmother, this is my birthday gift to you, wishing you happiness as vast as the ocean and a long life like the mountains." This text is hosted at novel·fıre·net
At this moment, everyone’s attention was drawn to the gift, and many people began to present their own gifts.
Madam Faulkner didn’t care much about the gifts; she instructed the servant to collect them.
Felicity, however, looked at Eleanor Sterling and seemingly unintentionally said, "Grandmother, I gifted you a jade necklace. I personally selected the raw stone and oversaw the crafting of the necklace.
I watched over every step from start to finish, with no corner-cutting. I hope you like it."
Felicity spoke with a measure of sweetness that made one think she had really put a lot of effort into it.
Juliet Sterling immediately added, "Mom, Felicity is such a meticulous child, personally overseeing everything."
Madam Faulkner nodded, seeming touched by Felicity’s hands-on approach.
She softly said, "Good child, you’re thoughtful, and Grandmother loves it."
Both Juliet Sterling and Zachary Faulkner noticed Madam Faulkner’s reaction, feeling a sense of pride and arrogance.
They slowly worked to have Madam Faulkner on their side, with the Faulkner Family head position within reach.
Seeing this, others also started offering their gifts.
The gifts they offered were expensive and lavish but still couldn’t compare to Felicity’s birthday gift, which she personally oversaw. After all, money can’t buy the same sincerity.
At this time, Felicity seemed to have thought of something and looked at Eleanor Sterling, saying, "By the way, I saw Miss Sterling at the jade market the other day.
She should be gifting jade to Grandmother as well. I didn’t expect Miss Sterling and I to have the same idea; are you also giving a jade necklace?"