"So even socialites have their troubles." Rosalind Lowell smiled faintly, turning with the other woman to look out at the sea.
Elsa Ainsworth whipped her head around to look at her, a little confused by Rosalind Lowell at her side. "You…"
"I'm not a socialite," Rosalind Lowell said with an awkward smile. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I just saw you standing up there and thought… I'm really sorry."
Just as Elsa Ainsworth was about to say something, a maidservant suddenly appeared behind her. "Miss Ainsworth, the master and madam have asked for you."
Elsa Ainsworth pursed her lips and looked at her a couple more times. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "You sort of saved me just now. Can I borrow your phone for a second?"
"Huh?" Rosalind Lowell was a bit stunned.
"Quick, quick, give it to me."
Rosalind Lowell took out her phone, unlocked it, and handed it to her.
Elsa Ainsworth quickly dialed a number. Once her own phone started ringing, she hung up. "I'll call you next time I have a chance."
With that, she turned and followed the maidservant off the deck.
Rosalind Lowell stared thoughtfully after the phone call. Just as she was turning, she bumped into someone's chest.
"Mr. Davenport?"
Alaric Davenport helped steady her like a gentleman but only raised an eyebrow and gave her a glance, his usual, unchanging icy expression firmly in place. He then walked past her and went down off the deck.
"Sorry…" Rosalind Lowell whispered, watching Alaric Davenport's retreating back.
'So he was on the second floor just now…'
Skylar Morrison, who had been walking beside Alaric Davenport, stopped.
"Well hello, beautiful lady. This is the first time I've seen you. I spotted you from afar, looking like a goddess."
Rosalind Lowell nodded. "You're too kind, sir. I don't often get to attend parties like this."
'The man before me is listed in the guest book as the young master of the Morrison Family. Their family's power and wealth are second only to the Davenports.'
'I have no social standing. Getting to know a man like him would be seen as social climbing. And with Faye marrying Mr. Davenport, if this turned into a scene, people would inevitably think that after failing to land a Davenport, I was now trying to seduce the Morrison heir to compete with my own sister.'
She gave him a polite nod and turned to leave.
"Well, can we be friends? If you'd like, I can invite you next time."
Rosalind Lowell froze, unsure of what to say for a moment.
"Or, if you don't like events like this, what do you like? I can take you there, too."
Seeing she still hadn't responded, Skylar Morrison added, "Any food you like? Or, or is there anything you need help with…"
Finally, he sighed, looking a bit helpless. "Ah, it's just—seeing you was like a breath of fresh air. You're different from everyone else, and I really, really want to be friends with you. Can I?"
Rosalind Lowell let out a laugh and turned back around. "You're an interesting person, Mr. Morrison."
"You know who I am? So does that mean you're willing to be my friend?"
Rosalind Lowell looked into his eyes, which were full of anticipation. It was hard to refuse such sincerity. "Hello, my name is Rosalind Lowell."
Rosalind Lowell extended her fair, slender hand.
Skylar Morrison was like a child who'd just been given candy. With an elegance that still held a hint of boyish charm, he quickly nodded and extended his own hand, giving hers a light shake. "Skylar Morrison. But from now on, just call me Skylar."
...
They actually got along quite well. Skylar Morrison always managed to find topics that interested her.
Meanwhile, Alaric Davenport, who was sitting on a sofa with a view, would glance over from time to time. He happened to see them chatting happily and took a large gulp of red wine.
Rosalind Lowell kept feeling a chill run down her spine, as if someone was staring at her, but when she turned to look, she couldn't see anyone.
"Should we exchange contact info? How about we add each other on WeChat? It's easier to talk that way."
Before Rosalind Lowell could even process what was happening, she had already added Skylar Morrison's WeChat.
A cool sea breeze blew from behind, sweeping strands of hair across her face.
She instinctively tucked the long strands behind her ear.
She blinked. 'Is this real?'
…until Skylar Morrison interrupted her daze by taking the lily boutonnière from his chest and holding it out to her.