Chapter 198: Invitation

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Invitation

Vivian Lowell and Eleanor Rhodes chatted for a while, then went over to the bar and got two glasses of fruit wine.

Eleanor Rhodes took a sip, and her eyes landed on the small cakes nearby. She tugged enthusiastically on Vivian Lowell’s hand. "Vivian, want some little cakes?"

Vivian Lowell glanced over.

They were rabbit-shaped mousse cakes that looked soft and delicious.

"Sure."

Just as Vivian Lowell agreed, Joy Drake walked up from behind them. She called out politely, "Mrs. Faulkner."

Vivian Lowell was a bit taken aback when she heard the title "Mrs. Faulkner." She rarely identified herself that way professionally, and most of her close business partners called her Miss Lowell.

Being called that so suddenly felt almost unfamiliar.

She turned to see Joy Drake, who wore a friendly and polite expression. Vivian responded in kind, "Miss Drake, can I help you with something?"

"Well... Mrs. Faulkner. Tonight at the Drake Family’s party, Sylvia and I were supposed to perform a piano duet. But she just threw a tantrum for some reason and now refuses to play with me."

"The piece is a bit difficult for me to perform alone. So, I was hoping I could invite you to play it with me as a duet. Would that be possible? In exchange, I can give you two tickets to the water park at the yacht club at the end of the month."

Vivian Lowell knew the water park she was talking about.

It was an extremely luxurious private water park near the yacht club. Reservations were notoriously difficult to get. The attractions were amazing, from thrilling water slides to slow, leisurely lazy rivers.

Vivian actually quite enjoyed these kinds of outdoor activities.

But she also knew that Joy Drake’s offer wasn’t really about paying her. It was simply that if you were going to ask for a favor out of the blue, it was best to offer something in return.

Vivian Lowell considered it for a moment.

’Sylvia Drake had an agreement with Joy Drake but backed out. It probably has something to do with Julian and me.’

’Because of the incident with Felix Faulkner, Julian has absolutely no goodwill left for Sylvia Drake. And just now, when Joy appeared, she showed Sylvia no deference at all.’

’Joy said they wouldn’t interfere with the Felix Faulkner situation anymore.’

’So Sylvia got upset and bailed on Joy.’

’It seems that even within the Drake Family, relations aren’t as harmonious as they seem.’

But what Vivian found strange was why she was being asked. Many of the ladies and wives here today could surely play an instrument. After all, for wealthy families, musical talent was a way to "keep up appearances."

’Why did Joy Drake single me out?’

Vivian Lowell narrowed her eyes. Seeing that Vivian hadn’t responded, Joy seemed to sense her hesitation and explained, "Mrs. Faulkner, you participated in a piano competition back in college, didn’t you?"

"And you even won an award. Quite a few people in Aethelburg’s high society know about it. I only just heard, which is why I took the liberty of inviting you."

Vivian was a little surprised.

’I can’t believe Joy Drake even managed to dig that up.’

’In business, they say, "Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat." It seemed Joy Drake had really done her homework.’

"Alright," Vivian agreed.

’Besides, I’m confident in my abilities,’ Vivian thought. ’If Joy’s invitation is sincere, then fine. I am a good pianist, and this is a chance to show what I can do.’

’But if Joy is trying to pull something...’

’I’m not some naive little damsel anymore. It’s not yet clear who’ll be the one out of luck in the end.’

Vivian Lowell and Joy Drake went to the dressing room. Eleanor Rhodes went with them, linking her arm through Vivian’s and carefully surveying their surroundings the entire time.

’She’s like a farmer diligently protecting his prize cabbage!’

Watching Eleanor, Vivian couldn’t help but smile.

The dressing room was empty. After the three of them went inside, Joy Drake took out a dress she had prepared and handed it to Vivian Lowell.

"This was custom-made ahead of time. It’s sized for Sylvia Drake, but I think it should fit you as well, Mrs. Faulkner. My apologies for making you wear her dress."

Vivian didn’t really mind.

’It was made to Sylvia’s measurements, but it’s not like Sylvia ever wore it.’

"Vivian, let me hold your bag. You go on and change! I’ll wait for you right here!" Eleanor Rhodes said, taking Vivian’s handbag.

"Okay." Vivian nodded. She had just taken the dress when, suddenly, Joy cried out from behind her.

"Ah!"

Joy Drake, perhaps losing her balance while trying to take off her high heels, bumped into a nearby table. She didn’t fall, however.

But as she reached out to steady herself, she set the dress she was holding on the table, knocking over a cup of coffee in the process.

The coffee spilled all over the dress.

"..."

Joy Drake managed to catch her balance. Her ankle throbbed a little, but she frowned at the dress in her hands. "Oh, no. This is terrible."

The dress meant for the piano performance was ruined.

Coffee stains are difficult to get out, and with the party about to officially begin, there was no time to have the dress cleaned.

Vivian walked over to check on Joy. Noticing her ankle was slightly red, she asked, "Miss Drake, are you alright?"

"Do you need me to get someone to bring you some pain-relief spray? You should be careful with an injured ankle."

Joy glanced at her ankle and nodded. "That’s nothing. The real problem is my dress, the one I had ready for the opening performance, is ruined."

"I’m so sorry for troubling you, Mrs. Faulkner."

Vivian Lowell shook her head.

’I don’t know what to do about this, either.’

’But it’s just a dress, right? It shouldn’t be a big deal.’

’Besides...’

Just as Vivian was thinking this, Joy sat down on a small sofa and looked down at her own evening gown.

Perhaps from her near-fall, a small brooch on her gown was now crooked. The brooch had been fastened with a pin.

As the brooch shifted, the pin had torn the fabric.

This meant that even if Joy wanted to wear her current dress for the performance, it was now impossible.

Vivian fell silent.

She hadn’t expected so many accidents to happen at once. All she could do was ask, "Miss Drake, do you have a spare evening gown?"

’On such a big occasion, a major event for the Drake Family, surely they’d have a Plan B, right?’

As Vivian asked with a frown, Joy immediately picked up her phone to have another gown brought over. "I do," she said, "it’s just..."

"Mrs. Faulkner, as you know, I only recently returned to the country. Sylvia Drake and Finn Drake were handling everything before I got back. There hasn’t been enough time to have many gowns custom-made."

Vivian looked at Joy, then handed over the dress she was holding—the one originally meant for Sylvia. "Miss Drake, if you’re really out of time, just wear this one."

"It was prepared for the piano performance, after all. And my mermaid-style dress today should coordinate with it well enough. I can just play in what I’m already wearing."

Hearing this, Joy looked Vivian over carefully, as if to confirm that her mermaid-style dress was indeed suitable for the performance.

Fortunately, it seemed it would work.

"Alright." Joy agreed and took the gown from Vivian. Vivian, in turn, took the opportunity to step over to the vanity and touch up her makeup.

Everything went smoothly. A few minutes later, when Joy emerged from the changing room, Vivian looked at her in the dress and couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration.

’The Drakes are all so good-looking. Compared to Sylvia, Joy might be slightly less glamorous, but her aura is superior. She’s like a natural-born aristocrat.’

"Miss Drake, let’s go."

Vivian said, and they returned to the main hall together.

In the main hall, Julian Faulkner seemed to have wrapped up his conversation with President Ward and the others. His eyes were scanning the room, clearly searching for Vivian.

The moment Vivian returned, Julian walked right over.

"Where did you go?" Julian asked, a hint of worry in his voice. He was so focused on her he didn’t even notice Joy Drake standing beside her.

"Miss Drake invited me to accompany her on the piano later. I just went with her to the dressing room. Julian, have you ever heard me play?"

Vivian had her own little plan.

’A girl naturally wants to show off her best side to the boy she likes.’

She and Julian had been together for so long, and the Vivian he knew was the designer, the young woman who had become Veridia’s only member of the International Designers Association.

But what Julian didn’t know was that Vivian could also play the piano—and she was quite good, her skill on par with Eleanor Rhodes’s cello playing.

"No."

Julian shook his head. Seeing the stars sparkling in Vivian’s eyes, he felt his own sense of anticipation build. "Well then," he said, "I’ll be eagerly waiting."

"Great!" Vivian agreed with a smile, then turned to Joy. "Miss Drake, when do we start?"

"Right now," Joy said with a smile. "In a moment, my brother will go up to give the opening remarks, and we’ll play the piano off to the side."

"After the piano performance, there will be dancing. At that time, Mr. Faulkner and Mrs. Faulkner, you two can dance together."

’Dancing.’

Vivian blinked and glanced back at Julian. He had already extended his hand in a classic invitation. He smiled and asked, "Might this lady do me the honor of being my dance partner?"

Seeing how serious he was, Vivian placed her hand in his. "Of course."

"I couldn’t be happier," Julian said. With that, Vivian and Joy headed for the stage.

Hazel Drake also went up on stage. As the Drake siblings appeared, the crowd below gradually fell silent. Following behind Joy, Vivian glanced over at the Drake family’s table.

She saw Finn Drake but not Sylvia. The rest of the people at the table were mostly elders, with a few younger faces mixed in. There were too many for Vivian to remember.

But she didn’t see the legendary Master Drake.

There were a few older men, but upon closer inspection, Vivian realized they were only slightly older than Felix Faulkner at most.

There was no one who looked old enough to be from Julian’s grandfather’s generation.

"Is Master Drake not here today?" Vivian asked Joy, her curiosity piqued.

Joy turned and replied with a helpless sigh, "Grandfather went fishing today. He says these business matters should be left to us younger ones."

"If he catches a big one, he might come over later if he’s in a good mood. If he doesn’t, he’ll just go straight home."

"..."

’Master Drake is so cool.’

’The Drake Family returns to the country with such a massive business venture—collaborating with local hospitals, launching a new cosmetics brand... This project has to be worth billions, right?’

’And he doesn’t care about any of it, he’s just focused on fishing.’

’Vivian was starting to think that fishing enthusiasts really were a different breed.’

The benches were already in place in front of the pianos.

Vivian and Joy took their seats, each at one of the two pianos arranged one behind the other. The plan was for Joy to play the first few bars, and then Vivian would join in.

The piece for the evening wasn’t difficult; Vivian had even played it solo before.

It could be performed by a single person, but it was technically demanding. For two pianists, however, it was significantly simpler.

Vivian’s piano skills were excellent, so collaborating with Joy would be no problem at all.

Over at the podium, Hazel Drake had taken her place. She switched on the microphone and activated the large screen, which began to display a slideshow.

It was a presentation on the Drake Family’s philosophy on "cosmeceuticals," incorporating many traditional elements.

The Drakes had even hired an influencer who specialized in ancient crafting methods to help test and develop their products. The whole presentation took the form of a captivating documentary.

As the documentary played, Joy began to play. The piece was an ancient melody, and hearing it rendered on the piano gave it a unique charm.

As Vivian and Joy played in tandem, and the documentary continued under Hazel Drake’s direction, the lights dimmed. Nearly everyone in the audience was completely engrossed.

Vivian found herself getting drawn in as well.

’I have to admit, Joy’s piano skill is impressive,’ she thought. ’If I hadn’t agreed to join her, she probably could have performed this entire piece on her own.’

’She must have invited me just to be completely certain nothing would go wrong.’

’As expected of the Drakes. They really plan for every contingency.’

The piece soon came to a close, just as the film ended. Many in the audience, still wanting more, slowly turned their attention toward the pianos.

It was only then that they realized the music wasn’t part of the documentary’s soundtrack but was being played live.

"Is that Miss Drake and Mrs. Faulkner?" someone recognized them, and a murmur of appreciation went through the crowd. "They play so beautifully!"

The words had barely left their lips when disaster struck.

Joy Drake’s music came to an abrupt halt.