Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
eing doted on by his Leong grandparents!”<br />
Victoria smiled embarrassedly at the president, who was watching the whole exchange<br />
with piqued interest. “Nicky, may I remind you that your cousin Henry is the eldest<br />
grandson. He has every right to give a speech. And besides,” Victoria lowered her voice,<br />
“he’s running for a seat in parliament this year. Felicity said we HAVE to let him speak.<br />
And of course the president wants him to!”<br />
Nick stared at his aunt for a moment. Without another word, he turned around and<br />
headed back to his pew.<br />
—<br />
Michael Teo—Astrid’s estranged husband—came striding up the central aisle of St.<br />
Andrew’s Cathedral, dressed in a brand-new Rubinacci suit with shiny black John Lobb<br />
wing tips. He looked around for where Leong family members might be seated, and just<br />
as he caught sight of Astrid fussing over Cassian’s Windsor knot in the second pew from<br />
the front, two men in dark suits suddenly appeared, blocking his path.<br />
“I’m sorry, Mr. Teo. Family only on this side,” the man with the earpiece said.<br />
Michael opened his mouth, about to say something, but as he knew that all eyes were<br />
on him, he nodded, smiled politely, and took the nearest empty seat in another pew.<br />
Sitting in the pew opposite from Michael were members of the T’sien family. “Did you<br />
just see that? That was brutal,” Oliver whispered to his aunt Nancy.<br />
“Hnh! Serves him right. I don’t know how he even got an invitation,” Nancy huffed, as<br />
she thought to herself, That man was wasted on Astrid. The things I could do with that<br />
body…<br />
Nancy turned to face Oliver’s mother. “Bernadette, how nice you look in that…frock.”<br />
Ghastly. I can smell the mothballs.<br />
“Thank you. You look so fashionable, as always,” Bernadette replied, eyeing Nancy’s<br />
Gaultier couture dress. Wasting my brother-in-law’s money. No matter how expensive<br />
that dress is, you still look like mutton dressed as lamb.<br />
“It’s always nice to see the T’sien jade come out for an airing.” Nancy eyed the brooch<br />
Bernadette had on. This should have been mine. What a travesty to see it pinned on that<br />
horrific schmatta she calls a dress.<br />
The heirloom jewel had been passed down from T’sien Tsai Tay’s mother to Bernadette<br />
—her favorite granddaughter-in-law—and was said to have belonged to the Empress<br />
Dowager Ci’an. Nancy leaned over and said to her mother-in-law, “Do you see<br />
Bernadette’s brooch…doesn’t the carved jade butterfly look more translucent and vibrant<br />
than ever?”<br />
Rosemary smiled. “It’s imperial jade. It always looks better the more it’s worn.” I’m so<br />
glad we gave it to Bernadette. This is the gift that keeps on giving—just seeing how<br />
jealous Nancy still is after all these years.<br />
Bernadette smiled nervously at the two women and tried desperately to deflect
Change language