Fury contorted Julia's face as she watched Chioma and Chisom strut around like they owned the place. She had an intense desire to slap them so hard that they would bleed to death. But then, this was Audrey's birthday, and for the sake of old times, Julia had to calm down and not ruin the joyous occasion. She had been close to Audrey because her uncle was the butler at Diamond Gardens, which allowed her access to the house and an invitation to the party.
'Don't worry, Julia,' Dara murmured, her lips curling slightly in an attempt to reassure her, 'Jessica won't let Chioma get away with her antics. I know how much Jessica despises her.'
'That girl can only end up being Michael's mistress,' Dana said mockingly as she joined them. 'To Michael, Chioma will always be a toy he can play with whenever he wants. He will never take her seriously. In the end, Michael will choose to marry Jessica.' Dana was Dara's twin sister, and both were dressed in stunning red gowns for the party.
'I know Chioma won't last long. She's treading on a dangerous path,' Emmanuella added as Chioma and Chisom stopped in front of Audrey, laughing and chatting.
'Let's go home. It's getting late,' Julia suggested, but her gaze fell on Nathan, who had just approached Audrey, Daniel, Chioma, and Chisom. Nathan was dressed in a graceful and elegant deep blue striped suit by Valentino. His neatly cut dark hair and matching tie added to his charm.
After a brief moment of silence, Dara suddenly asked, catching Julia off guard with her question, 'Do you like Nathan?'
Julia's cheeks flushed at the unexpected question.
'I'm sorry, perhaps I shouldn't have asked that,' Dara apologised, 'but the way you looked at Nathan made me think you have feelings for him.'
Julia's gaze flickered to the ground, a silent admission. She had been harbouring feelings for Nathan for a long time. She had tried to hide her emotions, but it seemed Dara had picked up on them. A hesitant chuckle escaped her lips, 'He's single, isn't he? Why wouldn't I be interested?'
'Well, he is in love with Jessica,' Dara reminded Julia, her voice matter-of-fact.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Julia's face before Emmanuella interjected, her voice laced with optimism, 'And Jessica is in love with Michael. That means Julia has a chance with Nathan. You still have a chance.' She smiled at Julia.
Dana, clearly displeased by Chioma's friendly interaction with Audrey and Nathan, scoffed, 'But will that witch let you have him?'
'I wonder what kind of magic that witch Chioma possesses. She pretends to be good to make people like her. She's the worst kind of schemer,' Dara spat out angrily.
'Stop speaking ill of others and use your time to improve yourself,' Celine interjected, casting a cold glance at them. The group turned to look at Celine, who had quietly approached them, gracefully sipping her wine.
'Celine, I was just wondering about the magic that witch possesses,' Dara chuckled lightly.
'There's nothing wrong with being likable... Chioma is socialising, and nobody is upset. So, I suggest you mind your own business and stay out of others' affairs. It's not a good look for you,' Celine advised firmly.
Julia, unable to meet Celine's gaze, let out an arrogant retort, 'She isn't even beautiful,'
Celine scoffed at Julia's remark. 'And what about you? Do you believe you're the epitome of beauty? Haven't you heard that a woman's allure goes beyond mere looks? Physical appearance is fleeting and superficial... Chioma, on the other hand, possesses values and principles. I'm genuinely surprised that despite your frequent visits to Diamond Gardens, you still lack any sense of integrity. Your only talent seems to be tearing others down.' She turned to walk away but paused, a thought crossing her mind. Celine looked back at them and said, 'Why don't you remove your makeup? There's a professional makeup artist hired for this event who has the best makeup remover. Your face resembles that of a panda's. No wonder you give off a manipulative vibe....' Celine clearly expressed her disapproval of their behaviour towards Chioma
Celine's harsh words left Julia and her friends speechless, shame flushing their faces. They turned away, unable to meet her gaze.
Meanwhile, as Chioma, Chisom, and Daniel made their way towards the gates, loud bangs filled the air. All eyes turned upward to witness a breathtaking display of fireworks illuminating the night sky. The vibrant colours and stunning bursts of light painted a mesmerising picture. Chioma, Chisom, and Daniel stopped in their tracks, their faces beaming with smiles as the fireworks formed the words, 'Happy 18th birthday Audrey.' Only someone with substantial means could afford such extravagant fireworks. The display, worth $10,000 or more, served as a grand finale to the party.