Chapter 86: Coming of Age Party
Jennifer insisted, "I didn't. You're overthinking it. I'm just curious, that's all."
"Curious about what? I did go pick up Tina yesterday, and running into Aurora was just a coincidence. I did date her a few years ago, but that's all in the past. I have no intention of getting back together." When Francis said this, he wasn't looking into Jennifer's eyes but was staring at the pearl on her earlobe. It was unclear whether he was explaining to Jennifer or convincing himself.
Jennifer caught it—there was a brief pause when he mentioned Aurora. Sure enough, this Aurora was the first love he'd never forgotten. His first love had returned, so their arrangement would probably end soon. Francis might sound so casual about it, but the details in his expression revealed Aurora's special place in his heart. Once she made a move, he definitely wouldn't be able to resist. Of course, Jennifer didn't call him out on it, to avoid making him angry. She gave a casual response and leaned against his chest.
Francis suddenly felt irritated. He buried his head in Jennifer's neck and breathed in her scent. The faint sweet fragrance relaxed his nerves a bit. He gently bit her earlobe and said, "Jennifer, let's have sex."
"Okay." Jennifer was a bit unhappy too, but she agreed. Francis was good in bed, and she enjoyed it too. She thought about all those days they'd spent making love—at least the process was pleasant.
They took a quick shower together and tumbled into bed. Jennifer stretched out her body, trying to relax and enjoy the sex. They hadn't done it in a few days, and she'd been wanting it a bit too. Thinking that it might be hard to find such a compatible sex partner in the future, she felt a little down. But soon Francis picked up the pace, leaving her no room for random thoughts, only able to grab his hair and let out meaningless moans.
After they were satisfied, Francis rolled over to the side, breathing heavily. "Next week is Tina's Coming of Age Party. Come with me."
Jennifer's closed eyelids twitched. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling. "Are you sure?"
"Of course, it's just a party." Francis's arm reached over and rested on her chest. What was Jennifer overthinking now?
"Okay, I'll prepare well." Jennifer knew she was overthinking again. A man like him only treated women at parties as beautiful accessories. As long as the accessory was pretty, well-behaved, and wouldn't embarrass him, that was enough.
On the day of Tina's Coming of Age Party, Francis brought Jennifer early. He was sort of a host and needed to help arrange things for the guests. In the dressing room, Tina ran over to Jennifer as soon as she saw her. "You must be Francis's girlfriend, Jennifer, right? You really are gorgeous! I've heard your name before. Francis has been keeping you all to himself and never introduced us." Tina glared at Francis beside her. Jennifer looked gentle and warm, the kind of person who easily made others like her.
Jennifer smiled and presented her gift. She'd carefully chosen it. Though it wasn't as lavish as Francis's, it was still heartfelt.
Tina opened the gift box, took out the delicate necklace, and held it up. "Thank you, I love it. If my makeup and styling weren't already done, I'd want to switch to this necklace right now."
Tina still needed to touch up her makeup, so Francis left Jennifer to keep her company. The two chatted about trendy clothes and jewelry in the dressing room for a while, then Tina started complaining about Francis's bad temper, saying she didn't understand why so many women could put up with him.
Jennifer lowered her head and giggled softly. "He does have a lot of good points, like being rich and good-looking." She paused there and didn't continue.
Tina laughed. "Jennifer, you really care about looks, too. Okay, I admit that his face is pretty deceiving. But I prefer cooler guys, like Superman types." She couldn't help thinking of that man she'd met at the airport—he perfectly matched her taste in men. But he was way too cold, actually able to reject a beauty like her!
Isabella finished arranging things in the front hall and came to find Tina, only to see her chatting happily with Jennifer. She said cheerfully, "I told you Jennifer was easy to get along with. With her temperament, she's perfect for Francis." She praised Jennifer until she started to feel shy. Fortunately, Isabella remembered she was there to take Tina to greet the guests, so after a few words, she pulled Tina away.
Jennifer followed them to the front hall. Francis stood out in the crowd. She walked over with small steps and stood beside him. Francis glanced at her and naturally extended his arm for her to take, then introduced her to the guests. "This is my girlfriend, Jennifer."
The guests all said they made a great couple, and Jennifer smiled politely and greeted them. But in her heart, she wondered if Francis was deliberately making such a public announcement of their relationship to provoke Aurora. She'd heard Aurora would be here today, too. Just as she was thinking this, the crowd suddenly quieted, and many people looked toward the entrance.
A tall, beautiful woman was walking in from the entrance. She wore a pure white mermaid-style gown that trailed on the floor, and as she moved, the gems on the tail reflected dazzling halos. It was Aurora! Her features were cool and stunning, her red lips pressed into a line—even without smiling, she was breathtaking. Many people present marveled at her cold beauty. Jennifer suddenly wanted to check herself in a mirror to see if her makeup was perfect and whether she fell far short compared to Aurora.
Francis's gaze was involuntarily drawn to her, too. He watched Aurora walk toward him step by step. She was still so dazzling, like a bright moon hanging high in the night sky. She really was beautiful. Francis's eyes were complex—there was appreciation, nostalgia, and pain. He suddenly tilted his head back and drained his glass. The cold, bitter liquid made him calm down. When he opened his eyes again, his expression had changed to one of distance. He glanced at Jennifer beside him and continued chatting with the guests.
Of course, Jennifer didn't miss the change in Francis's emotions. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. As expected, she hadn't guessed wrong—Aurora was Francis's unforgettable first love. If Francis wanted to pretend, she'd play along with him through this act.
Actually, Jennifer didn't notice that many people at the scene were also looking at her, but because she was with Francis, those glances were more restrained. Aurora's appearance caused surprise among the crowd, partly because she was beautiful and dazzling, but more importantly because she was attending this kind of party alone. A few people recognized Aurora and remembered that she and Francis used to be a perfect couple, so they looked at Jennifer with some amusement. Many others didn't know her, and several men eagerly approached to hand her their business cards, all of which Aurora rejected with a single sentence. She really was a proud woman, but she had the credentials for such pride.