The True Heiress: Legend Mode novel Chapter 131

The provocative attitude was obvious to everyone listening.

Juno Mercer didn't take the bait, breezily instructing the staff to add a few more tables and courses.

She handled it with methodical grace.

Under the curious gazes of many, Juno stood up. Dressed casually, she announced, "It's just a birthday, and we shouldn't have made such a fuss. But since you're all here, we will naturally be good hosts. The extra food has been ordered, so please take a seat and bear with us for just a little while."

Every word and action exuded sheer class.

Those who had come primarily to size Juno up realized this brief display wasn't enough, so they walked over and sat down.

They had to admit, Matilda's connections were vast.

With a simple glance, Juno spotted quite a few familiar faces.

Rhiannon Corrington sat down at their family's table.

Babur Corrington was straightforward. He didn't have the brains for verbal gymnastics. "What are you trying to pull by inviting all these people over here? Do you want Juno to see how highly the Jagger family values you?"

Rhiannon poured herself a drink, her expression unchanging. "You're misunderstanding me. I just thought it would be too hard on Mom if we held two completely separate parties."

"If you really thought that, you wouldn't have waited until Grandma introduced you to all these people to say it. Why didn't you mention this before the party started?"

Rhiannon set the pitcher down. "This is exactly why people say you're too young. This was Grandma's wish. It's rare for her to want to do something like this. It'd be terrible of me to ruin her mood, wouldn't it?"

That single sentence choked Babur into silence.

Sebastian Corrington listened from the side, refusing to get involved in their bickering.

Arguing here was pointless.

Gwendolyn Jagger pulled Juno down to sit, glancing at her husband before whispering to her daughter, "Did none of your friends come today?"

Across the massive venue, it was only family. There wasn't a single unfamiliar face on her side.

Had her interpersonal relationships deteriorated this badly?

Had Juno really not made a single close friend since moving to Kingsland?

Although it wasn't right to think this way, Gwendolyn was genuinely puzzled. Was there really no one trying to rub elbows with her?

Juno led her to a seat. "Just relax."

"Oh." As she spoke, Claire looked around again, then down at herself. She felt incredibly underdressed.

For the first time in her life, she felt like she was embarrassing Juno.

Compared to Rhiannon's crowd, she felt utterly unpresentable.

Juliana walked in, with Shane Sherwood right beside her.

Mrs. Sherwood asked Juno, "What's going on?"

Patiently, Juno repeated exactly what she had just told Claire, without a trace of annoyance on her face.

She guided the Sherwoods to their seats.

Mrs. Sherwood was a little angry after hearing the explanation. "If I had known, I would have invited a few more people for you."

If Juno hadn't explicitly said she preferred things quiet, it wouldn't have ended up like this.