Paisley had been delayed waiting for Emery and the others, so by the time she took the elevator down to the grand ballroom on the hotel's first floor, the cocktail party was already in full swing. Inside, guests mingled and clinked glasses, their conversations lively and full of energy.
Since Paisley didn't know many people here, and Emery and Lucy were nowhere to be found, the only familiar face who might exchange a few words with her was Nathaniel, the host of the event.
Paisley planned to find him, share a drink, offer her congratulations, and leave as soon as possible.
But when Paisley spotted Nathaniel, he was standing with Dominick, Marissa, and a group of people who had been with them at the stables earlier. Other guests were also discreetly watching Nathaniel and Dominick, clearly interested in their interactions.
Feeling out of sorts, Paisley wanted to avoid any interaction with Dominick and his group in a setting like this. The last thing she wanted was to become the center of attention. So, she quietly moved to a corner, picked up a glass of wine, and took small sips.
The moment the wine's sharp yet slightly sweet taste reached her throat, she knit her brows gently, thinking, 'Hmm... This is good but not as good as the wine I make.'
Paisley had a deep appreciation for wine—both tasting and crafting it—but she never indulged excessively. For her, it was about savoring the experience, not losing control.
After marrying Dominick, she had stopped drinking altogether to ensure she could have a healthy pregnancy. Once Grayson was born, she sacrificed a lot for her family, including her love of wine tasting and winemaking.
After her divorce from Dominick, Paisley discovered she was pregnant with Serena shortly after, which delayed her return to her passion for wine even further.
It wasn't until last year, when Serena turned two, that Paisley finally picked up her winemaking hobby again. Even so, it had been nearly six months since Paisley's last drink.
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