"Mom, does it seriously bother you that Dad considers Melissa his ultimate first love?"
Now that Melissa was the mother of her roommate, Zara was practically her biggest
fan.
She obviously didn't want her own mother holding a grudge against her.
"Bother me? Why would it bother me? I just use it to get under your father's skin when we fight."
"With a guy like your dad, do you honestly think someone as incredible as Melissa would ever give him the time of day?"
"You have no idea how dazzling Melissa used to be."
"Next to her, your dad was practically a nobody. He couldn't even make it onto her radar."
Zara finally realized her mother had a perfectly clear grip on reality all along.
"Oh, thank god. I really thought you were jealous of her."
She patted her chest in relief. "I was just telling myself that Claire and I are great friends now. If you hated her mom, things would be incredibly awkward."
Her mother shot her a dry look. "Even if I did hate her mother, you two would just go on being friends. It has nothing to do with you."
"Still, to think your roommate is Melissa's daughter."
"It's hard to imagine a woman like her actually having kids."
It felt as surreal as a goddess stepping down from the clouds and living a mortal life.
"What's so weird about her having a kid? Her daughter is gorgeous and crazy smart."
Zara's face glowed with second-hand pride.
Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Prettier than you?"
If there was one thing Zara's mother was supremely confident about, it was how beautiful her daughter was.
While she was pretty herself, she didn't have double eyelids, so she specifically married a man who did.
Their daughter had ended up inheriting the absolute best traits from both of them. As a result, Zara was incredibly spoiled.
In her mother's eyes, very few girls could ever hold a candle to her daughter.
Zara rolled her eyes dramatically. "Mom, you missed the best part. Zoe actually tried
to use the fact that Claire is prettier than me as an insult earlier."
"She was trying to stir up drama between us."
Her mother gave her a slow, measuring look. "Maybe she wasn't trying to stir up drama. Maybe she genuinely
O thinks your friend i
prettier than you."
fo FindNovel.net
Zara stared at her. "...Wow. Spoken like a true mother. You always know exactly where to slip the knife in."
"Well, I guess that just proves my parents couldn't compete with Claire's parents in the genetics department."
"Claire told me her dad is ridiculously handsome, too."
Her mother sighed heavily. "Then it's
definitely your father's fault. His
gene
dragged down our family average."
FindNovel.net
Zara couldn't help but laugh. "...Whatever you say, Mom." Who was she to argue with her own mother?
Meanwhile, Claire and Dane headed upstairs to say their goodbyes, planning to head out early.
Having eaten her fill downstairs, Claire had zero interest in any of the other activities.
Apparently, the upper floors had private VIP rooms set up for poker and other games.
Once the main party died down, the guests could keep the night going up there.
Claire wasn't in the mood, though a few groups of executives from the company had already started a few tables.
Since Owen had rented out the entire fifth floor for the night, everyone was free to do whatever they wanted.
"I'll drive her home," Dane said.
Owen wasn't thrilled about his sister going home by herself, but it helped that Dane was going with her.
Even though Claire hadn't touched a drop of alcohol, Owen still
Dane like he was a wolf glared
lamb FindNovel.net
no
at
"Are you absolutely sure you're just driving my sister straight home?"
He wasn't going to try anything funny while her brother wasn't looking, was he?
"Yes," Dane replied, letting Owen scrutinize him. His tone was perfectly respectful and serious.
Owen hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
"Fine. Make sure you get her back early."
"Girls shouldn't stay up too late; it ruins their complexion."
Now that he was launching a brand targeted at women, Owen was surprisingly well- versed in skincare routines.
"Understood. See you later, Owen," Claire said.
"I'll ask Yolande and Seb if they want a ride, too," she added, completely oblivious to the underlying tension.