Silas and Douglas stepped right up behind her, their smiles just as welcoming. "So these are the famous friends? Welcome!"
"Thank you all for making the trip just for Serena's big night."
Holden walked over, eyeing the five hulking, intimidating men with genuine, hearty approval. "Look at the build on you boys! Sturdy! Very impressive!"
The surrounding guests were utterly paralyzed with shock.
Especially the group of socialites who had just been waiting for the punchline. Their jaws practically hit the manicured grass.
Even when the heads of the most powerful financial conglomerates in the United Realmon States walked through those doors, the Vintons didn't greet them with half this much enthusiasm.
But a bunch of street brawlers and hoodlums were getting the royal treatment?!
Has the entire Vinton family lost their collective minds?!
Greeting these street thugs with such overwhelming hospitality?
Serena fully understood what was happening. Her family didn't care about the lethal, terrifying aura rolling off her crew. All they cared about was that these were her people.
By welcoming them so aggressively in front of hundreds of judgmental eyes, the Vintons were drawing a massive line in the sand.
They were loudly shutting down any elitist whispers before they could even start, ensuring her friends wouldn't have to endure a single dirty look or condescending remark for the rest of the night.
After all, this was the Vinton family's territory.
Moving forward.
No guest would dare utter a single disparaging word, out of sheer respect and fear of the Vinton name.
The family simply didn't want her friends to experience an ounce of discrimination or hear any vicious gossip.
A rush of profound warmth flooded Serena's chest.
She offered a soft smile. "I'm going to take them upstairs to get changed. I already had the styling team meet us here."
"Ah, so you're the one who called in that styling crew," Douglas said, pointing a thumb toward the second floor. "They arrived a little while ago. They're waiting in the master dressing room."
Serena nodded, turning to the lethal enforcers she had brought from the Ghost Alliance. "Let's head up. I've already got your tuxedos sorted out."
Black Jack's eyes lit up like neon signs.
She rubbed her hands together greedily. "Hell yes! Mama finally gets to slip into something sparkly again!"
Slinging an arm over the broad
shoulders of the nearest enforcer she cackled. "None of you meatheads have ever seen me i Couture, have you? Let's go! Prepare
to be blinded by my sheer glamour!"
Serena led her chaotic, intimidating crew into the grand foyer and up the sweeping staircase.
A group of seven.
They moved with such unified,
predatory swagger it looked less like
they were heading for a wardrobe
change and more like they were
marching to a cartel execution.
Watching their menacing swagger, Isabella's perfectly manicured nails dug so hard
into her palms she nearly drew blood.
These people...
They were absolute gutter trash.
They were an active embarrassment to the Vinton family name.
Yet, the entire family was treating them like royalty!
Just because they belonged to Serena.
They were willing to completely degrade their own high-society standing just to accept these lowlifes?
Exactly how blindly obsessed were they with this girl?!
Isabella felt a surge of jealousy so violent she thought she might scream.
Beside her, a socialite rolled her eyes. "Change clothes? Please. You can put a tuxedo on a sewer rat, but it's still just a rat."
"That redhead is hilarious. Acting like she actually knows how to wear couture. I bet none of those peasants have ever even seen the inside of a gala like this."
...
Listening to the venomous chatter of her friends.
A dark, calculating light returned to Isabella's eyes.
Lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, she murmured, "Do you... do you think Serena is really going to wear
whatever was in that trashy net
should probably go check on her. If she actually comes downstairs Wearing rags... it'll be a total humiliation for the family."
Lifting the hem of her dazzling skirt, she made a beeline for the stairs.
The other girls instantly caught on, their eyes lighting up with malicious glee.
"Oh, we are definitely coming with you! I wouldn't miss this trainwreck for the world!"