Luna excused herself from Joanna and Jasmine to take a moment of peace for herself to calm down. She didn't know if she was ready for this confrontation yet, but her relationship with Jasper Mo would undeniably end tonight.
As soon as she saw a vacant balcony, Luna took a deep breath, glad that she wouldn't have to face Aiko or Jasper anytime soon… or so she thought…
"Luna, what are you doing here?" Jasper's voice was low, and his eyes reflected conflicting emotions Luna couldn't read. Did Jasper know the reason why she was here?
Jasper was initially shocked when he spotted her earlier, but now that he was seeing her face to face, the weeks he'd been gone suddenly felt too long. He couldn't believe this was the same Luna Jiang he left a few weeks ago.
She was stunningly beautiful and blooming.
"Yeah, didn't you send me an invitation this afternoon?" She couldn't believe she was using the same reasoning Aiko had used against her earlier.
Jasper's face darkened.
It was just, at this moment, Aiko chose to appear again. Showing a sweet smile to Luna, she told Jasper, "You almost forgot to invite, Miss Jiang. I did the honor of sending them the invitations."
Jasper glanced at her and sneered inwardly. This was the woman his father wanted him to marry? Couldn't Aiko take a look at herself? Her bright red sequin gown and thick makeup… her look wasn't appropriate for this event at all.
Compared to her 'kind' and 'magnanimous' attitude before, Aiko Chen didn't bother to hide the sarcasm in her voice now. She really hated this Luna Jiang down to her core and couldn't wait to crush her with her own hands.
The look she gave Luna was seen by Jasper, and this only fueled his disgust towards this woman. How were his parents blinded by her? She wasn't really an appropriate woman to become a wife.
There were guests in the banquet hall that cast curious and inquiring glances towards them but didn't dare to voice out. It wasn't their business to disturb them and was afraid to offend the Mo family.
Aiko Chen confidently strode towards Jasper and tugged his arm.
"Jasper, the guests are staring at us." She bit her lower lip and blinked her eyes. "Should we go back and entertain some of them?"
Jasper politely pulled away from Aiko and glared at her.
"So it was you, huh?" he sneered.
Aiko clasped her hands together and placed it on her chest. Her eyes a little watery as if she was being bullied by Jasper.
"Jasper, I knew I acted and made decisions without your permission, but you didn't have to be angry. I was merely handing off the invitations as per your parents' request."
When Jasper didn't say a word, she continued with her babbling.
"Today is your birthday party, and all the guests here are very important people within the country for the Mo family to get acquainted. Therefore, we…"
Jasper let out a low but dangerous chuckle, halting Aiko's words.
"You are just a Chen. Who gave you the right to make decisions for the Mo family?"
The sudden change of color of Aiko's face amused Luna who'd been listening intently between them.
"I was just trying to remind you…" Aiko suppressed a sob.
"Then, should I remind you too of your rightful place, Aiko Chen?" Jasper raised a brow at her.
He didn't dare to conceal the hatred and disgust he felt for this woman. If Aiko thought that she managed to snatch Luna's place as his woman because he slept with her, then she's gravely mistaken.
"Aiko Chen, you're really getting better and better scheming behind our back. Did you enjoy ruining someone's relationship? And you've got some nerve to use the Mo family, huh?"
Just then, the voice of an angry woman came and joined them at the balcony.
"Jasper, what's happening here?"
It was Jasper's stepmother who was already in her early fifties. She was dressed in an old-fashioned dress with gold laces, but they didn't succeed in giving her a classic elegant look. Instead, it gave her a pretentious impression.
Luna raised a brow when she saw the old woman. She suddenly thought that her mother looked better than Chairman Mo's second wife. Her facial features didn't have any resemblance to Jasper's refined, handsome face.
If her guess was right, this old woman must be the one who helped Aiko put a rift between her and Jasper.
"Oh, Madam Mo." Jasper's eyes were filled with ridicule as his shoulders slacked slightly when he buried his hands on his side pockets. "You indeed prepared an entertaining show tonight for me to enjoy. Too bad I'm sick and tired of your games."
The old woman broke in a cold sweat at Jasper's words. She couldn't believe her lies have been found out by him. She was so glad that they were out of everyone's earshot, or else there would be a big scandal the next day.
"It's not what you think, Jasper. This… this is for your own good. What are you trying to stir up? Tonight is very important. Our family…"
"Madam Mo should mind her own business and shouldn't test my patience any longer. You aren't my mother." Every word Jasper utter was like a stab on the woman's chest.
Seeing that the scene wasn't favorable to her and Madam Mo, Aiko tried to divert the issue back at Luna Jiang.
"I'm so sorry, Auntie." She sobbed pitifully. "Have I known Jasper would be like this, I shouldn't have invited Miss Jiang to attend," Aiko said pitifully before lowering her face and covering it with both hands, not letting them see the sinister smile on her lips.
'Ah, Luna Jiang. Did you just think that Jasper could save you?'
Luna's eyes widened in shock. This Aiko was really something!
A few months ago, this woman was so delicate and kind, Luna hadn't expected she was being schemed by Aiko.