Jasmine arrived home later in the evening, exhausted from the dinner gathering. Seb was already home, lounging on the couch, watching TV. He turned off the TV and stood up as Jasmine entered the living room.
"Hey, how did it go?" he asked her, looking a little concerned.
Jasmine sighed and dropped onto the couch beside him. "It's official. Ivy and Daniel are getting married. And she's already pregnant."
Seb's expression turned serious. "I see. What did your father say?"
"Not much. He just mentioned that he'd discuss the date with Daniel's family and call me later,"
She replied casually and headed straight to the bedroom while Seb followed suit.
She got in and picked up her pyjamas and went to the bathroom for a shower, it's been a long night. Seb stood by the bathroom entrance as he watched her struggle to take off her dress. "Do you need help?" he asked her. She turned and was surprised to see him standing there. "What are you doing ?" She asked back, a little flustered and her face flushed. "We were supposed to respect each other's privacy, and as you can see, I'm trying to undress and take a bath".
"We are married and married couples can take a bath together. It wasn't written anywhere in the contract that we can't bath together". He said teasingly with a little smile playing on his lips. Jasmine's face turned red as she blushed real bad. This man! How could he be so nonchalant about these things like it wasn't a big deal? Who told him that he could play around like this?. She glared at him as if she could shoot bullets out of her eyes. "Okay fine, I'll leave you to it. " he finally said, raising his hands in surrender and he shut the bathroom door behind him. Jasmine heaved a sigh of relief and quickly took her bath and changed into her pyjamas before he would barge in again.
The next day was a weekend, and Jasmine was sorting out some work files when her father called her. "Jasmine, the engagement party is set for next week. Daniel's family has finalized the date, and we'll be having the wedding soon after."
Jasmine heart skipped a bit, but she maintained her composure. She paused a little, as if contemplating if she would be in attendance or not. Not that she wasn't expecting it, after all they are expecting a baby already so it's understandable that they would want to rush the wedding, she was just a little angry that their families had finalized it all so fast as if they'd never wanted her to be with Daniel initially. She finally responded after a few seconds, "Okay, Father. I'll make sure to be there."
A week passed quickly, and before long, the day of the engagement party had arrived.
At the Roberts mansion, Ivy was already greeting guests, looking radiant in a pale pink dress that accentuated her brown hair and light blue eyes. Her hair was styled in loose waves, and her smile seemed genuine. One would easily be deceived and think she's the purest of all
As the guests continued to arrive, the atmosphere grew tense. Jasmine was running late, and everyone was waiting for her arrival. Some familiar faces asked after her, and Ivy defended her, pretending to be concerned. "Something might have delayed her. She's not one to run late to important events."
Just then, Jasmine arrived, and the room fell silent. She looked stunning in a light blue silky dress that hugged her curves perfectly from the upper part, a little free mermaid like from the waistline downwards. Her honey brown eyes sparkled, and her burgundy hair, styled in an elegant updo, showcased her flawless skin. As she entered the party hall, all eyes turned to her, and a few fans rushed to get her autograph.
Ivy's eyes flashed with jealousy, her smile faltering for a moment. She hated being overshadowed by her sister, especially on her own engagement day. She rushed to welcome Jasmine, amidst the crowd trying to get her autograph, in an attempt to draw attention back to herself. After attending to a few fans, she went straight to greet her father where he was standing with Olivia,exchanging pleasantries with Daniel's father and other few relatives that were there. Everyone looked happy and were smiling as if they had no grudges against each other.
As the party continued, everyone seemed to be having a great time. The music was lively, and the guests were enjoying the food and drinks. A waiter approached Jasmine with a glass of champagne. She picked it up from the tray with a smile and said 'thank you' as she took a sip, feeling the bubbles rise to her head. She started to feel dizzy, wondering if the alcohol level of the wine was too strong. She wasn't supposed to get tipsy with just a few sips.
Jasmine's eyes scanned the room as her vision started turning slightly blurry. She felt a bit disoriented, but she tried to shake it off. She glanced at Ivy, who was laughing and chatting with the guests, looking like the perfect engaged woman. Jasmine's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't quite articulate. She knew at the point that something was wrong with the drink and regretted drinking it instantly.
The party continued, but Jasmine's focus was wavering. She knew she needed to get a grip on herself, but the champagne seemed to be having an unexpected effect. She stumbled slightly, and someone quickly grabbed her arm, holding her steady. "Are you okay?" a concerned voice asked.
Jasmine nodded, and smiled weakly trying to clear her head. She stumbled again, this time almost falling down and the concerned stranger held her steady, "Do you need help?" He asked her and she just nodded and mumbled "I'm fine, I just feel a little lightheaded. I'll use the restroom." She said and headed to the bathroom. She took a few deep breaths, feeling a bit better. She quickened her pace and the man followed her from behind, trying to help her balance her movements.