𝐃𝐘𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐘 ── 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔. ✔︎

𝟬𝟬𝟭.

EVERY MONTH, Rosalind Fung, the property heiress, hosted a Christian Fellowship Banquet for three hundred of her closest girlfriends in the opulent ballroom of the Fullerton Hotel. An invitation to this occasion was highly coveted by a certain segment of Singapore society regardless of their religious affiliation as it was a seal of approval from the old guard (there wasn't a single Chindo or Mainlander in sight), and also because the food was heavenly-Rosalind brought in her personal chefs, who took over the hotel's kitchens for one day and prepared an enormous buffet feast consisting of the most mouthwatering Singaporean dishes.

Most important-this biblical bacchanal was completely free of charge thanks to Rosalind's generosity, although guests were asked to contribute something to the offering basket immediately following the closing prayer.

Having strategically chosen a table closest to the buffet area, Daisy Foo sighed as she watched Araminta Lee Khoo standing in line at the noodle station dishing out some mee siam. "Aiyah-that Araminta! Bein kar ani laau!"

"She doesn't look old. She just doesn't have any makeup on, that's all. Those supermodel types look like nothing on earth without makeup," Nadine Shaw said as she tucked into her steaming bowl of mee rebus noodles.

Dousing her mee goreng with more chili oil, Eleanor Young commented, "It has nothing to do with that. I used to see her swim at the Churchill Club, and even when she was coming out of the pool dripping wet, she looked beautiful without a stitch of makeup on. Her face has just taken a turn, that's all. She has one of those faces that I always knew would age badly. What is she...twenty-seven, twenty-eight now? It's all over for her, lah."

At that moment, Lorena Lim and Carol Tai arrived at the table with plates piled dangerously high with food. "Wait, wait...who's aging badly?" Lorena inquired eagerly.

"Araminta Lee. Over at that table with all the Khoo women. Doesn't she look haggard?" Nadine said.

"Alamak, bite your tongue, Nadine! Didn't you know she just had a miscarriage?" Carol whispered.

The ladies all stared at Carol, mouths agape. "Again? Are you joking? Who told you, lah?" Daisy demanded, still chewing on her mee pok.

"Who else? Kitty, lor. Kitty and Araminta are the best of friends now, and ever since this latest miscarriage, she's been spending a lot of time at Kitty's house playing with Gisele. She's completely heartbroken."

"How often do you see Kitty and Gisele?" Lorena asked, marveling that Carol could be so forgiving of her ex-daughter-in-law-the same woman who had cheated on her son, Bernard, with a man Kitty met at the funeral of Carol's late husband and who subsequently dragged Bernard through a particularly acrimonious divorce and custody battle. (Of course, it didn't hurt that Carol abhorred her son's new lifestyle of yoga and "that ridiculous Jurassic diet," both of which she considered to be satanic.)

"I go over to Kitty's at least once a week, and Gisele comes to church with me every Sunday," Carol proudly reported.

"Is it healthy for Araminta to be playing with your granddaughter when she just lost her own baby?" Nadine wondered out loud.

"Aiyah, I'm sure old Mrs. Khoo must be giving Araminta soooo much pressure to produce a grandson! It's been five years since she married Colin! My Nicky and Rachel have been married for two years now, and they still won't give me a grandchild!" Eleanor complained.

"Firstly, Elle, your daughter is pregnant right now! And Araminta is still young. She has plenty of time, lah," Nadine argued.

"With all of Dorothy Khoo's side disinherited, Puan's side good-for-nothings, and Nigel Khoo running off and marrying that Russian cabaret singer, who is obviously too old to seh kiah, Colin and Araminta are the last hope to carry on the Khoo name," Daisy commented. Having been born a Wong, of the tin-mining Wongs, Daisy had an encyclopedic knowledge of Singapore's social history.

The ladies all shook their heads, casting pitiful glances at Araminta, who to anyone else but these women's hypercritical eyes looked perfectly gorgeous and lovely in her yellow striped minidress from Jacquemus.

"Well, Eleanor, your daughter, and your niece Astrid just arrived. There are two girls who never seem to age," Carol observed.

All the women turned to look as Astrid and Ramona with her pregnant belly, descended the sweeping curved staircase with Astrid's mother, and Ramona's dai gu cheh Felicity Leong; the society queen, Mrs. Lee Yong Chien; and another elderly lady decked out in a cobalt blue sequined hijab.

"Who is that Malay woman wearing that ginormous ruby choker? If that center stone looks as big as it does from here, it must be the size of a lychee up close!" Lorena exclaimed. Having been married into the L'Orient Jewelry family for more than three decades, she definitely knew her rocks.