Chapter 41

The last of the distinguished guests had finally left, their expensive colognes lingering in the air along with the fading scent of top-tier champagne. The grand ballroom once alive with music, laughter, and carefully curated perfection now felt suffocating under the weight of failure. Evelyn, my mother inlaw, looked ready to explode, her lips pressed into a tight line as she surveyed the aftermath. Around her, the rest of the family exchanged wary glances. This wasn’t just any engagement party; this was supposed to be a meticulously orchestrated display of power and influence, a celebration that would strengthen alliances among the wealthiest elite. Instead, it had turned into a public relations nightmare, a scandal waiting to be dissected by every major media outlet and society gossip column.