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.
• And Adrian— my brother inlaw