Chapter 447

• After Dakota settled into her seat at the long table draped in white silk and overflowing with gardenias, she smiled in that practiced, elegant way of hers the kind that didn’t quite reach the eyes. “Of course, I have my blessings,” she said, lightly brushing a stray curl behind her ear. “But they pale in comparison to the fortune and legacy Madam Clayton has built. The Clayton Holdings empire didn’t rise by luck.”
• Mary, always gracious, offered a modest smile. “We’re all fortunate in our own ways. But you, Dakota, you’ve cultivated a strong family and solid influence. And Helen well, Helen is blessed with a smart, poised daughter-in-law. Cassandra’s reputation in the private equity world precedes her. And Rafael’s leadership with Sterling International has been nothing short of remarkable.”
• Helen beamed at that. Sometimes, validation from someone as respected as Mary felt better than any press headline. I caught her posture shift just slightly straighter, her jaw a little less tense. She basked in the praise like it was a balm on a bruised ego. I couldn’t blame her. She needed this win.