On the day of the g, Citrine brought only Sherman, who posed as her assistant and walked close by her side.


    Sherman couldn''t help but praise her. "Citrine, only you could pull this off. Even the high society crowd overseas can''t help but extend you an olive branch after hearing about everything you''ve aplished."


    Citrine shook her head. "Not exactly. That might y some part, but the real reason is that the Archer family needs weapons and all the arms manufacturing overseas runs through our corporation. I''m just making a calcted bet, that''s all."


    Sherman beamed with pride. "No matter the reason, my sister''s the best there is." His eyes sparkled as he looked at her, radiating admiration.


    As soon as they entered the ballroom, all eyes turned their way.


    Citrine was the only woman from Northriver invited to this elite Magnolia gathering a fact that made her stand out immediately.


    Some of the foreign guests took in Citrine''s beauty, but just as quickly, their crude words tore into her identity and abilities.


    "A Northriver woman, of all things? Since when did we let that sort of nobody into a Magnolia high society event?"


    "Hmph, as the Northriver saying goes, she''s just a clown. Not worth our attention." "She''s got a pretty face, but that''s about it."


    The Magnolia elites, dressed in bespoke suits and glittering jewels, looked at Citrine as if she were some unsightly blemish on their perfect gathering.


    Sherman''s temper red at the nastyments. "Citrine, these arrogant bastards have no idea how to keep their mouths shut."


    He was about to march over, but Citrine caught him by the arm in a sh. "Raymond, we''re here for business. Don''t waste your breath on them."


    Sherman clenched his teeth but managed to hold himself back.


    Citrine walked forward, unfazed by the stares, and calmly found herself a seat. hout it all, she remained perfectly posed-almost chillin


    so-a


    if


    the contempt of those around her simply didn''t exist.


    After a while, the Magnolia crowd grew bored of specting about her and turned back to their drinks and chatter.


    Upstairs, a young man with blond hair and striking blue eyes sat in a wheelchair, watching the scene unfold below. A faint smile yed at the corner of his lips.


    He turned to the butler beside him. "This chairwoman of CICI Group might be from Northriver, but she''s certainly intriguing. Inviting her was the right call."


    He nced down at the rest of the guests and let out a soft, derisiveugh. "These people can only see her gender and where she''s from not a word about her


    aplishments. They''ll regret that soon enough."


    The butler nodded in agreement.


    Citrine could sense someone''s gaze lingering on her. She nced around and,


    sure enough, spotted those piercing eyes from the second-floor balcony.


    With a poised smile, she raised her wine ss in a small, gracious salute.


    Their eyes met across the room, and Vester-surprised-paused. No one had ever dared look him in the eye like that before.


    This Northriver woman was nothing like he''d expected.


    Recovering quickly, Vester offered her a smile in return.


    Everything was moving ording to n.


    Turning back to Sherman, Citrine murmured, that''s Vester-the Archer family''s youngest son. ording to my sources, his mother was a Northriver woman named Scarlet. She fell madly in love with the Archer family patriarch while studying abroad, but just as she was hoping to marry him, he told her he already had a wife. Scarlet was furious-she refused to end things, and when she found out she was pregnant, she thought she could keep him with the baby. But the Archer patriarch never loved her, and nothing changed."


    ???


    "After Scarlet gave birth to Vester, not only did she fail to win the patriarch''s heart, her desperation only made him despise her more. Scarlet eventually realized she would never have his love, and her feelings turned to bitterness-so much so that she began to take it out on Vester, who carried the Archer blood. She beat him, screamed at him-he grew to hate her. One day, during yet another violent outburst, Vester identally pushed her down the stairs. With no guardian


    left, the Archer patriarch had no choice but to take him in."


    Sherman pressed his lips together, genuinely moved. "That''s... that''s tragic. But


    to end up killing one''s own mother-he must be ruthless."


    Citrine nodded. "He''s far from simple."


    Before she could continue, Sherman suddenly caught on. "Wait-you''re not nning to use him to get into the Archer family and find evidence, are you?"


    Citrine nodded without hesitation.