When Mrs. Naylor entered the private room, the other women were buzzing with curiosity, wondering what good news Yvonne was about to announce that warranted such a celebration. Yvonne, for her part, was being coy.


    "Is it about your daughter''s engagement to Mr. Harcourt?" someone finally guessed.


    At the mention of Mr. Harcourt, Mrs. Naylor''s brow twitched slightly.


    Yvonneughed. "Oh, that''s old news, isn''t it?"


    The implication was clear: this was something new.


    "Then what is it? Stop keeping us in suspense, we''re dying to know!"


    Unable to hold it in any longer, Yvonne finally made her grand announcement. "My daughter, Bianca, is about to take over Ascendancy Group."


    Amid the gasps of surprise, she borated, "My future son-inw adores my Bianca so much that he''s simply giving her thepany. So now, my daughter is the owner of Ascendancy Group, making her worth billions overnight."


    "Congrattions, Yvonne!"<fnf01f> ?????? ???? Find[?]ovel</fnf01f>


    "We''ve all heard how devoted Aurelion Group''s Mr. Harcourt is to your daughter, but this is truly something else! To gift her apany worth billions right after getting engaged... it just shows how much he values her!"


    "It''s more than just value! Who else in Rivercrest City society has ever made such a grand gesture?"


    "It''s unheard of!"


    "I''m so envious. Miss Lowell is truly blessed!"


    "Well, let''s be fair, Miss Lowell is brilliant in her own right. That''s why she captured Mr. Harcourt''s heart. Did you all know she has a PhD in Finance from WT Business School?"


    "A true academic star! No wonder Mr. Harcourt is so taken with her. They''re a perfect match. Congrattions, Mrs. Lowell."


    Yvonne basked in the chorus of congrattions, a triumphant smile stered on her face.


    Someone couldn''t resist adding a bit


    of gossip. "By that calction, the title of Rivercrest City''s richest


    woman is about to change hapet


    again next month. Noreen Gilmore barely had time to warm the seat, did she? Is she the shortest-reigning richest woman in history?"


    At this, Yvonne let out a dismissive scoff. As if Noreen could everpare to her daughter.


    Having remained silent until now, Mrs. Naylor''s voice cut through the chatter. "I don''t think they''reparable at all."


    Her words cast a sudden chill over the room. Yvonne''s smile faded.


    Undeterred, Mrs. Naylor continued pouring cold water on the celebration. "Miss Lowell got her position thanks to a man. Noreen earned everything herself. How can you evenpare the two? If we''re talking about actual ability, I believe Noreen is far superior."


    Yvonne had deliberately chosen Mrs. Naylor''s restaurant for this party. She''d hoped to strengthen their rtionship and, in doing so, find an opportunity to gently persuade ber to distance herself from Noreen. She also wanted to make it clear to Mrs. Naylor that no matter how hard Noreen worked, she would never be in Bianca''s league.


    She never expected Mrs. Naylor to be so openly biased. What kind of spell had that woman cast on her?


    Most of the women in this circle were shrewd enough to read between the lines of Mrs. Naylor''sments, and their expressions grew awkward. But today was Yvonne''s event, and they had to at least pretend to be on her side.


    A woman in the middle decided to y peacemaker. "They''re both exceptional, of course. The only real difference is their education. I''ve met that Noreen a few times-I hear she graduated from a state university, just a bachelor''s degree. But to achieve what she has is still very impressive. As for Miss Lowell, she''s brilliant, highly educated, and now she has Mr. Harcourt''s support. Her future is limitless."