Just then, Jude Vaughn''s phone rang. He nced at the screen and, his expression turning serious, said, "Ellie, go on inside. I need to take this call."


    With that, Jude stepped out of the ballroom, leaving Eleanor at the entrance. She couldn''t help but smile wryly, taking in the scene before her. The guests tonight were all dressed to the nines-tailored suits, elegant dresses—each one exuding an air of status and privilege. Clearly, this was no ordinary gathering.


    A young waiter approached with a polite smile. "Miss, can I get you something to drink?"


    Eleanor picked up a ss of juice from the tray, returning his smile. "Thank you."


    She took a sip and let her eyes wander across the crowd. Suddenly, her chest tightened. There, in the center of the room, she spottedn.


    He was deep in conversation with an older gentleman, listening intently, then responding with a graceful smile and a slight tilt of his head.


    In that moment, everything clicked. So this was why Jude had been so secretive all evening—he''d brought her here to seen.


    Just then, a striking woman glided through the crowd, instantly drawing the attention of every man in the room. It was Vanessa. With effortless poise, she joinedn, a ss of red wine in hand, and began chatting amiably with the older man, herughter soft and melodic.


    Eleanor''s breath caught. A sudden urge to leave surged inside her.


    Beside her, two male guests were openly staring at Vanessa,pletely entranced. One of them let out a low whistle. "Now that''s what I call a rare beauty elegant, mysterious, a real wild rose. She''s something else."


    "Forget it," the other one replied. "None of us stand a chance tonight. Didn''t you see? She''s withn. We''re just here to admire from afar."


    "Still, you have to admit,n''s got an insane eye for investments-and for women, too."


    "Would a woman like that ever settle for a guy without his kind of money?" the first man scoffed.


    As they spoke, their eyes drifted around andnded on Eleanor. For a split second, they looked stunned.


    Huh. There was a beautiful woman standing right next to them, quiet but striking in her own right. Under the lights, she looked like a magnolia in full bloom-subtle, graceful, with an air of quiet mystery.


    One of the men swaggered over, trying his luck. "Hey, miss, are you here alone?"


    Eleanor gave a faint smile. "No, I''m not."


    "Come on, let me add you on Instagram," he pressed, clearly intrigued.


    "Sorry, that''s not really convenient," Eleanor replied, turning him down.<fn1699> ?????? ???? fι?dnοvel</fn1699>


    He immediately frowned, a little put out. "Wow, ying it cold, huh? You can''t even make a new friend?"


    Eleanor took a few steps away, but he followed, undeterred. "Hey, you don''t have to be like that!"


    She turned to leave, but at that moment, a nervous waiter hurried by with a tray of sses. They collided, and the sses tumbled to the floor with a sharp crash.


    "I''m so sorry, miss!" The waiter, clearly new and flustered, apologized hastily, panic written all over his face.


    Eleanor quickly reassured him. "It''s alright, it was my fault."


    Her voice drew the attention of the nearby guests. Ian and Vanessa both nced over. Ian''s eyes narrowed as he watched Eleanor speaking quietly to the waiter. Vanessa looked startled.


    Eleanor? What on earth was she doing here?