The traditional toasting procession was skipped, butter in the evening, Henry and Selma Quigley made their way through the guests, offering their thanks.


    Soon after, Mrs. Holt brought her new daughter-inw, Selma, over to greet the circle of society wives.


    Thedies eagerly gathered around, showering Selma withpliments.


    "The bride is absolutely stunning today."


    "Yes! That gown must be a custom Yarnton, isn''t it? It suits you perfectly."


    "Mrs. Holt, you are so fortunate to have such a beautiful daughter-inw in Miss Quigley."


    Mrs. Holt, dressed in a festive, heavily embroidered crimson gown, looked radiant and exceptionally happy. "From now on, I hope you''ll all look after our Selma."


    "Of course, we will."


    Selma graciously epted the praise, her face glowing with newlywed bliss. "Thank you, everyone, for your kind words."


    One of the wives immediately offered her a ss of red wine. "Selma, we didn''t see you making the rounds for toasts earlier. How about having a drink with us now?"


    Selma, with a hint of shyness yet unable to hide her joy, replied, "I''m sorry, I can''t drink right now."


    Mrs. Holt protectively added, "Selma has a special situation, so please understand." Her words were met with an even more enthusiastic round of congrattions.


    "Oh my! This is a double celebration! Congrattions, congrattions!"


    "Well, we''ll have to prepare our gifts early and get ready for the baby shower!"


    "Yes, what wonderful news!"


    Thedies voices were loud, and Vanessa, sitting at the adjacent table, had heard everything. Seeing the expressions on Mrs. Holt''s and Selma faces, she gloomily downed a mouthful of wine.


    Henry certainly worked fast. He''d already gotten Selma pregnant?


    She subconsciously touched her own stomach. She had been trying to conceive recently, but to her frustration, nothing had happened.


    Though she suspected Walden was the reason, she couldn''t say anything now.


    As Selma''s gaze swept over the crowd, itnded on Vanessa at the next table. She excused herself from the group. "Pardon me for a moment."


    Then, she walked over to Vanessa''s table. "Miss Shannon, I''m so d you coulde today. Thank you for being here to witness my and Henry''s wedding."


    Selma''s posture was elegant,


    seemingly devoid of any hostility et


    But Vanessa didn''t believe it forà


    showing off her victory content


    d. Was Selma deliberately


    "Congrattions," Vanessa said, her voice stiff as she raised her ss.


    Selma nodded at her and turned to walk toward another table where the Quigley family''s rtives were seated.


    Vanessa tightened her grip on her wine ss. She had braced herself for Selma''s taunts, but unexpectedly, Selma didn''t press the attack.


    Had she misjudged the situation?


    Regardless, Vanessa knew that Selma''s greeting was a deration of victory.


    She nced at Walden Wells, who was flushed from drinking, looking even older and more unpleasant. She discreetly looked away, only to see the three men at the main tablen, Xavier, and


    ов


    Henrysughing and talking Their power to seemed to have solidified


    once more, meaning a slight cough from any of them could send shockwaves through the business world.


    Under the lights, the three men were rxed, their faces showing the easy smiles of


    close friends who shared a deep bond of trust and understanding.


    They seemed to exist in their own world, not just as three top entrepreneurs, but as


    a tight-knit alliance and a formidable force in business.