Maverick, Nate, and the other guests observed the unfolding scene with curious eyes. Unaware of the complicated history between Veronica and the Crystal and Mack, they rely nodded along when Sophia dismissed Veronica as soone mistaken for her granddaughter.
Isaac and Huxley maintained a stony silence, neither offering a word to acknowledge Veronica or correct Sophia's deliberate mischaracterization. Their silence spoke volus about where their loyalties lay.
Bonnie watched the exchange with barely concealed satisfaction, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. The public humiliation of Veronica was exactly what she had hoped for.
Vivian stood uncomfortably nearby, clearly troubled by the situation. She opened her mouth several tis as if wanting to speak up, but surrounded by so many influential people, her courage failed her. Instead, she lowered her gaze to the floor, shoulders slumped in silent defeat.
The tense atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the elevator doors opening. Mary erged, accompanied by Adrian and Thomas. Their entrance imdiately changed the dynamic of the room.
"Veronica?" Thomas called out in surprise, spotting his sister just as she was preparing to leave.
At the sound of her brother's voice, Veronica turned. Relief washed over her face at the sight of her grandmother and younger siblings. She was no longer alone in this sea of hostility.
Mary and her grandchildren quickly noticed Cullen standing nearby. But in the sa mont, Mary's gaze fell upon Isaac, Penny, and the rest of the Crystal family. Her expression hardened almost imperceptibly.
Veronica pressed her lips together, making a decision. She walked back toward her family, gently taking her grandmother's arm. "Granny, the wedding banquet is over there," she said softly, attempting to guide them away from the brewing confrontation.
Sophia's 70th birthday celebration had drawn Youtopia's elite – many of whom were well aware of the long-standing feud between the Crystal and Murray families. Though years had passed since Mary had been a regular fixture in these social circles, several guests recognized her imdiately.
When they heard Veronica address her as "Granny" and noted the young woman's age – approximately 25 or 26 – these astute observers quickly pieced together the situation. This beautiful young woman must be Sophia's other granddaughter, the one from Isaac's first marriage.
The whispers began almost imdiately. Since Isaac's divorce from his first wife, this granddaughter had been conspicuously absent from all Crystal family functions. Rumors had circulated that Ian had completely disowned his granddaughter from Isaac's first marriage after his son remarried.
Many had dismissed this as re gossip. But witnessing Sophia's cold dismissal of Veronica just monts ago, and more tellingly, seeing Isaac – her biological father – standing there without a word of acknowledgnt, the truth beca painfully clear. The rumors had been accurate all along.
The assembled elites recalled the scandal from years before, when Isaac had insisted on divorcing the well-connected Murray heiress to marry a woman from humble origins. Many had thought him foolish then.
In the years that followed, the Murray family's fortunes had plumted, their once-considerable wealth and influence dwindling. Conversely, the Crystal family had flourished, largely due to the granddaughter born of Isaac's second marriage. Their social standing had risen dramatically.
There were also stories about Sophia's grandson possessing exceptional talent. Looking at the Crystal family's current prosperity compared to the Murray's decline, many of these socialites now wondered if perhaps Sophia and Isaac had made the pragmatic choice after all.
The Crystal family's newfound prominence was precisely why so many of these influential figures had traveled from Youtopia to attend Sophia's birthday celebration. Beyond these familiar faces, nurous top-tier elites from Youtopia's most exclusive social circles had also made appearances.
These were connections the Crystal family could never have dread of cultivating in earlier years. Yet today, these elites had made the effort to attend, even those with only tenuous connections to the family.
For the Crystal family, their presence was the ultimate validation – proof that they had finally arrived at the pinnacle of society. The contrast between their current standing and Veronica's obvious exclusion could not have been more stark, creating an undercurrent of uncomfortable tension that perated the elegant gathering.
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