**Charismatic Shoemaker Lloyd**
The party was alive with music and chatter, golden light spills from the chandeliers as laughter rippled through the grand ballroom. People swirled around with glasses of champagne, their gowns sparkling and their suits perfectly pressed. But the warmth in the air wasn’t for Benton and Clarissa.
It was a mockery.
Benton stood tall, a faint smirk on his lips, watching as the guests circled them like sharks. Every “congratulation” that came their way dripped with venom wrapped in sugar.
“Oh, Clarissa, darling,” a woman purred, her diamond necklace catching the light. “Such a bold choice. Not every girl has the courage to lower her standards for love.” She smiled sweetly, but her friends tittered behind their glasses.
A man in a silver suit leaned close to
