Third Person POV
The room stilled for half a second.
Then, like a spark catching dry silk, applause and congratulations rippled through the ballroom in warm glittering waves.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Grant, on gaining such a well-behaved goddaughter!”
“Miss Sutton is so elegant.”
“I heard she works directly under President Grant at Grant Group.”
“She and President Grant truly look compatible standing together.”
“Such grace… such temperament…”
Compliments layered over one another so smoothly they almost sounded rehearsed.
Helen stood at the center of it all with unmistakable satisfaction glowing across her face. Tonight, she looked less like a mother hosting a birthday banquet and more like a queen unveiling her chosen successor before high society.
Beside her, Sophie lowered her la
