Just as people were about to start praising Zac again, Arthur casually pulled out his phone. "If you don’t know, then let me ask for you." Zac blinked. "Ask? Ask who?" "Who else?" Arthur said, scrolling through his contacts. "I’ll call Ivan myself." For a moment, Zac was too stunned to react. Then he burst into laughter. Loud, mocking, almost hysterical. "Hahahaha!" His laughter spread like wildfire, and soon, the entire crowd was roaring. The sheer absurdity of Arthur’s claim had them doubled over in amusement. Ashley, too, was caught off guard. She knew Arthur wasn’t just some penniless loser, but… Ivan? How could he possibly have Ivan’s number? Then again… that mysterious relative who always brought him gifts… That person would come and go without a word, and Ashley didn’t know much about him. Maybe… just maybe… As the crowd’s laughter died down, Xavier led the next wave of ridicule. "He said he’s calling Mr. Ivan? Has he lost his mind?" "Does he think Ivan just hands out his number to anyone?" "This is hilarious. He really thinks he’s still the Gray family’s beloved son? A broke reject acting like he can just dial up Mr. Ivan?" "He must be panicking. He got backed into a corner, and now he’s bluffing." "Poor guy. He’s just making a fool of himself to save face." "Come on, let’s be real. He was a Gray. Maybe he actually got his hands on Ivan’s number before he got kicked out?" "Impossible. The Gray family never even brought him to formal events. You think they’d waste their best connections on him?""Exactly! My dad’s the CEO of a major company, and even he can’t get Ivan’s number. This guy? No way." The crowd’s laughter grew louder, the insults more brazen. Zac and Tia weren’t even trying to hide their smiles anymore. Ashley, on the other hand, started to worry. She tugged lightly at Arthur’s sleeve, her expression anxious. She knew Arthur wasn’t the type to make baseless claims. But… this was Mr. Ivan. Even she couldn’t get his number. Arthur, however, continued dialing without pause. Noticing Ashley’s concern, he glanced at her and gave a reassuring smile. For some reason, that was all it took to calm her down. Whatever happens, she thought, I’ll stand by Arthur. As Arthur’s phone rang, the distinct dialing tone filled the venue. The crowd’s jeering got even louder. "Hahaha! Is he just calling some random guy to pretend to be Ivan?" "He actually dared to dial! In front of all these people!" "Is his brain broken?" "This is pure desperation." "He’s lost it." Arthur ignored them all. Then, to everyone’s shock— He put the call on speaker. The entire hall fell silent. Every single person—whether they were sneering or not—immediately shut up. Most of them had smug, expectant looks on their faces.They were all waiting for the moment Arthur’s pathetic act would be exposed. Zac and Tia had to physically stop themselves from laughing. He had really done it. They didn’t even have to set him up—Arthur was digging his own grave. The phone rang. Once. Twice. Then— A voice lazily answered, carrying a signature mix of nonchalance and amusement. "Arthur? What’s with the surprise call? What, is hell freezing over today?" The room went deathly still. That voice— It was unmistakable. Arthur didn’t waste time. He got straight to the point. "Ivan, there’s a guy here named Zac Gray. He says you two are very close. He just called you earlier, but apparently, your grandmother picked up."