Evelyn brushed past Linara with her chin held high, refusing to give her another glance. She strode forward, her heels clicking against the floor. As soon as she opened the door, her gaze was drawn to the graceful figure standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. Seraphina felt the weight of someone's eyes and turned around. Her gaze met Evelyn's, and for a brief moment, surprise flickered across her usually composed features. "Evelyn?" she asked. It was phrased as a question, but her tone held certainty. Her sharp eyes took in the transformation before her. Gone were the over-the-top accessories and the heavy makeup; in their place was a fresh-faced girl with slightly plump cheeks and an undeniable charm that could melt hearts. Evelyn, who had always looked like a rebellious teen, now looked like an adorable girl. The contrast was so vast it felt like traveling from one galaxy to another."Do I… look bad?" Evelyn mumbled, her head drooping slightly as a blush crept up her cheeks. Seraphina's unrelenting gaze made her squirm in embarrassment. Seraphina walked over, her fingers brushing lightly against Evelyn's cheek. "You're beautiful like this. Really." She hadn't expected Evelyn to take her remark so seriously. She had changed—because of her. That realization caused a crack in the icy walls around her heart, a faint warmth seeping through. Suddenly, Evelyn straightened up as if remembering something urgent. Her expression turned solemn. "When we go downstairs later, no matter what you hear, don't react. Just ignore it all." Seraphina smiled faintly. "Alright." Of course, she already knew what was happening below. The so-called birthday party was nothing more than a thinly veiled showdown between the Whitewood and Hall families. For her, it was just another game. It wasn't about the number of guests in attendance; it was about the final outcome. As long as it went her way, she would be satisfied. Meanwhile, at YS Corp's Pyrin branch, the atmosphere in the conference room was frosty. At the head of the table, Jason leaned back in his chair, his deep eyes fixed on the PowerPoint presentation before him. "Redo it," he said, his voice calm yet authoritative. There was no hint of emotion, but the tension in the room was palpable. The executives exchanged nervous glances, holding their breaths. As his phone buzzed repeatedly, he finally picked it up, scanning the barrage of messages flooding his screen. Each one came from the same sender. The first message read, 'Your precious little wife is being bullied! If you don't come, don't bother showing up ever again!' The second message read, 'I'm serious. You'd better come and back up Sera!' The third message read, 'I'm begging you! Please hurry up!' The fourth message read, 'If you keep ignoring me, I'll never speak to you again!' The fifth message read, 'Hello? Are you there?' Jason set the phone down, his expression unreadable. After a pause, he rose to his feet. "The meeting is adjourned. Redo all the reports and have them on my desk by tomorrow morning." Without waiting for a response, he strode out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, the executives let out a collective sigh of relief. The tension evaporated as if someone had flipped a switch. Jason took his private elevator straight to the basement parking lot, where his car awaited. He opened the door and slid into the driver's seat, noting the beautifully wrapped gift box in the back seat. With a turn of the key, the engine roared to life, and the car sped out of the parking lot. Meanwhile, at the Hall Residence, Jacob was in his element, mingling effortlessly with his guests. With all four major families in attendance, his sense of triumph was unmistakable. Each handshake and smile carried an undercurrent of smugness.When a lull in the festivities presented itself, he leaned toward River and spoke in a low voice. "Send out the news." River nodded and slipped away to a quiet corner where he sent a text message to the waiting reporters outside. As soon as they received the text message, they quickly posted the pre-prepared articles. Soon, the internet in Pyrin was buzzing with news of the Whitewood Family's second daughter's birthday party. The headlines screamed that no one attended and criticized her for lacking manners and having a lowly status, claiming she was not fit for polite society. Far away in Duskmire, Thomas was scrolling through his phone when his assistant suddenly let out a sharp exclamation. "Thomas! Something's up with Miss Seraphina!"