Thomas extended his hand, taking the phone from his assistant. A quick glance at the screen deepened the furrow in his brow. Without a word, he dialed the head of the Pyrin branch. "Mr. Thomas, what an honor to receive your call!" Jayden Smith's voice brimmed with surprise and flattery. "Mr. Smith," Thomas' tone was steady but carried an edge of urgency, "I need you to run an errand for me. Deliver a birthday gift to a friend on behalf of my family." Jayden blinked in astonishment, his curiosity piqued. "Where to?" "The Whitewood Residence. Specifically, Miss Seraphina. Someone will send you the gift shortly. The party is about to start, so you'll need to act quickly." "Understood, absolutely," Jayden replied, though his mind raced. Miss Seraphina and Mr. Thomas? Since when were they so close?As soon as the call ended, Jayden opened a drawer and pulled out two invitations—one from the Hall Family and one from the Whitewood Family. He had initially planned to skip both, but now the choice was clear. Without hesitation, he picked up the Hall Family's invitation and dropped it into the trash can with a thud. "Get the car ready," he instructed through the intercom. … At the Whitewood Family's party, the atmosphere was anything but celebratory. While polite smiles masked everyone's faces, most attendees were mentally weighing their options, unsure if they had made the right choice. Whispers of leaving early to curry favor with the Hall Family swirled, unsettling the room like an invisible storm. A rotund businessman, balancing a wine glass in one hand, approached Oberon with a congratulatory grin. "Mr. Whitewood, congratulations on reuniting with your daughter." "Thank you," Oberon responded with a practiced smile. "Ah, I just got a call from my secretary—urgent matters at my office. I'm afraid I must excuse myself. My deepest apologies, and I'll make it up to you soon." The man's regret seemed genuine, his face a portrait of earnest remorse. Oberon nodded. "That's all right. Work is important. My daughter's birthday isn't worth delaying your responsibilities." The businessman departed, and Oberon's smile faded as quickly as the man's retreating figure. Moments later, another guest approached with similarly hollow pleasantries, only to leave halfway through the conversation with the same excuse. Forced to maintain his composure, Oberon offered understanding nods and polite farewells, but his irritation simmered beneath the surface. His secretary, standing nearby, discreetly wiped the sweat from his brow. Mr. Whitewood cares about prestige more than anyone, and today, these people are trampling all over it. Just then, the low hum of a high-performance engine shattered the unease. A sleek, black-and-gold Rolls-Royce Phantom, exuding an aura of untouchable luxury, rolled up to the mansion's entrance. The sight froze several departing guests in their tracks—they were stunned to see the person getting out of the car. The rotund businessman, halfway through the garden, gawked at the car in disbelief. "He's not here for the birthday party… is he?" he muttered, his voice trembling with doubt and awe. The valet at the gate immediately recognized the car's significance and hurried to have someone inform the patriarch. Inside, Oberon was entertaining yet another round of excuses, his patience hanging by a thread, when his secretary Jane marched forward with uncharacteristic energy. "Mr. Whitewood, Mr. Jason has arrived," she announced, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.Oberon was stunned; so were the surrounding businessmen. "What did you say?" "Mr. Jason, from the Drakon Family. He has arrived," Jane repeated. The room fell silent as Oberon's mood underwent a visible transformation. His earlier frustrations vanished, replaced by a triumphant grin. The Drakon Family from Pearlpoint wasn't just a big name—it was a colossus. Compared to them, the so-called four major families of Pyrin might as well be ants! Jason's presence alone overshadows everyone else.