Ethan, standing at the room’s edge, watched as his father approached. The unspoken understanding between them was palpable; Ethan’s eyes were filled with a mix of disappointment and resignation. He had cared deeply for Vanessa, yet his father’s test had confirmed the suspicions he had tried to dismiss.

As the evening wore on, Richard and Ethan maintained their distance. They observed Vanessa as she skillfully navigated conversations, effortlessly charming everyone around her, her earlier venomous outburst concealed beneath layers of charisma. Yet Richard wasn’t ready to act hastily. He needed to see if there was any redeemable truth beneath Vanessa’s facade.