Anna stood then, drawing strength from the new alliance forming around her. She smiled warmly at Robert and Leo, then addressed Eleanor directly, with grace and dignity. “Thank you for your generous gift, Mrs. Harrison. But please understand—I didn’t marry Leo for what he has. I married him for who he is.”

Her words were simple, yet they carried an undeniable weight. The room, once tense with discomfort, now seemed to breathe easier—people shifting in their seats, nodding in agreement, some even smiling at the love and unity displayed before them.