Martha looked up, her expression calm and unflustered. She gave a small nod and moved to the indicated section, her hands steady as she wiped the already pristine surface. But Sloan wasn’t finished. Emboldened by the attention, she continued, “I suppose competence isn’t a requirement for your position, is it?”

Laughter erupted from a few guests, the sound harsh against the backdrop of elegance. Martha, however, remained serene. Her silence was a stark contrast to Sloan’s growing arrogance, a quiet resistance that seemed to unsettle the fiancée. It was then that Adrien, who had been engaged in conversation nearby, stepped forward, his brow furrowed with concern.