The silence stretched thin, until Leo, emboldened by Robert’s words, finally found his voice. He stood, straightening his shoulders as he faced his mother. “Mom,” he began, his voice respectful but firm, “what Dad and you are providing is generous, and I’m grateful. But Anna is my wife. What’s mine is hers, condominium or otherwise. I love her, and no amount of money or property will ever change that.”

A murmur of approval rippled through the guests—a subtle but powerful support for the young couple. Eleanor blinked, her composure rattled, and for the first time that evening, her confidence wavered. She opened her mouth as if to respond, but no words came.