"Mrs. Vexley, you look absolutely radiant—congratulations on the baby," gushed a woman in pearls paired with suspiciously casual sneakers. Her smile was too bright, too practiced. "I'm Sophia Lang, Quantum Tech. We'd love to host you both at our gala next month."
Another man slid into the circle—a startup CEO with a deliberately casual ponytail, the kind that suggested he could afford a haircut but chose rebellion instead.
"Eliana, right?" he said easily. "I've heard quite a bit about you. The magazines haven't stopped talking since your wedding to Rafael—caught a lot of people off guard." His smile widened, opportunistic but polished. "And I hear you're studying nursing? That's genuinely inspiring. Perhaps we could even fund a scholarship in your name."
Eliana nodded politely, fingers curling slightly around Rafael's hand. Her voice remained soft, sincere. "Thank you. That's very generous," she said. "I'm still… taking it all in."
The words barely slowed them.
