Chapter 656

Vincent saw no point in engaging with Vera's theatrics. Rising to his feet, he said coolly, "Regardless, I didn't watch you. And don't start entertaining delusional notions about me. Not every man finds your style appoealing."

Without waiting for a response, he brushed past her, leaving her stunned expression behind as he crossed the room toward a quieter corner sofa.

From there, his eyes naturally found Hannah-composed and poised amid a circle of seasoned financiers.

Vera's gaze followed him, her jaw tightening as she caught sight of his unwavering attention fixed on Hannah. A slow,bitter fire burned in her chest. Every meticulous plan, every detail she'd arranged to grab the night's attention, had been rendered useless. Worse still, the man she had sought to impress didn't even spare her a second glance. And all of it-every ounce of humiliation-was because of Hannah.

No. She refused to let it end like this. This was her evening,her stage, and she would not let anyone steal it away.

Swallowing the sharp sting of envy, Vera drew in a steadying breath and composed herself. Her smile softened into one of flawless grace as she stepped briskly toward the center podium,her heels clicking with confident rhythm. With a crisp clap of her hands,she called out brightty, "Ladies and gentlemen-may I have your attention, please?"

The sudden sound of the microphone cut through the low hum of conversation, prompting Hannah to pause mid-sentence with the circle of seasoned financiers surrounding her.

Hannah's attention shifted toward the podium,where a woman

Hannah's attention shifted toward the podium, where a woman stood under the soft glare of the stage lights. There was something faintly familiar about her-the face, the poise-but Hannah couldn't quite summon a memory to match.

Kane's smooth introduction soon bridged the gap in Hannah's curiosity-the woman on stage was Vera, a financier who had taken the lead in organizing the evening's event.

The name stirred a faint echo in Hannah's mind, as though drawn from memories. Still, she brushed the thought aside.preferring instead to quietly observe from her seat.

Under the gleam of the spotlight, Vera shone like a performer in her prime. Her confidence radiated as she said, "I am deeply thankful for everyone's attendance tonight. To me, this isn't merely a celebration-it marks a new beginning as I return to the domestic financial world, eager to channel my full potential."

At her signal, an assistant queued a sleekly edited promotional reel that splashed across the giant screen behind her. The presentation unveiled Light of the Future, a tech innovation fund bursting with ambitious ideas and futuristic designs-concepts that made the crowd lean in with palpable intrigue.

"I will be representing my father, who is currently overseas,"Vera declared with fervor, her eyes alight with purpose."Alongside several keystrategic partners, we are launching with an initial capital of one billion to empower emerging companies that dare to redefine technology! This is not merely about profit-it is about contributing to the technological renaissance of our nation."

Thunderous applause swept through the hall. Guests whispered to one another with admiration, clearly enthralled by her drive and vision.

Hannah,however, remained detached. She lifted her glass and took a measured sip; the gleam of the stage reflected faintly in

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took a measured sip; the gleam of the stage reflected faintly in her wine. The project stirred no spark of interest in her.

Danica, seated nearby, viewed the spectacle with quiet satisfaction. Her approving smile lingered as she studied Vera,thinking that this was precisely the kind of woman her son should be with-ambitious,refined, and formidable in presence.

Meanwhile, Vera basked in the glow of admiration. Her gaze drifted instinctively toward the far corner of the room, where she spotted Vincent, seated with his usual composed indifference yet seemingly attentive to the stage. The sight of him appearing to watch her ignited a flicker of pride within her chest.

Buoyed by that fleeting satisfaction, Vera chose to seize the moment. With deliberate grace, she smiled and announced,"To ensure the utmost credibility and expertise behind Light of the Future, we are privileged to welcome a distinguished honorary advisor-a luminary in finance-Mr. Kane Sampson!"

The declaration sent an immediate ripple through the audience.

Murmurs spread like wildfire. Kane's reputationwas synonymous with trust and prestige, and his involvement would instantly elevate the project's standing.

The spotlight shifted, catching Kane as he rose with composed elegance.He offered a polite nod to the crowd-nothing more.

The brief acknowledgment earned polite applause, yet something in the air subtly shifted.

Vera's triumphant moment faltered. She had anticipated a rousing endorsement, perhaps even a few generous words from Kane to cement her authority. Instead, he resumed his seat with calm detachment, his demeanor giving nothing away.

A few observant guests exchanged quiet glances, sensing the faint ripple beneath the polished surface.

Vera's composure wavered further when she noticed Kane leaning slightly toward Hannah, engaging her in low conversation. The casual ease between them struck her like a hidden blow.

Throughout the evening, Hannah had remained serenely composed, her face a mask of unbothered civility. Yet, when Kane spoke to her, she turned and smiled-polite, genuine,and effortlessly graceful.

The simplicityof that moment made something tighten inside Vera's chest. Determined to reclaim her footing, she steadied her breath and forced a confident smile, fixing her gaze directly on Hannah.

Her tone was sweet, but the challenge behind it was unmistakable. "Since my return, I've heard much about Ms.Scott of Luminara Group-a woman whose achievements in venture capital are truly remarkable. Tonight, I would like to take this opportunity to extend an official invitation to Ms.Scott and Luminara Group to join our Light of the Future initiative, in the spirit of collaboration and shared success."

It was a move as elegant as it was dangerous. Accepting would place Hannah under Vera's spotlight-acknowledging her lead and submitting, however subtly, to her stage. Refusing,on the other hand, risked making Hannah appear small-minded,unwilling to contribute to a noble cause.

As Vera's words faded into the expectant hush, every gaze in the room shifted toward Hannah,waiting to see how she would respond.