"The food is amazing, but that man over there is an absolute feast for the eyes," Shirley whispered.
Sophia shuddered, breaking out in goosebumps at the sheer cringe.
A feast for the eyes? Was her friend secretly a total creep?
Len chuckled. "You're practically drooling."
Shirley immediately grabbed a napkin to wipe her chin, only to realize she'd been played.
There was no drool, just a tiny smear of chili oil from the appetizer on the corner of her mouth.
"Stop making fun of me and look! Is the guy sitting at that table Oakley?"
Oakley?
Len and Sophia exchanged a skeptical look. Shirley was definitely hallucinating.
Why on earth would a superstar like Oakley be here?
What connection could he possibly have with Claire?
Why would he attend her graduation celebration?
"He does look a bit like him," Sophia admitted after studying him for a moment.
Len was also a fan of Oakley. As far as male actors went, he was a rare talent without an ounce of pretension.
"Didn't Oakley get into a car crash? I thought he was still recovering in the hospital," Len pointed out, having followed the news of the set accident.
It had been plastered all over the media.
Sophia had read the headlines too. She grabbed a pastry and glanced at Oakley again. "It's probably just a lookalike. I heard that whole table is full of doctors."
"That gorgeous guy is probably just a doctor too."
"No way! If that isn't my idol, I'll eat every single dish on this table by myself!" Shirley declared dramatically.
Sophia leveled a flat look at her.
A moment ago, they were genuinely debating his identity, but hearing Shirley's
sudden vow, they instantly assumed she was just looking for an excuse to hog the food.
Hearth & Kettle's signature dishes were laid out before them, and every bite left them craving more.
"Don't even think about it. If you eat everything, what's left for us?" Sophia instinctively shielded a plate in front of her.
It was the glazed pork roast. She had never touched the dish in her life, but tonight's preparation was unreal-rich but not the slightest bits greasy.
Had she not been mindful of her table manners in front of the others, she would
have devoured several pieces.
The rest of the spread was equally flawless; even a simple plate of chilled cucumbers was perfectly crisp and refreshing.
While they were arguing, the rest of the table was inhaling their food without even looking up.
Unable to hold back any longer, Shirley texted Claire.
Claire's phone remained untouched, completely oblivious to Shirley frantically trying to confirm Oakley's identity.
Pandora was the first to stand up, raising a glass to toast the room and thank everyone for celebrating her granddaughter's milestone.
"I wasn't able to be a part of Claire's upbringing, and that will be my life's greatest regret. But there is one person I owe an immense debt of gratitude to, for raising her so wonderfully."
Pandora turned her gaze toward Mary.
"Mary, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Without you, Claire might not be the person she is today."
"She is extraordinary, and seventy percent of the credit for that goes directly to you."
Pandora expressed her profound gratitude with a moving speech.
Mary lifted her teacup in a silent toast of acknowledgment. "I didn't do much. Claire is a naturally gifted child Even if it hadn't been me, under your guidance, she still would have flourished."
Claire's brilliance was undeniable to everyone in the room.
Even the teachers had to admit that her sheer talent was enough to make anyone
feel utterly inadequate.
The Ivy Gala was progressing flawlessly—until Latham somehow got wind of the event and crashed the party.
No one had invited him; he showed up entirely unannounced.
Dinner was halfway finished, and the wine was flowing freely.
Latham's abrupt intrusion caused the lively, celebratory atmosphere to crash to an immediate, suffocating halt.