"Oh, dear! Look at you!"

Shyaan spread her arms dramatically as she watched Liza approach. As always, she had arrived early and was taking her sweet time socializing with familiar faces.

Liza laughed and embraced her.

"Glamorous as ever," Liza said, pressing her cheek against Shyaan’s before pulling away with a smile.

Shyaan smiled in satisfaction.

"Of course. My face has always been my greatest asset."

The two women chuckled as Shyaan lightly patted the large bun atop her head.

"Anyway, I don’t see Tommy." She glanced around before looking back at Liza. "Is he coming?"

Liza smiled, but before she could answer, Tommy’s voice sounded behind Shyaan.

"I see someone’s been missing me."

Shyaan looked over her shoulder before chuckling. "I didn’t know I was getting a surprise."

She turned and gave Tommy a warm embrace—one shared between old friends who hadn’t seen each other in quite some time.

"It’s good to see you again, dear," Shyaan whispered before letting him go.

"The feeling is mutual." Tommy nodded before slipping an arm around Liza. "But we weren’t trying to surprise you. I had to take another entrance after receiving a short phone call."

Shyaan rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Whatever you say."

The three of them continued chatting as more guests gradually arrived, filling the venue.

Everyone was dressed to impress.

The ladies wore elegant gowns adorned with exquisite jewelry from renowned luxury brands, while the gentlemen arrived in tailored tuxedos, each carrying the composed confidence of people prepared to expand both their businesses and networks.

After all, Ashley’s guest list wasn’t limited to her partners and employees.

It included some of the biggest names in the industry, along with influential figures from neighboring industries—both local and international.

Ashley couldn’t have accomplished all of this alone.

But neither was it entirely because of Shyaan.

"Hmm?" Liza’s brows lifted as someone entered the ballroom. "Shyaan... I didn’t know you invited him."

She turned toward her friend.

Meanwhile, Tommy followed the newcomer with his eyes, watching as several guests immediately gathered around the man.

It wasn’t surprising.

Given the man’s status and reputation, such attention was only natural.

Shyaan chuckled. "It wasn’t me."

This time, even Tommy looked at her.

"I helped Ashley put together the guest list and suggested a few names," Shyaan explained. "Sure, I also reached out to some of my friends and mentioned tonight’s event. But most of this?" She smiled proudly. "That’s all Ashley."

She shrugged.

"I honestly don’t know when she found the time to convince so many people to come, especially since I’ve heard she’s been helping with her husband’s company as well."

Shyaan shook her head in admiration.

"The more I get to know Ashley, the more impressed I become. She’s a natural."

She nodded approvingly.

"She met several of tonight’s guests during my last charity gala and built a genuine rapport with them almost effortlessly. All I did was point out which people were most important to have here. Everything else..." She smiled. "She accomplished on her own."

Liza and Tommy exchanged proud smiles.

Seeing their expressions, Shyaan suddenly burst into laughter.

Liza frowned. "What’s so funny?"

Shyaan covered her lips with the back of her hand as she laughed.

"Shyaan?"

Still chuckling, Shyaan waved dismissively.

"It’s nothing." She looked at the couple with an amused smile. "You two should’ve seen your faces."

Liza and Tommy exchanged confused glances.

"What I’m saying is..." Shyaan trailed off. "For a moment, you looked exactly like proud parents."

She laughed again.

"If I didn’t know better, I’d honestly think Ashley was your daughter."

Liza let out a soft laugh at the teasing, while Tommy simply smiled and shook his head.

"Stop that," Tommy said gently. "Of course, we’re proud of her. When we first met her, we never imagined she’d have any interest in business."

Liza nodded.

She still remembered the countless conversations she’d had with Ashley about the value of trade.

Ashley had always possessed an incredible instinct for recognizing value—even if others couldn’t understand her reasoning—but she had never intended to build a business of her own.

It had been Liza who encouraged her to turn fertile soil into gold.

And it was Liza who introduced her to Shyaan and Ramirez.

With Shyaan and Ramirez’s support, Ashley had been given an opportunity to build something extraordinary.

Although the two had encouraged her to think big and even invested the initial capital, Ashley had proven they hadn’t misplaced their trust.

Only a few months had passed since their partnership began.

Yet the business had already expanded at an astonishing pace.

Every opportunity Ashley encountered, she seized.

And every decision she made benefited not only herself, but also her company and every partner who had believed in her.

Tonight...

Her hard work was on full display.

Nearly every major name in the industry—and even several influential figures from other industries—had gathered under one roof.

If Ashley could grow from a small, inexperienced supplier into someone capable of hosting an event like this in just a matter of months...

None of them could imagine where she’d be a year from now.

"We’re simply glad the business has exceeded all our expectations," Liza remarked.

"True," Shyaan agreed.

Her attention shifted as the chatter around the ballroom gradually quieted.

The grand double doors had opened.

Slowly, the three of them turned toward the entrance.

There stood Ashley in a radiant sleeveless red gown, walking gracefully beside a tall, striking Lucian.

Right next to them was Primo, dressed in a miniature tuxedo that perfectly matched his father’s, complete with a bow tie the same shade as Ashley’s dress.

A satisfied smile spread across Shyaan’s face.

She lifted her champagne glass to her lips without taking her eyes off the family.

"But before anything else," she said, finally turning back to Tommy and Liza, "I should thank both of you."

The couple looked at her curiously.

"She’ll become someone truly remarkable." Shyaan smiled. "And I’m glad I climbed aboard while it was still just a boat... before it became a ship."

She took a sip of champagne before giving them a playful wave and making her way toward the hosts of the evening.

Tommy and Liza exchanged warm smiles before following her to greet the woman of the hour.