The engagement party was still going strong.

It was a thoroughly Western affair, complete with lively games designed to keep the energy high and the guests entertained.

Throughout it all, Ivan never once came over to greet Elodie.

This was their first time seeing each other since that unpleasant argument—and now, suddenly, he was throwing an engagement party.

After more than a decade of shared family ties, Elodie had chosen to end things with dignity. In the adult world, things were rarely black and white; sometimes, distance grew quietly and without warning.

Her reasons for showing up were twofold: partly for Elias’s sake, and partly to make sure Ivan wouldn’t cause a scene at VistaLink Technologies. She also wanted to make it clear-Ivan was nothing more than a relative who had once treated her kindly. She’d already decided to cut ties.

Whether she minded or had let go simply didn’t matter anymore.

She knew that, after tonight, Ivan would finally understand.

To her, she was just another guest-no different from the rest.

A crowd was gathering nearby.

Just then, Galen sent her a technical message. She looked down to reply, missing out on the excitement.

When she looked up, she realized the focus had shifted to Ivan and Queenie, along with Jarrod and Sylvie.

Someone asked Ivan how he and Queenie fell in love.

Ivan replied casually, “Queenie is an incredible woman. When I hit rock bottom, she was the only one who stood by me, never wavering. Most people in this world, you just can’t count on. But women like her? They’re rare. She’s done so much for me, I figured I owed her some honesty-I needed to take responsibility.”

He added, almost cryptically, “After all, if you break someone’s heart, you’ll end up in the same place yourself.” As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully in Elodie’s direction.

Queenie blushed furiously.

The crowd wanted to know more.

Ivan chuckled, his gaze flickering deliberately toward Elodie in the corner. “Hey, we’re keeping things light tonight. No need to grill us—what I really want to know is Mr. Silverstein’s love story.”

With that, a few people lit up in recognition.

All eyes turned to Jarrod.

Then to Sylvie.

Sylvie looked a bit surprised but laughed it off, shaking her head. She answered before Jarrod could, “Come on, don’t tease us. Let’s not steal the spotlight from the happy couple.”

Jarrod kept his silence, probably agreeing with Sylvie’s wishes.

Esmeralda crossed her arms and snorted, “A picture-perfect couple if I ever saw one.”

Ivan had only asked about Jarrod’s love life, never mentioning Sylvie by name, but Sylvie had claimed it instantly. It wasn’t as if anyone didn’t know she was always by Jarrod’s side.

Elodie didn’t even lift her eyes. She had no interest in the conversation.

Just then, someone suggested playing another round of games.

If you won, it counted as a blessing for the newly engaged couple, Ivan and Queenie.

Most of the party guests were young and eager for fun, so everyone jumped in.

Esmeralda tugged Elodie over to join the game.

They had to draw lots.

Elodie drew one, and to her surprise, the game was Blindfolded Feeding.

The person you’d feed also had to be picked by drawing lots.

Elodie wasn’t exactly outgoing, and the idea of feeding a stranger felt awkward. She turned to Esmeralda, about to ask if she wanted to play instead.

But Queenie spotted what Elodie had drawn and, smiling, slipped the blindfold over Elodie’s eyes. “You have to be blindfolded for this part, too—even picking the person.”

Elodie said nothing more, letting Queenie tie the blindfold in place.