A polished black Bentley glided to a stop before the Royal Solmaris Auction Hall.

The door opened smoothly, revealing a man whose aristocratic bearing was unmistakable. Alexander Blackwood emerged with effortless elegance, then turned to offer his hand to his companion.

Victoria Langley stepped out in a pale blue silk gown that hugged her slender frame. Her dark hair was pinned in an intricate updo, showcasing her delicate features. Every detail of her ensemble whispered refined taste—an effortless grace that set her apart from the ordinary crowd.

"It's Alexander and Victoria!" a voice gasped from the gathering crowd, thick with admiration.

"They're absolutely perfect together," another murmured wistfully. "What a tragedy that Amy Sinclair came between them. Everyone expected Alexander to marry someone of equal standing."

"Instead he ended up with a high school dropout who can't compare to Victoria in any way. The only reason he married her was because she got pregnant—with his heir, no less."

A shocked whisper followed. "She didn't even finish college? That can't be right! Alexander holds dual PhDs from Solmaris Business School—he's a financial prodigy. How could someone like her possibly understand his world? What could they even talk about?"

"Is that true? I've never heard anything about Alexander's wife before."

"Margaret Blackwood said it herself—why would she lie? Notice how Alexander brings Victoria to events instead of his wife? That tells you everything. The woman lacks breeding, education, and from what I hear, looks as well."

"Alexander's so romantic—still devoted to his first love after all these years."

"Can you blame him? Victoria's extraordinary. A world-class violinist, graduate of Solmaris Conservatory, international competition winner. That country wife of his doesn't stand a chance."

"Exactly! Nathan Prescott—Alexander's closest friend—said the wife's so painfully awkward Alexander can't take her anywhere."

"Did you see Victoria's latest competition video? She outperformed musicians from twelve countries. Made all of Newhaven proud!"

"Beautiful, talented—if her family were just slightly more prominent, she'd be absolute perfection."

Victoria caught the admiring whispers as she stepped onto the red carpet.

A practiced smile graced her lips as she basked in the attention. She'd learned early how society valued achievement over pedigree.

Nathan had carefully curated her public image—compiling footage of her performances, her awards, her duets with famous musicians—and strategically released it across social platforms.

Simultaneously, he'd ensured rumors spread about Amy's limited education.

The contrast couldn't have been more striking.

With Amy as the unflattering comparison, Victoria's status as a virtuoso violinist shone even brighter.

In elite circles, professional excellence could outweigh even the most illustrious family names.

When Margaret Blackwood learned of Victoria's Solmaris Conservatory credentials, her demeanor had shifted noticeably.

During their recent meeting at the Blackwood estate—arranged by Nathan—Margaret had actually welcomed Victoria warmly, inquiring in detail about her studies and international competitions.

That's when Victoria understood—even society matriarchs weren't immune to the allure of reflected glory.

Now, with Nathan's meticulous image crafting, each retelling of her accomplishments grew more impressive.

Victoria Langley wasn't just admired anymore—she was revered.