CHAPTER NINETEEN: WHICH FAMILY IS THE YOUNG MADAM FROM

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'No, it can't be her. How can the young master of the COLLENS possibly take a liking to a girl like her?' he concluded in his mind.

He turned away from her, only to turn back and stretch his hand out, introducing himself.

He had to make acquaintances in such a high-class gathering. If Shane married her, it meant she was from one of those powerful and rich families. If he could befriend her, it would be good for him, he thought, smiling widely to himself.

Shane watched his actions, not uttering a single word.

Sophie immediately stilled upon seeing his outstretched hand, not expecting it in the least.

"I am the senior master of the Rudricks, and a good friend of your husband," he said, smiling widely at Sophie like a child who had just bought candy. Sophie looked at him with an amused glint in her eyes, thinking either the old master of the Rudricks had gone mad, or he couldn't recognize her due to her dress style, as he had only seen her a few times before, and that too in casual clothes.

"A good friend, you say?" she replied, making the man's eyes widen as he realized what he had just said.

He laughed awkwardly, glancing at Shane, who had his hands clenched.

"Let's just say your husband and I go way back," he said, before walking away from them.

Other men came to greet Shane, congratulating him on his marriage, while Sophie felt her breath constricting, never having been in such a large elite gathering before.

"Father, what did Shane say? And who is that woman standing beside him? How can he be married?" Olivia asked her father impatiently as she stood in the corner, her skin turning deathly pale after hearing the senior master of the COLLENS announce Shane's marriage.

"It seems the young master of the COLLENS has indeed found a wife," the senior master of the Rudricks said to Olivia, who suddenly became immobile, unmoving.

'Married?' she repeated in her head over and over again.

"Father, how can he? How dare he! And who the hell is she? I've waited for this opportunity for so long! Who does she think she is? Only I am meant to be his wife! By the way, which family is she from? Is her status higher than mine?" Olivia continued to rant.

The senior master of the Rudricks massaged his brow, feeling a headache coming on.

He looked around and saw that his daughter's shouting had attracted attention.

"Calm down. Him being married to her doesn't mean she will become the young madam of the COLLENS. He can always take another wife, and only he gets to decide who will be his equal," the senior master of the Rudricks said, and Olivia eyed him in confusion.

"Father, what are you implying?" she asked.

The senior master sighed and drew his daughter closer, whispering into her ear, explaining what she should do in detail. Olivia's eyes glinted with mischief as she heard her father's plan.

"Old master, why don't you call your grandson over? We'd like to make a toast to him and his wife," the senior master of the Rudricks said to the old master of the COLLENS, smiling innocently.

"Shane, my boy, come over," the old master of the COLLENS called to his grandson, who stood across the room like a statue alongside his wife.

Shane pulled Sophie with him, walking toward his grandfather.

He stood beside his grandfather before a table crowded with men—the elites, people at the very top of the food and money chain, who referred to themselves as part of high society.

"Let's make a toast to your marriage," the old man said, directing them both to sit beside him.

"Drink up," one of the men nudged Shane's shoulder, trying to seem familiar with him.

Shane gave him a deadly stare, and the smile on the man's face immediately faded.

Shane picked up a glass, swirling it between his fingers.

Sophie looked at him and noted his gesture not to drink. The whole table fell silent, watching them.

"Mrs. COLLENS, you're not drinking. Or do you think it's poisoned or drugged?" the senior master of the Rudricks said with a small smile.

"These wines were all provided by the senior master of the COLLENS, so you can be assured," the senior master of the Rudricks said loudly.

The entire room grew deathly quiet, sensing the tension at the table.

Sophie was at a loss for words.

She glanced at Shane, who seemed completely unbothered by her situation, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I don't drink. I'm a lightweight," she said, her voice louder and firmer than she had expected.

"But it's your special day, so you should at least let go of one of your traditions and take a sip. After all, the elites have always taught their daughters to handle strong drinks at parties from a young age to avoid disgracing their family image. So how come you're a lightweight?" the senior master of the Rudricks said, and everyone immediately understood what he was implying—he was questioning the social standing of Shane's wife.

The whole room turned to face their table.

"Oh yes, young master, which family is the new madam of the COLLENS from? Is she an unknown heiress from a family in another country? Because I thought I knew all the elite heiresses in this country," another man said, snickering as he ended with a small laugh.

Sophie wished she could defend herself, but how could she reveal that she was the heir to the Adams family?

It was better to be seen as a commoner than part of a fallen family. Her family name had crumbled to ashes long before her father died.

If she mentioned her Adams lineage, she would surely make the COLLENS a laughingstock. Though she didn't care about Shane, she respected his grandfather, who had worked so hard to build his image.

She couldn't let it be destroyed because of her, so she remained silent even as she heard all the insults from the elite wives, who gossiped among themselves.

Olivia stood at the edge of the room, hidden among the crowd, her lips tugging up in an evil smirk.

She turned to the lady standing close by, instigating gossip among them.

"It seems she's of low status; that's why she hasn't spoken up yet," one woman said to another.

"I bet she married him for his money. Gold digger. She must have seduced the young master of the COLLENS. What a disgusting woman."

"How can the young master of the COLLENS marry a woman of such low standing? I'll make sure to introduce him to my daughter; after all, she's the daughter of the elites," another woman said.

Sophie's face flushed red with anger.

She looked at Shane, who sat, unconcerned about what was happening.

The old man of the COLLENS clenched his fist tightly before standing up, causing the whole hall to fall silent.

"I don't want to hear another word against my granddaughter's status or her family. She is a COLLEN. If you insult her, you insult the entire COLLENS family," the old man said, staring them down.

The people lowered their heads in submission.

Sophie's eyes widened in disbelief as she heard the senior master of the COLLENS defend her.

"Apologize to my granddaughter now, all of you who questioned her name, or your families will be turned to dust by tomorrow," the old master of the COLLENS shouted.

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