Leonard stood beside her, his gaze steady as he observed the reaction from the audience below the stage. The commotion and disbelief were entirely within his expectations. After all, Eleanor was a young woman stepping into a traditionally male-dominated arena, and worldly prejudices were inevitable.
He glanced at his niece, and for a brief moment, a rare softness appeared in his eyes. She seemed to sense his gaze, turning slightly to meet his eyes. Their calm exchange spoke volumes—both knew what this moment meant. They didn’t care about the murmurs or the judgment around them. They were here for one reason: to win.
As the noise from the crowd swelled, a few curious onlookers began to pay closer attention to Eleanor.
"She’s stunning," someone whispered.
"Yeah, just looking at her makes you feel good," another chimed in.
"She’s absolutely gorgeous. I kind of like her!"