In fact, she could have held the wine glass for appearances’ sake.

Dismissing the thought, she expressed her gratitude to Bennett for his thoughtful gesture.

“Thank you." Accepting the orange juice, Claudia averted her gaze, only to be drawn towards the sound of familiar voices calling, "Mr. Dreskin, Mrs. Dreskin".

She instinctively turned towards the source, to see Cordell Moreno, the son of Sogonia Group's owner.

As the distinguished guest of the evening, Bennett's presence compelled Cordell to greet him personally.

Bennett enveloped Claudia’s waist with a firm grip and nodded in acknowledgment to Cordell, saying, "Mr. Moreno."

Maintaining a poised smile, Claudia straightened up slightly and echoed, "Mr. Moreno."

“It's an unexpected pleasure to have Mr. Dreskin here tonight. My apologies for any shortcomings in hospitality, Mr. Dreskin, Mrs.

Dreskin."

His gaze drifted to Claudia and settled on her necklace. A momentary surprise flashed across his face before he regained his composure and complimented Claudia's radiant beauty.

The attendees of the event were mostly Linmarsh's renowned celebrities, wealthy individuals, and influential figures. While Bennett held significant importance as a guest, Cordell couldn't remain by his side at all times.

Cordell instructed a waiter to attend to Bennett's and Claudia's needs, offering his apologies before proceeding to greet the rest of the guests.

Once Cordell departed, numerous individuals approached Bennett, eager to engage him in conversation.

This type of party was a new experience for Bennett, and his attendance today was a rare occasion.

However, the other guests were cautious not to overstep their bounds. Worried about unintentionally offending Bennett by being too eager to please him, they resorted to having their female companions flatter Claudia instead.

Claudia wasn't fond of insincere flattery. After politely thanking the initial well-wishers, she turned her attention towards Bennett, feigning an intense conversation.

Those who had hoped to impress Claudia with their flattery chose to remain silent, realizing that she had no interest in hearing such words. Helpless and dejected, they could only hold onto their glasses and depart with a sulky demeanor.

When Jolie and Zaria made their entrance, a hushed gasp echoed through the crowd,

Rumors circulated that the Dreskin family had harbored longstanding dissatisfaction with their daughter-in-law Claudia, while Zaria was the one whom they truly valued.

Today, Bennett's stepmother attended the party alongside Zaria, practically confirming the circulating rumor.

Moments ago, Claudia had been the envy of many. Now, the crowd watched, anticipating the upcoming drama.

Earlier, Claudia had thought of voicing her boredom at the party. But Jolie's appearance had steeled her resolve.

Jolie walked directly towards Bennett and Claudia, accompanied by Zaria. The crowd instinctively parted to make way for them.

In no time, Jolie and Zaria were standing before Claudia and Bennett. "Bennett, Zaria wants to have a word with you," Jolie informed. Then, turning to Claudia, she proposed, "Miss Marshall, do you mind keep me company for a while?"