Her words served two purposes. They both quashed Heidi's attempt to paint her as conniving and also graciously sidestepped the men asking for her contact information, turning them down easy.

Someone stepped in to smooth over the awkwardness. "Look, the main thing is we finally get to see who CC really is. Let's move on and take that group photo, shall we?"

Claudia turned to Heidi, her smirk devoid of any pretense of courtesy. "That's where the champion stands."

Cornered, Heidi felt a surge of irritation. As she locked eyes with

Claudia's mocking gaze, she snapped, “I know, okay? Novalee, over here!"

To everyone's surprise, Novalee shook her head.

“Can I stand next to you, cc?"

Caught off guard, Claudia then offered a warm smile to the young up-and-comer.

“Of course you can."

Heidi's face twisted with frustration, but since Novalee herself had asked, she held her tongue.

After the photo session, Claudia's thoughts immediately shifted to Bennett.

She dismissed the organizers’ talk about the dinner, saying bluntly, "Sorry, but my husband's waiting for me."

Clutching her helmet, she dashed off the stage.

Unbeknownst to her, Bennett had already arrived and was waiting just below the stage, coconut in hand.

Watching Claudia depart, Heidi couldn't resist a sneer.

“She's not the only one who's married. What's the big deal?"

Just then, someone in the crowd exclaimed, "Wow, would you Look at how handsome CC's husband is!" Heidi's body tensed and her eyes followed the general gaze.

There, standing under the stage, was a man in a relaxed white shirt, holding a coconut. His striking face was accentuated by the evening sun, and his eyes seemed to lack any warmth.

But as Claudia approached him, something extraordinary happened. The man, who had seemed as impassive as a block of ice, suddenly smiled.

And in that instant, all that frost seemed to melt away. Watching the transformation in the man's expression, Heidi felt her heart do a little leap.

Claudia walked up to Bennett and whispered, "Why come over? You could've just waited for me there away from the crowd.”

She knew Bennett usually avoided crowded places.

Smiling softly, Bennett tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "Because you're here, Mrs. Dreskin."

A voice from the crowd quipped, “Just trying to pass by, and what do I stumble upon? A public love fest?"