The evening began at six o'clock, and one after another, guests arrived at the Ford family villa. The brilliant and bright lights in the villa added an extra dazzle to this luxurious building in the center of the green lawn. The hall was also adorned in a glorious manner, with lavish decorations adorning everything in sight.

As time passed, the banquet hall saw an increasing flow of people coming and going, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Jack was dressed in a black suit with a black bow tie as he gracefully moved through the banquet crowd, always greeting the arriving and departing guests.

The main character of today's banquet, Daisy, had not yet appeared, but her absence didn't attract much attention. Daisy was never someone with a dominating presence, even on this special occasion.

In the minds of the dignitaries who attended the banquet, they all assumed that this birthday celebration was merely an excuse for the Ford family to invite everyone, and they didn't truly take Daisy's birthday seriously. That's why no one thought to ask about her absence.

At that moment, the Williams family also made their grand entrance into the hall, dressed to the nines.

Lillian's attire was particularly flamboyant, with a striking big red long-hemmed evening gown that immediately caught everyone's attention as she walked into the hall. Her presence was aggressive in and of itself.

She wore a noble smile that concealed any trace of her wicked smugness.

Jack rushed forward to greet Lillian, "You're here. I was worried you wouldn't make it."

"There was a bit of traffic on the road, so we're a bit late," Lillian explained.

"No, no, you came just in time," Jack assured her.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lillian eagerly asked, "Where's Daisy?"

"She's still getting ready. She'll be down in a bit," Jack replied.

"I have a birthday present for her," Lillian shared with enthusiasm, showing her thoughtful nature.

Lucien had learned all of his graceful and noble facade from his mother.

"That's kind of you," Jack thanked her quickly.

As more and more people arrived and departed, Jack continued to greet them, making sure to extend warm welcomes to each guest.

"Titus, welcome!" Jack greeted with incredible enthusiasm. "It's an honor to see you in public after so many years."

"Don't tell me you're surprised to see me. I couldn't miss your wife's birthday party," Titus Dillon replied. He was Eden's father and the head of the most powerful family in Seattle.

Following Titus were his wife Kate, his eldest son Michael, his second son Brian, and his youngest son Eden. All three of them greeted Jack very politely.

Jack appeared to be very amiable, and especially said to Eden, "I watched your live speech yesterday, and I must say I was impressed."

"Oh, no sir. I was just lucky," Eden gave him a modest smile.

"That wasn't luck." Jack affirmed. "It was quite the opposite."

"Don't you dare praise him. We don't need his ego any bigger than it already is." Titus chuckled and added, "Especially not with your future son-in-law nearby."

"Sometimes, being so modest again is something to be proud of," Jack laughed along with him, internally dreading having to talk about Lucien.

Fortunately, Lucas entered the hall with his family in tow.

"Lucas!" Jack greeted him happily.

Lucas walked over with his wife Jane, followed by Winston, Cendy, and Bowen.

"Titus, is that really you?" Lucas teased when he saw the man in question.

Now that his son Michael had taken over as the official head of the Dillon family, it was rare to see Titus. Seeing him at a birthday banquet of all things was all the more out of the ordinary, so his presence came as a surprise to most of the guests.

"Oh, so you also have a problem with me, huh?" Titus joked.

Moments later, Ivan approached and joined in on the fun, and just like that, America's most prestigious were gathered together.

The Dillons, Fords, Summers, and Williamses—in order of their wealth—were concentrated in Seattle, the source of the city's economic power.

Apart from the gentry, there are two other prominent families in America—the Regal family and the Mastodon family. Both families are based in San Francisco, the most powerful city in America.

Although the Regal family and the Mastodon family do not appear to have much interaction on the surface, given the distance between their cities and their differing fields of influence, in reality, the truth is quite different.

The wealthy seek the protection of the powerful, while the powerful crave the luxury of the wealthy. Outside of the wealthy and the powerful are the ambitious: those who seek total dominance. Careful relations between these three types of families are always hard to navigate.

Unless those three types are fused into one.

In Ella's previous life, Lucien wanted to be the first person in America to lead a family with all three of those qualities, seeking absolute prestige.

Ella stood at the stairway of the second floor, silently observing everyone in the banquet hall. Amidst the sea of dignitaries, Lucien didn't appear as brilliant as she had once believed. She couldn't help but wonder why she had been so determined to support him and help him reach heights that were unrealistic.

Her eyes twitched slightly as she reflected on her past decisions.

Now, however, she would see that Lucien could never come close to accessing the world of influential families.

Controlling her emotions, she tightly held her mother's arm as a sense of determination washed over her.

Suddenly, the lights in the hall dimmed. A dazzling spotlight focused on Daisy and Ella standing on the second floor. Everyone's attention was immediately captured, and for a brief moment, all eyes were fixed on them.

Daisy was adorned in striking black, while Ella wore radiant white. They looked like ethereal angels, and in that fleeting moment, it was dreamlike. The sight of this beautiful mother and daughter was so mesmerizing that it felt unreal. Nothing else in the world could hold a candle to their grace.

Accompanied by the softly playing music, Ella held her mother's arm and gracefully descended step by step from the red carpet on the second floor. The entire room was captivated by their presence, which made Daisy feel a bit nervous.

She couldn't believe what she was witnessing at that moment. All she had expected was a simple birthday dinner with Jack. The grandeur of the celebration before her was beyond anything she could have imagined.

Nervously, Daisy followed her daughter's careful footsteps, step by step. The translucent light continued to follow their every move as they descended.

Once they reached the very bottom of the stairs, Jack was waiting there. He was dressed immaculately, showing no signs of middle age, and maintained his gentlemanly elegance even in his fifties. He bowed respectfully and extended his hand with the utmost courtesy to greet the most important woman in his life.

Daisy was stunned by Jack's gesture. She hadn't expected such a grand surprise, leaving her with only a half-hearted reaction to the overwhelming display of love and celebration.

Ella gently placed Daisy's hand in Jack's, setting the stage for the enchanting moment to come. The symphony orchestra in the hall began playing beautiful dance music.

Jack led Daisy to the center of the dance floor, and in front of all the guests' eyes, they danced their first dance of the night together. It was a gorgeous and romantic duet, leaving everyone in awe and amazement. The onlookers' reactions ranged from dumbfounded silence to animated conversations about the breathtaking display before them.

"Oh my god, is that Daisy? She looks completely transformed! If it weren't for Jack holding her in his arms, I wouldn't believe it's her!"

"That crown on top of her head is simply breathtaking. Is that the same sapphire that cost $30 million at the last charity banquet? It's incredibly luxurious."

"Is that really her? I can't believe Daisy is dancing so beautifully!"

"The birthday banquet Jack prepared for Daisy is truly stunning. I'm amazed by what I'm seeing."

As they danced through the opulent hall, it wasn't hard to make certain people turn green with envy.