Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 723

Behind the main table stood a backdrop woven entirely from fresh flowers and greenery, framing a massive engagement portrait of Lawrence and Seraphina smiling sweetly as they leaned into each other.

Round dining tables were draped in flawless white tablecloths, set with gleaming silverware, crystal goblets, and exquisite bone china plates.

In front of each seat rested a gold-embossed place card and a meticulously prepared wedding favor inside a delicate, beautifully wrapped box.

The attending guests were nothing short of affluent and powerful. The men wore tailored suits, while the women were dressed in lavish gowns, adorned with dazzling jewelry.

They conversed in hushed tones, their faces bearing perfectly polite smiles.

Waiters in uniform navigated through the crowd with trays in hand, offering seamless service.

In truth, this was a massive high-society networking event.

The most prominent families in Aethelgard attended these types of gatherings almost every year, using them to build connections and discuss business deals.

Lower-status guests considered it an absolute honor just to receive an invitation from the Lance family. It was the perfect opportunity to rub elbows with important figures and secure lucrative contracts.

Lord Leonard Lance sat with the heads of several other major families, chuckling as they complimented each other's younger generations, though the underlying tone was entirely about outdoing one another.

At their age, most had already handed over the reins of their empires to the younger generation.

If their children were capable, they didn't have to worry at all and only needed to casually oversee things. Some stepped back entirely to pursue their own hobbies, like the heads of the Voss and Leigh families.

Strictly speaking, Leonard had it the hardest. His own son was a disappointment, though his grandson, Owen Lance, had turned out to be an incredibly brilliant exception.

When Owen first returned from abroad, the other elite families had worried that he would shatter the balance of power in Aethelgard's business world, allowing the Lance family to dominate completely.

While Owen officially severing ties with his family seemed like an internal Lance issue, the other families had undeniably played their parts in stirring the pot.

"Leonard, why haven't we seen that brilliant grandson of yours today?"

Lord Silas Voss asked.

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