(Author's POV)
Victoria swept into the house, her face glowing with a triumph she hadn't felt in years. She tossed her limited-edition handbag onto the sofa and looked at her son with sparkling eyes.
"Success?" Jasper asked, standing up from the armchair.
"Better than success," Victoria beamed, unbuttoning her coat. "Eleanor was actually pleasant. She didn't just accept the gift; she invited me back next week for private tea. Just the two of us."
Jasper let out a long, heavy breath. The tension that had knotted his shoulders for days finally dissolved.
"That's the signal," Jasper said, a rare smile touching his lips. "It means the main branch is finally softening their stance toward us."
"I knew it would work," Victoria said, pouring herself a glass of water. "But you must be careful
