Just in time, Hope’s wine glass was refilled.

Daniel firmly raised his own glass again.

“Everyone! Let’s toast to Hope Newton—she’s officially the most successful person in our class now. Who knows, someday we might all owe her favors.”

The classmates all turned to Hope. Some raised their glasses eagerly, others reluctantly. They had always looked down on Hope’s background and her “ways of getting ahead.” They thought she was on a completely different level from them.

Yet, today, they were here for one reason: to see what opportunities Hope could offer them. A classic mix of disdain and reluctant submission.

Hope saw through their attitudes but didn’t call them...