“I did promise you, but you defied me,” Drake said.

“What now? Debra is upstairs and won’t be coming down anytime soon. Drake, I should be the one by your side. Without me, how will you handle those men’s desires?” Yvonne reasoned.

Her words swayed Drake. Through her intimate liaisons, she had secured valuable connections for the Lowe family over the years. He couldn’t rely on Debra to navigate those treacherous waters.

“Give me another chance, please. I promise I’ll do better,” Yvonne pleaded, clutching his arm.

Suddenly, the soft notes of the piano filled the hall, drawing the crowd’s attention. They turned toward the source, where a figure draped in elegance sat at the piano.

Drake followed the sound, spotting someone with a hat that obscured half her face. The lively melody infused the banquet with renewed energy. Juan stood still, momentarily lost in thought as he absorbed the scene.

As the piece reached its crescendo, the audience erupted into applause. Debra rose from the piano and bowed, her hat tumbling off as her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

Gasps echoed through the crowd as they took in her striking appearance. The light makeup on her face didn’t weaken her beauty; on the contrary, it made her stand out against the heavily made-up socialites surrounding her. She exuded a fragile beauty that was both breathtaking and alluring.

Yvonne froze, shock etching her features as she realized Debra had come down so quickly.

With calm confidence, Debra approached Drake. “Mr. Lowe, care to join me for a dance?”

Drake looked at her attire and smiled, “Of course.” He extended his hand willingly, shocking everyone present. In all these years, no one had ever seen him dance with a companion.

It sparked a round of whispers among the guests.

“Doesn’t Mr. Lowe hate dancing?”

“Even when he was with Miss Sharp, he never danced.”

“Wow, this lady is something else. She’s getting Mr. Lowe to break his rules.”

As Debra and Drake strode to the center of the dance floor, Yvonne was struck dumb.

She recalled Drake’s disdain for music and dancing. Yet there he was, willingly offering his hand to Debra.

Once they reached the dance floor, Debra asked, “Mr. Lowe, are you really granting me this honor?”

“I couldn’t let you embarrass yourself. But don’t expect me to dance again.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t know how.”

Debra’s eyes widened in surprise. “You don’t know how to dance, yet you offered me your hand?”

“I had to save you from embarrassment.”

“But if you don’t know how to dance, we’re both going to look foolish.”

“Dancing isn’t the point. Who you dance with is what really matters.”

“What do you mean?”

Before Debra could fully process his words, Drake spun her out. After a few turns, she found herself back in his arms.