“Exactly. She’s accomplished so little yet acts so pretentious here. It’s unseemly,” another interjected.

Then, a voice cut through the chatter.

“Perhaps Miss Bailey isn’t fully versed in the nuances of gemstone carving, which could explain her perspective.”

Katelyn turned toward the source of the voice and saw a woman clad in a white evening gown adorned with purple silk butterflies that appeared as if they could flutter away at any moment. The butterflies seemed to animate with every movement. She was accessorized with matching purple diamond jewelry that sparkled vividly under the ambient lighting.

This was Galen’s only daughter, Norma Haynes.

Galen cast a disapproving glance at Norma, gently scolding, “Norma, that’s uncalled for. Miss Bailey is our distinguished guest today.”

Katelyn, aware of a few things about Norma, noted that at thirty, she was single and fiercely independent, having carved out her own successful career. By a young age, she had already owned a publicly listed company of significant scale.

Although Katelyn didn’t know Norma well, she could sense the hostility in her. With a small curl of her lips, Katelyn responded, “Miss Haynes is right. My comments are simply my personal opinions.”

“So you’re implying you despise my father’s work?!” Norma’s tone suddenly became sharp.

Galen’s smile disappeared, and he sternly cautioned, “Choose your words carefully, Norma!”

The tension in the air was now palpable, not only to Katelyn but to everyone present.

Ashlyn’s face tightened with discomfort. Initially, she had believed today’s banquet would mark a major turning point for Katelyn, helping to elevate her reputation. Instead, it seemed fraught with unforeseen complications.

Just as Ashlyn was about to intervene, Katelyn maintained her composure and responded directly, “Miss Haynes, I am merely discussing the artwork itself, not criticizing your father. Or are we veering into personal grievances here?”

Her voice was steady and deliberate, pressing firmly upon Norma, making it difficult for her to respond.

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Norma’s brow furrowed slightly. It was clear why Ruby had found it difficult to outwit Katelyn; Katelyn was adept at articulating her views.

The audience gasped, taken aback by Katelyn’s boldness.

Katelyn remained genuinely fearless, showing no signs of intimidation from Norma. After all, Norma had Galen’s support, a person many feared to offend. In this circle, people typically treated her with the respect she deserved.

Regaining her composure, Norma offered a slight smile and said, “Ah, I see. Perhaps I misunderstood. You questioned the theme of the artwork. From your respected viewpoint, what would be an appropriate theme?”

She was eager to see how skilled Katelyn was with words. No matter how articulate Katelyn appeared, responding convincingly to such a probing question would be a true test. If Katelyn failed, her composure would crumble.

Ashlyn glanced at Katelyn with concern. After all, this was Galen’s work, and a poor response could invite criticism.

Galen, who had previously been scolding Norma, fell silent, now watching Katelyn intently to see if she could offer a meaningful insight. There was a hint of expectation in his demeanor, curious about Katelyn’s next words.

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