---- Alex?" "Pfft, it's just a few bucks a bottle. You think I'd waste my good stuff on this bunch of fools?" "But what if they figure out it's cheap wine?" "Ha! They wouldn't know good wine if it hit them in the face. I could fart, and they'd say it smells like roses." His sidekick eagerly agreed, "You're right, James. You're a genius." When the video ended, James's face was a sickly shade of green. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but the crowd had already turned against him. "Man, I guess it's true. You can't judge a book by its cover. Guy must've saved all his money by being cheap." "Honestly, I thought the wine tasted off, but I figured someone like James wouldn't serve swill."' ---- "Guess he's been saving his pennies this way." With every comment, James's expression grew darker, his fake composure crumbling. Sophia stood silently beside him, her face unreadable, her eyes fixed on the floor. Just then, Professor Warren stepped in, trying to smooth things over. The atmosphere gradually returned to forced civility, with guests toasting each other as if nothing had happened. Then, beaming with pride, Professor Warren suggested, "Why don't we have Catherine share some of her insights on success?" limmediately perked up. My wife was about to give a speech! Toward the end of her remarks, she smiled in my direction. "Behind every successful woman is a supportive man. I wouldn't be where I am today without my husband, Alex." ---- That line dropped like a bomb. The room collectively sucked in a breath. "Wait, Catherine is married?" "And to Alex?!" Sophia, sitting directly across from me, looked at me with a mixture of shock and betrayal, as if I'd personally wronged her. Ignoring the ongoing speech, she abruptly stood up and walked out. James's face was twisted with frustration as he quickly followed her.