"Anne, right?" the woman said warmly, extending her hand. "Hello, I'm Gracie. I used to be a friend of your father-in-law."
Anne blinked in surprise. Augustine had never spoken of his parents' old friends or colleagues. Still, she smiled politely and took the woman's hand. "Oh—hello. It's nice to meet you."
Gracie's expression softened with a trace of melancholy. "Your father-in-law was a good man. Strong, kind. We always believed he'd take the reins of the Beaumont Group someday. He had the vision, the heart. But…" Her voice trailed off into silence, her eyes drifting for a moment.
Anne's heart tugged at the heaviness in her tone.
"His sudden passing was a terrible shock to all of us," Gracie continued. "Then we heard Augustine had gone abroad. And after that… no news of him. It's truly heartening to see him again tonight. And I'm so glad to know he is married."
