The ballroom was cavernous, white-walled and crowned with chandeliers that shimmered like caged stars. The parquet floor gleamed with polish, its surface so reflective it caught the scatter of light from the crystals above. Around the edges of the room, just outside the view of the camera, stood clusters of guests: family friends, long-time business partners, distant cousins dressed in dark tailored suits and muted gowns. Their voices had hushed to a whisper, waiting for the reveal.