At a crowded social gathering, rivals accuse Cherry of stealing Bill and lash out at Rudy Jepsen, warning "You're no longer the Jepsen heiress" and threatening her marriage prospects. The attackers mock Bill, call him scum, and insist they won't accept anyone he rejects, escalating into public humiliation. The tide turns when Mason, who grew up with Rudy, arrives and vows to back her—threatening anyone who bullies her and even declaring "I will!" to protect her. Rudy is defended but her social status and how she'll respond to Mason's public pledge remain unresolved, leaving her fate uncertain.