y held the massive oak doors open, and the faint strains of a string quartet drifted out into the cold night air. She moved through a vaulted marble foyer, pas

er in a blaze of golden light, and she paused for ju

The light from the massive crystal chandeliers caught the crystals on he

t, the undisputed ce

whisper

is

she's s

tion dawned o

ayes girl? The one whose

ara felt their eyes on her, hundreds of them, judging, dissecting. She tightened her grip on her s

n-looking butler began making her way through the crowd towa

toe. A genuine, warm smile touched her lips. "My dear child," she sai

area, placing her in the seat of honor right beside her own. The entire ballroom see

out her family. She didn't lie or embellish. She spoke of her family's situation with

e her a thumbs-up, a look

he center of this whole spectacle had yet to appear. She felt like a prize piece of livestock, prepped and d

s signing the last of a stack of contracts. The noi

la is well underway. Mrs. C

looking up. "It's a ridiculous charad

r. She is... quite the center of attention.

lding the pen, fr

would come. He had orchestrated it. But he hadn't anticipated the raw cour

d moment. Then he capped his pen

is voice a low growl. He

hanged

who had walked into his world, n

d. "Don't you worry, dear. My grandson c

eart bega

om swung open. A tall, powerful figure stood