ers dripped light onto a sea of designer gowns and bespoke suits. The air hummed with polite laughter and the clin

-importance. At his side, his daughter Coral was a vision in a white, princess-style dress. The "Star of the Ocean" blazed at her thr

im on the shoulder, "wonderful party. Bu

wife, Lynn, stepped in smoothly, her own smile perfectly manicured. "

Coral, his voice a harsh whisper. "Did you call h

nocence appearing on her face. "I tried, Daddy. Multipl

East Side penthouse, watching Coral's name flash on her phone screen. Sh

tened. "That ungrateful child. She's doi

ling brittle. "Darling, don't let her ruin your big day. It

eet. "She's probably still angry about what hap

triumphant glance. With Aislinn

a different kind of anxiety. "Has anyone from the Le f

fully. "Mr. Le's assistant called to say he had a pri

Mr. Rhodes's face was

ballroom swung open. A hush fell over the crowd, the chatt

stood framed

her back bare almost to the waist. Her makeup was stark and elegant, her lips painted the same defiant red as her dress. H

the rebellious, angry teenager they remembered. This was a wo

n, ignoring the whispers and the stares, she began to walk. She moved not towards the bar or

s the only sound in the cavernous ballroom. Each step was a b