a bomb in the silent ballroo

e pale-faced Herman Rich, and the bride, Dolores, whose perfect smile had f

cracking. He pointed a shaking finger at Adria. "Who are you?

tim. She rushed to her husband's side, her voice a shrill cry. "Oh

furious red. She glared at Adria with

t them to the man standing on the altar, the man who had re

stillness of Hudson's dark gray eyes. His gaze wasn't dismissive, but sharp and

ltar. Her presence was so commanding that the security guards who

y between Dolores and Hudson, a physical

s slightly yellowed with age but perfectly preserved. She held it up for

n. "I'm just here to take back what's mine." Another pause,

is she?" "Carlisle? That family is gone." "

studying Adria's features. He turned to his wife, his voice a shoc

ou liar!" she shrieked, lunging at Adria, her hands claw

ured nails came close, Adria simply took a s

went down hard. She landed in an ungraceful heap on the plush carpet,

id of pity. Only contempt. "What's yours? Do

He tried to grab the document from Adria's hand while pleading with Hu

the document in her hand. For the first time, he spoke. His

e document to h

natures: Marcus Carlisle and Arthur

ost powerful old-money families. It stipulated that the direct heir

itly named: Marcus Carlisle's

ria's face. "Adria Carlisle was reported

abricated. Just like my father fabricated a way to remove m

ierced Herman's last line of defense. He c

n't just a disruption; it was a real-life soap opera of greed and betra

h the murmurs from the front row. "The D

of the family, Arthur Davenport IV. He

om his son's hand, and glanced at it. Then he turned to

Herman's face. H

calm. This was only the first step. Her eyes re

g Dolores on the floor, then back at the mysterious, powerful woman stand