ontague Estate was a master

e vaulted ceilings, casting a warm, golden glow over the three hundred guests. Waiters in pristine white gloves glided through the crowd like ghosts, carrying silve

politicians, and ruthless businessmen, all hiding

ive. I had gripped Victor's arm, terrified of saying the wrong thing, smiling until my cheeks ached, while he soaked up th

as not that

a room I was supposed to share with Victor, though he rarely sle

n. It had a plunging neckline that left little to the imagination and a thigh-high slit that revealed my long legs. My hair w

. I looked like a

e drawled fro

uxedo, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His eyes raked over m

Elena," he said, stepping into the room. He clo

s wife. "I just wanted to look special for you tonight, darling. Five

gne-a scent I had once found so comforting-made my stomach churn with disgust. I could feel the heat

my hip, squeezing roughly. "But remember, tonight is about business. I ha

e sent a jolt of elec

k," Victor continued, his tone shifting from

spent the whole night in the corner, sipping water, watching Victor cha

y eyes wide and innocent. "I wouldn't dream of getting in the

pulling away. "Good. Now, let's go. Sophia is alre

diligent, loving sister

ared, a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes turned to us. To V

inger on Victor for lon

e women looking at me with envy and curiosity. I held my head high, a small

the stairs, and the cro

vestor named Mr. Sterling boomed, shaking Victor's h

onal mask firmly in place. "I'm glad you could make it.

piel about profits and market share

urn

s. It complemented her pale skin and dark hair perfectly. She flashed me a warm, si

honey. "Red is a very bold choice. Trying to cover up the fac

ushed, stuttered, and made an ex

appier, we'd be glowing. But thank you for worrying about my marriage. It's so sweet

re venom in her eyes. I had never talked back to her before. I ha

a's waist in what looked like a friendly, brotherly gesture. But I saw the way

tems are ready in the west wing?" Victor asked smoo

ng onto his for a second too long. "I'll handle

, her hips sway

ally-or purposefully-knocked a priceless Ming vase onto the floor, shattering it. Victor had blamed me for it in front of

pt, I had replaced it with a cheap, painted replica. I had also secretly placed a diamond neck

Victor's voice boomed

n, if I could have y

r stood on the raised platfor

He paused, giving me a charming smile that made my skin crawl. "It's about the future. The Montague Group is

to the back

ve oak do

ed out of t

sps rippled through the crowd. The sheer presence

en V

e a startling, piercing shade of dark blue, and they swept across the room with a cold, predatory intelligen

s called the "Ice King." He had a reputation for destroying companies without a

death, a whisper of memory told me that Damien Vance had actually tried to warn my fa

t bothering to smile. He didn't need

xt to him. A pretender

, his voice slightly str

his cold, piercing gaze swept over th

pended moment,

first sight. It was recognition. He looked at me, standing in my

, raising my chin a fraction of an

s, a hint of intrigue. The corner of h

e that sent shivers down my spine. He turned to the crowd. "The Vance Corpor

on. He had no idea that in exactly three hours, he was going to be acc

y champagne, the bubble

e game