Years

her neck. Her reflection was a stranger-elegant, poised, terrifyingly beautiful. Her dark hair had been swept into a l

were documents she knew by memory: financial records, stock transfers, charity holdings

li

as a

ad g

ame room as the man who took everything fr

m the hall, "the car's ready. You'll be

, and precise. Each word carried the weight of a wom

night velvet, sleeveless with a dramatic train, its neckline edged with starlight crystals. It was the kind

dered-to Jace and Callie, tucked safely in

said, "Win the party, Mommy," while Jace

returned to the capital. They didn't kno

w

hey w

o

.

ala had always been an a

prestige. Celebrities, politicians, CEOs, and socialites gathered under gol

ds faltered. The crowd bega

the marble floor as th

ike scandalous trash, now CEO of

if she o

a way,

er lips were red, her skin pale and perfect

a

that

t can'

ppeared f

ks? Isn't she

ters. Within seconds, her name was trending

rn

. She made her way to the center of the ballroom,

ce didn't

an's former admirer, and Juliette's long-standing rival-

dly. "We were wondering wh

. "And here I thought the clo

ippled throu

"How generous of you to grace us with your presen

aver. "Don't worry. You'l

one who drugged Mr. Bennet a few years ago, trying to sleep your way into money? What-

ished the sent

echoed throug

ed. "You... you hit me?!

calm smirk. "Do I need to pick a s

ice like ice. "Get her out of here-

uards stepped forward and pinned Cel

eleste screamed as they yanke

illed t

vealing raw, messy love bites. The

s been busy," so

a slut?" another scoffed

ssy all night and now-

scrambled to cover herself, panic ris

uined my reputation!" sh

ting her hands like she'd just taken out

on every front page to

tripped over himself. "Y-y

ed. She'd just been d

de you a queen?" she spat, desper

nager took off his shoe and sho

" he barked. "Miss Brooks owns this entire

oze, her e

owned thi

. No one dared speak

e stunned crowd. "Please. Enj

walked away-calm,

ng on her mind: find

*