Betrayed Heiress, Ruthless Redemption

ds of the party grew louder, a festive roar that felt like a personal mockery. Inside my mind, there was only a deafening silence, the

a link to a love that had been real, my mother's love. It was a s

ghter too loud. My family was seated at a table near the front, my father beaming with pride, my aunt dabbing her ey

looked handsome, confident, victorious. Mark tapped the microphone, t

ce smooth and practiced. "Alex and I would like to thank

ve of expectant smiles

"we are here to celebrate the joining of two families, the

audacious, it was almost impressive. They were master

s he scanned the room, "we would like to ask the woman who has made

her caught my gaze and gave me an encouraging nod, his eyes shining. Sophie gave me a thumbs-

pt prop in their corporate takeover. I could swallow the humiliation and allow them to wi

nside me didn't vanish, but it began to crystallize, hardening from a liquid grief into a sharp, cold

eap polyester dress against my skin, a constant reminder of their contempt. I could feel the locket in my hand

o help me up. I ignored it, ascending the steps on my own. T

ther. The gesture, which once would have made me feel cherished, now fe

ophone with a condescending chuckle, squeez

ed up to the second microphone. My heart was hammering against my ribs, a wild bi

rprisingly strong. It carried through the silent

eridia. Then I looked at Mark and Alex. I saw the flicker of confusion in their

phone. With a few taps, I pulled up the audio file. I hadn't even consciously decided to record their conversation; my thumb

t know I possessed, "I think there's a conversation everyone here needs

hone up to t

presse

e grand ballroom. *"-can't believe she almost m

mur rippled th

be glad when this is all ov

silence descended. I saw my father's f

lowed. *"-she looked like

s her company's shipping contracts... Clara? She'll be a well-kep

followed was absolute, a heavy, suffoc

was gone, replaced by a mask of pure, murderou

eath and deliver

shaking but resolute, "is over. Furthermore, any and all business deals, mergers, or

stood there in the ashes, for the first time all

s. Mark's father was on his feet, his face purple with fury, shouting my name. My own father looked like he had been

ontorted in a snarl. "You litt

me, a figure calmly pa

, his imposing presence casting a long shadow in the spotlight. The sheer force of his personal

ood between me and them, a human shield. His slate-grey eyes locked onto mine. In their

g rumble that cut through the remaining din, a pronouncemen

nce," he said, his gaze never leaving my face. "I'

shocking words hang i

raw, intense whisper that was somehow more powerful th