Chapter 6: Whispers in the Grand Ballroom
Downstairs, the grand ballroom had transformed into a dazzling display of excessive wealth, glittering under the illumination of three massive crystal chandeliers. A five-tier wedding cake stood proudly near the floor-to-ceiling windows, while waiters in crisp uniforms navigated the crowd bearing silver trays of champagne. The wedding reception was in full swing, fueled by expensive wine and the superficial camaraderie of the city's financial elite.
Julian stood near the edge of the room, holding a glass of scotch he had barely touched. Victoria was surrounded by well-wishers, accepting compliments on her dress and the flawless execution of the evening with practiced grace. Every time Julian glanced toward the grand staircase, a cold dread pooled in his stomach. Hours had passed since he walked away from the locked bathroom door. The initial adrenaline of the ceremony had faded, leaving behind a gnawing, acidic guilt that no amount of alcohol could wash away.
Kayla glided effortlessly through the crowd, pausing occasionally to exchange pleasantries with banking executives and political donors. She noticed her son’s distraction from across the room and smoothly navigated her way to his side, her blue silk dress swishing with every step.
""You look rather pale, Julian,"" Kayla remarked smoothly, her voice pitched low so as not to draw the attention of the nearby guests. ""A groom should look ecstatic on his wedding night, not like a ghost haunting his own party.""
Julian turned to his mother, his jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ached. ""Mother, it has been nearly four hours. The baby should have been born by now. What if something went wrong? What if she needed medical attention?""
Kayla’s expression hardened instantly, her blue eyes flashing with sharp annoyance. She took Julian’s arm, her fingers tightening into a vice grip beneath the sleeve of his tuxedo. ""Nothing went wrong, Julian. Girls of her background are biologically resilient; they do not require the coddling you seem so eager to provide. If there was an emergency, she would have found a way to make noise. But she is quiet because she knows her place. She is biding her time, hoping to guilt you into throwing away everything we have built.""
""She was bleeding, Mother,"" Julian hissed back, his voice rising slightly before he checked himself, acutely aware of the prying eyes around them. ""I left her locked in a room while she was in labor. That isn't just ambition; that's cruelty.""
May you like
""Call it what you like, but call it quietly,"" Kayla retorted, her tone dropping to an absolute, unyielding frost. ""The reception concludes in an hour. We will send the domestic staff up to check on her then. Until then, you will maintain your composure, smile for the cameras, and play the role of the devoted husband to Victoria. Do you understand me?""
Julian looked into his mother’s unyielding eyes and felt the crushing weight of his lifelong subjugation. He wanted to break away, to run up those stairs and kick the door open, but the invisible chains of wealth, expectation, and fear held him firmly in place. He nodded slowly, turning back to the suffocating crowd as the orchestra struck up another waltz.
