Chapter 2
The whispering in the grand ballroom rose like the buzzing of a thousand hornets. Julian stood up so fast his chair toppled backward, hitting the parquet floor with a sharp crash that silenced the crowd once more. His mind raced through the past nine months of investments, medical appointments, and public announcements tied to this supposed heir to the Vanguard empire.
“Celeste,” Julian whispered, his voice dangerously low, stripped of all warmth. “Explain what this means right now.”
Celeste’s polished facade cracked, her practiced smile turning into a mask of pure panic. She clutched the golden fabric tighter, backing away from him as if he were a stranger.
“Julian, do not listen to them,” Celeste stammered, her voice pitching upward in desperation. “They are trying to sabotage us. This child is yours. Everyone knows how much is riding on this merger.”
Eleanor rushed to Celeste's side, placing a protective, manicured hand on the younger woman’s shoulder. Eleanor’s eyes flashed with calculated menace as she surveyed the stunned board members.
“This is a coordinated smear campaign,” Eleanor announced to the room, her voice dripping with artificial authority. “Vanguard Holdings cannot afford a scandal like this. We must escort this child and her mother out immediately before the press gets word.”
Maya remained seated at the adjacent table, unfazed by the commotion. She reached into the pocket of her red velvet dress and pulled out a small, metallic object, sliding it across the white linen tablecloth toward Julian. It was a sleek black USB drive, cold and heavy with undeniable truth.
“My mom sent this to my tablet right before she left,” Maya said calmly. “It shows the boutique where they bought the pillow. And the receipt is in your corporate email, Uncle Julian.”
Julian stared at the tiny drive. His heart hammered against his ribs like a caged bird. With trembling fingers, he reached out and picked it up. He looked up, searching the crowd for the one person who should have been standing beside him, only to realize she was nowhere to be found.
“Where is Clara?” Julian asked, his voice trembling as a cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
Eleanor’s expression faltered for a fraction of a second, her eyes darting toward the heavy velvet service doors at the back of the hall.
May you like
“Clara left hours ago,” Eleanor hissed. “She couldn’t handle seeing you move on. She’s unstable.”
Before Julian could process the lie, the giant projection screen behind the head table suddenly flickered to life, bathing the entire ballroom in a harsh, glaring white light.
