Betrayed Heiress Strikes Back

Chapter 16

The music still hummed faintly from the ballroom, but Kya had slipped into the quieter corridor near the study. She found her father, Patrick Byrd, speaking with two advisors, his tone sharp as ever. When they left, she approached, her voice steady but edged with curiosity.

“Dad,” she began, folding her arms. “Why didn’t Mr. Whitmore come tonight? He was supposed to be here.”

Patrick’s expression hardened, though his eyes flickered with something softer. “Reginald Whitmore is not a man who misses events lightly. But his health… it’s failing him. He sent his regrets.”

Before Kya could reply, the sound of footsteps drew her attention. Mrs. Gray, elegant in a midnight‑blue gown, approached with Mr. Gray at her side. Their presence carried weight—the kind of quiet authority that silenced whispers.

“I couldn’t help but overhear,” Mrs. Gray said gently, her voice warm but deliberate. “My father wanted to be here, Kya. Truly. But his knees have worsened. Arthritis makes it difficult for him to stand for long, let alone endure a night like this.”

Kya’s brows knit, her heart tugging faintly. “So he couldn’t come at all?”

Mrs. Gray’s smile was sympathetic. “No. But he asked me to tell you both— Julian and you— that he would love to host you at the Whitmore estate for lunch tomorrow. A quieter setting, where he can speak with you properly.”

Patrick nodded approvingly, though his tone remained firm. “That is an honor. You must accept.”

Kya hesitated, her mind racing. Lunch at the Whitmore estate meant stepping deeper into legacy, into expectation. Yet refusing would be impossible.

Mrs. Gray’s gaze softened as she looked around. “Speaking of Julian… where is my son?”

Kya’s lips curved faintly, though her voice carried a subtle edge. “He’s with Alexander.”

The words hung in the air, sharp as glass. Mrs. Gray’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second before she recovered, her tone calm but layered. “Alexander,” she repeated, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “I see.”

Patrick’s jaw tightened, his gaze flicking toward the ballroom. “That boy has always been trouble.”

The silence that followed was heavy, charged with unspoken truths. Kya felt it pressing against her— the weight of family legacies, the tension between cousins, the looming shadow of Whitmore’s invitation.

Kya’s brows furrowed as Mrs. Gray’s words echoed in her mind. “Alexander,” she repeated slowly. “Why do you all say he’s trouble?”

The silence that followed was heavy. Patrick’s jaw tightened, Mrs. Gray’s eyes flickered, and Mr. Gray cleared his throat. But no one answered. Instead, Mrs. Gray offered a polite smile. “Excuse me, dear. I must check on the guests.” Mr. Gray followed, and Patrick muttered something about the caterers before striding away.

Within moments, Kya was alone in the corridor, the hum of the ballroom muffled behind closed doors. She exhaled, unsettled. They were hiding something.

Seeking air, she slipped through a side door into the garden terrace. The night was cool, the scent of roses drifting on the breeze. She was about to turn back when a sharp voice caught her attention.

Elena Carney stood a few steps away, phone pressed to her ear, her silk gown shimmering under the lantern light. Her tone was clipped, furious.

“What do you mean you found nothing?” Elena hissed. “You’ve been digging for weeks. Don’t tell me she’s spotless.”

A pause. The investigator’s voice was faint but audible. “She’s… impressive, Ms. Carney. Multiple degrees, fluent in several languages, accomplished in business strategy. Honestly, she’s brilliant. If anything, she’s—”

“Admiring her?” Elena snapped, her voice rising. “I didn’t hire you to admire her. I asked if she had a weakness. A flaw. A talent I could twist. Something to exploit.”

Another pause. The investigator stammered, “She’s… remarkable. It’s difficult not to—”

“Never mind!” Elena cut him off, her voice dripping with venom. “You’re useless if you’re mesmerized by her. Do your job, or I’ll find someone who can.”

She ended the call abruptly, her hand trembling as she lowered the phone. Her jaw was tight, her eyes burning with jealousy.

Kya froze in the shadows, her heart pounding. Elena wasn’t just desperate—she was obsessed. And now Kya knew: Elena was digging into her past, searching for cracks that didn’t exist.

**

Kya stepped back into the corridor, her mind still turning over Elena’s venomous phone call when a familiar voice broke her thoughts.

“Oh! I’m so sorry—” Sadie nearly collided with her, clutching her clutch bag to her chest. Her cheeks flushed as she steadied herself. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

Kya offered a faint smile. “It’s fine.”

Sadie exhaled, then brightened. “Come on, let’s get some wine. I need it after tonight.”

Together, they moved toward the refreshment table, the strains of the orchestra drifting through the air. The music was soft, elegant, but the hum of whispers carried beneath it. Kya accepted a glass, her eyes scanning the ballroom, searching for Julian. He was nowhere in sight.

Sadie, oblivious to Kya’s distraction, launched into her story. “You won’t believe what happened to me the other day. I bumped into this man outside the coffee shop—handsome, really handsome—but I swear he disliked me instantly.”

Kya arched a brow, sipping her wine. “Why do you say that?”

Sadie laughed nervously. “Well, I might have talked too much. There was this mother and her preschool‑age son arguing in the street not far from us, and I couldn’t help commenting on it. I went on and on, and he just… looked at me like I was ridiculous.”

Kya’s lips curved faintly, though her eyes kept scanning the crowd. “Maybe he wasn’t in the mood for conversation.”

“Or maybe he just doesn’t like me,” Sadie sighed, swirling her wine. “But he was so handsome. You know the type—sharp jaw, intense eyes, like he’s carrying secrets.”

Kya nodded absently, her gaze drifting toward the far end of the hall. Julian was still missing. A flicker of unease tightened in her chest.

Sadie nudged her playfully. “You’re not even listening, are you?”

Kya forced a smile. “I am. Handsome man, coffee shop, didn’t appreciate your commentary.”

Sadie grinned, satisfied. “Exactly. Well, maybe I’ll bump into him again. Fate has a funny way of repeating itself.”

But Kya barely heard her. Her eyes swept the ballroom once more, her pulse quickening. Julian had disappeared, and with Alexander and Elena both prowling the estate, his absence felt far from innocent.

Sadie cleared her throat, following the direction of Kya’s gaze toward Elena, who stood across the ballroom, her silk gown shimmering as she laughed too sweetly with a cluster of guests.

“Tell me something,” Sadie said, lowering her voice. “Why was she invited? Elena. Everyone knows she’s Julian’s ex. If it were my engagement party, I wouldn’t dream of inviting my fiancé’s ex‑girlfriend.”

Kya’s lips curved faintly, though her eyes remained fixed on Elena. “The Byrds and the Grays agreed to split the guest list evenly. Thirty guests from each side. Sixty in total. I was surprised myself when I saw the Carneys included.”

Sadie’s brows shot up. “Surprised? That’s one word for it. I’d call it absurd.”

Kya sipped her wine, her tone calm but edged. “Mrs. Gray explained it to me. Julian’s involvement with Elena was brief. Nothing serious. She assured me there’s nothing to worry about.”

Sadie smirked, her expression sharp. “Brief or not, it’s ridiculous. Who invites an ex to an engagement party? It’s practically begging for scandal.”

Kya tilted her head, her voice cool. “Perhaps. But the Carneys have been old family friends of the Grays. Excluding them would have raised more questions than inviting them.”

Sadie rolled her eyes, swirling her wine. “Well, I don’t like it. She’s standing there like she owns the room. And everyone’s watching her, not you. It’s insulting.”

Kya’s gaze lingered on Elena, her jaw tightening. “Let them watch. I’m not here to compete with her.”

Sadie leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Maybe not. But she’s here to compete with you. And I don’t trust her for a second.”

The orchestra swelled in the background, laughter rippling through the hall, but beneath the glittering chandeliers, Kya felt the weight of Sadie’s words. Elena’s presence wasn’t just inconvenient—it was dangerous. And though Mrs. Gray had dismissed it as harmless, Kya knew better.