The Franklin Foundation Gala sparkled with extravagance. Crystal chandeliers bathed the opulent ballroom in a warm, golden glow, and the air buzzed with the hum of conversation, the occasional clink of glasses punctuating the soundscape. Politicians rubbed shoulders with tech moguls; old money mingled with rising stars. Tonight was about power, wealth, and appearances—and no one needed a good appearance more than Ethan Carrington and Eva Sinclair.
Ethan leaned against the bar, swirling his whiskey, though his tight grip on the glass betrayed his unease. His empire, once formidable, had been crumbling under relentless pressure. He wore his best suit and an air of forced confidence. Beside him, Eva fidgeted, her smile brittle and eyes darting nervously around the room. She hadn’t been herse
