When the gala officially began, I stepped into the black gown the Vances had prepared for me and stood at the top of the sweeping staircase on the second floor.
The announcer's voice rang through the grand ballroom. "And now, please welcome the Vances' one and only heiress, Ms. Stella Vance."
The spotlight found me.
In a corner of the outer lounge, the wineglass in Victor's hand shattered outright. Lily went ghost-white, her eyes locked onto me.
"Victor, how could Stella be the heiress? You said she had nothing!"
Victor didn't answer, because my father had already stepped up to the microphone.
"Thank you all for coming. Tonight, I'm formally introducing my only daughter, and the sole future heiress of Vance Corp, Stella Vance, to all of you."
Applause thundered through the hall.
My
