Vanessa's POV
The ballroom glittered with chandeliers and crystal glasses, a gathering of wealth and power dressed in gold. Vanessa stepped into it as though she owned the air. Every head turned, every gaze lingered along the line of her light purple gown that hugged her figure like a second skin. She knew how to make an entrance, and tonight, she needed every eye on her.
The click of her heels echoed across the marble floor as she descended the wide staircase, her smile calculated to strike the perfect balance between approachable and untouchable. Murmurs followed her like a current, people whispering her name, noting her beauty, her boldness, and talking about the news. But that wasn’t enough. Not tonight.
Tonight, she wasn’t here to be admired. She was here to reclaim her place. And
