chapter 8
1616 Words
One year later.
The black Porsche drove slowly through the iron gates.
The car stopped in front of the Lambert mansion.its headlights shone across the compound.
The Lambert mansion looked really big and nine under the evening sky . There were lights coming from its windows. The fountain in its driveway sparkled softly as the water moved under the lights.
The driver’s door opened.
Laura stepped out.
Her black heels touched the stone floor first.
Then she rose fully from the car.
Her black dress fit her body perfectly, simple but expensive. Her hair fell down her shoulders in waves. The diamond earrings she wore caught the light every time she moved head.
The bodyguards stood in two lines and bowed immediately.
“Welcome home, Miss Lambert.”
Their voices came out together.
Laura stopped walking and looked a bit surprised.
She had a smile on her face and she looked a little embarrassed.
She looked at Ryan, who was walking beside her and lowered her voice.
“Ryan, can we keep a low profile? This is embarrassing.”
She put a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at the Lambert mansion's bodyguard.
Ryan laughed teasingly .
He slipped one hand into his pocket. Leaned slightly closer.
“They are only showing respect.”
Laura sighed softly. Shook her head.
“Still… it feels too much.”
Ryan laughed again clearly amused by her reaction.
The two of them began walking toward the entrance.
The guards behind them straightened once.
The huge doors opened before Laura could even touch the handle.
Warm golden light spilled out from inside.
The marble floor reflected her heels as she stepped in.
Ryan’s playful smile slowly faded.
Her tone became more serious.
“Auntie told me you have some troubles.”
Ryan stopped walking.
His brows lifted slightly.
“What is it this time?”
Ryan turned to face her fully.
His expression tightened.
“Have you heard of Campbell’s business?”
Laura’s eyes narrowed a little.
“The Campbells?”
Ryan nodded.
“It’s been three months now. We lent them a piece of land. They still haven’t returned anything.”
Laura folded her arms slowly.
Her face became thoughtful.
Her fingers tapped lightly against her elbow.
“They are testing us.”
Ryan gave a nod.
“That’s what I thought too.”
Laura’s eyes turned colder.
The softness disappeared.
“I will take care of it.”
Her voice was calm. Firm.
Ryan studied her face.
He could see the steel in her eyes.
That look she had built over the past year.
The same woman who had once cried in hospital corridors was gone.
Now there was control.
Only sharpness.
Only quiet strength.
Ryan relaxed a little.
“Good. I knew you would.”
Laura finally let out a breath.
“Don’t worry, okay?”
Ryan smiled.
Then her face brightened as if remembering something.
“. I need you to join me at a ball.”
Ryan looked at her.
“A ball?”
“Yes.”
She gave him a teasing smile.
“You can’t keep hiding in work forever.”
Ryan let out a laugh.
Her shoulders relaxed.
“Will you come?”
Ryan tilted his head.
“ Of course.”
“Perfect.”
Across the city.
Inside a luxury car.
Paul turned slightly from the front seat.
“Sir the ball will start at 7 p.m.”
Nickson sat in the seat, one leg crossed over the other.
His dark suit was flawless.
The city lights flashed across his face through the car window.
Paul continued carefully.
“I also heard the mysterious heiress of the Lambert family will show up.”
Nickson didn’t even look up.
“Not interested.”
His voice was flat.
Cold.
He kept looking out the car window.
After a few seconds, he went quiet and then he said something.
“Any news about Laura?”
Paul’s fingers tightened around the folder in his hand.
“Not yet sir.”
Silence.
The air inside the car instantly turned heavy.
Nickson slowly turned his head.
His sharp eyes landed on Paul.
The pressure in that stare made Paul swallow hard.
“Then why are you still here wasting time?”
His voice was in a low tone.
Dangerously calm.
Paul immediately lowered his head.
“I’m sorry sir. I will keep searching ”
Nickson looked away again.
His jaw tightened.
The muscles near his temple moved.
A year.
A whole year.
Yet Laura had vanished like smoke.
No trace.
No news.
Nothing.
Nickson’s fingers slowly curled into a fist over his knee.
His eyes darkened.
Where are you Laura?
The Campbell ball had already started.
The grand ballroom was glowing under big crystal lights hanging from the ceiling.
The golden lights reflected on wine glasses.
There was soft music played through the air.
People laughed.
Some danced slowly in the center.
People stood in groups talking about business and saying things that they didn't mean anything.
The servants moved around with trays of drinks.
The smell of perfume filled the room.
At the entrance Gordon and Allison stepped inside together.
Allison was happy and excited that they got invited to the Campbells ball.
Her red dress sparkled as she clung to Gordon’s arm.
“I’m so excited we got invited to the Campbell ball!”
She looked around the room, she was amazed by the people at the ball in the Lambert mansion.
“They are one of the powerful businesses in the country.”
She looked up at Gordon and said, am so proud of you honey!
Gordon gave a smile.
He fixed his suit collar.
His eyes were already moving around the room measuring faces, power and opportunities.
“One day the Millers will be the top of the top.”
His voice carried confidence.
Allison smiled even bigger.
“I believe in you.”She said.
She held his arm tighter.
Her voice became softer.
“It will.”
Gordon looked down at her and gave a small nod.
The corners of his lips lifted.
The music shifted.
The lights near the stairs got brighter.
People started to whisper across the ballroom.
Everyone's head turned to look at something.
People near the staircase moved aside.
Then she appeared.
A beautiful woman came out onto the stairs.
She wore a shining dress that looked like water moving around her body.
The dress caught the lights from the crystals that were hanging on the roof with every step she took.
Her makeup looked perfect.
Her lips colored with an elegant shade.
Her hair was nicely styled, falling in waves down her back.
There was a diamond bracelet sparkling on her wrist and one hand was touching the staircase rail.
The whole room seemed to stop and stare at her.
For a moment, even the music seemed to stop.
Then whispers exploded everywhere.
“Who is she?”
“She’s stunning.”
“Is that the Lambert heiress?”
Phones came out immediately.
Camera flashes lit the room.
Pictures were taken from every angle.
Guests moved closer trying to get a look.
The woman continued descending the stairs
Elegant.
Untouchable.
Every movement. Controlled.
Her heels clicked softly against the marble steps.
Allison’s face instantly changed.
Her smile disappeared.
Allison’s fingers got tighter around Gordon’s arm.
Her nails dug into his sleeve.
“Who is that?”she asked.
Her voice came out sharp.
Her eyes burned with jealousy as she looked at the woman drawing everyone’s attention.
“Why are they all looking at her?”
Her jaw tightened.
The woman hadn’t even reached the floor. The entire ballroom belonged to her already.
Allison felt heat rise in her chest.
A dangerous bitterness.
Gordon stared too.
His brows slowly drew together.
He didn’t answer immediately.
From behind…
There was something strangely familiar.
The way she carried herself.
The slope of her shoulders.
The graceful line of her neck.
It stirred something in his mind.
Before Gordon could speak Allison forced a smile. Leaned closer to him.
“Hey.”
Gordon's voice turned sweet again. His eyes were looking at Allison.
“One day you will be treated better than anyone ”
She lifted her chin.
Her pride is trying to cover the jealousy twisting inside her.
Gordon looked at her briefly.
Then Allison touched his chest lightly.
“Having you is all that I need.”
Her voice softened.
“I promise you okay?”
He searched her face for reassurance.
Alison gave a nod.
Gordon looked at the woman.
He really gave a long stare.
She was now at the bottom of the staircase.
Guests moved toward her.
Some were smiling.
Some bowing slightly.
Some are eager to greet her.
Gordon barely noticed the others.
His focus stayed locked on her back.
Gordon felt weird and uncomfortable.
His fingers tightened around the glass in his hand.
That figure.
That back.
That quiet way of walking.
His heart started to beat
Then it thudded once loudly.
He felt a chill running down his spine.
His lips opened a bit.
His eyes got narrower, full of suspense.
Why...
Why does her back look like I know it?
He kept staring, hard.
Like he was trying to make the memory in his head come out.
The noise in the ballroom got quieter to him.
Allison was still talking. Her voice sounded far away.
The woman moved another step.
The light from the crystal shone on the woman's hair at the Lambert mansion .
Gordon stopped breathing for a second.
He said to himself quietly -
"Her back..."
His eyebrows got more wrinkled.
"...looks like I know it.”
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