Trapped By Freedom

Under the Spotlight

Sophia

By the time I reached the last step, every conversation in the ballroom had come to a stop.

The elegant hall sparkled beneath magnificent crystal chandeliers, while white roses and golden décor transformed the venue into something straight out of a Hollywood gala.

A warm spotlight followed me as photographers rushed forward, their cameras flashing almost nonstop. Reporters eagerly captured every angle.

After all...

This was the first time the media had ever been allowed to properly photograph me.

I could feel hundreds of eyes on me.

I was nervous.

Terribly nervous.

But I kept the smile on my face.

Soft gasps drifted through the crowd.

"So beautiful..."

"She's breathtaking."

"No wonder the Smith family kept her away from the public."

I heard every whisper, but I simply continued walking.

Across the ballroom, Mum and Dad stood proudly beside each other.

Dad gave me another reassuring nod.

Mum smiled with tears glistening in her eyes.

Seeing them somehow calmed my racing heart.

I finally reached the beautifully decorated chair reserved for me. It resembled a throne adorned with white roses and delicate gold accents.

The host officially welcomed me before inviting everyone to enjoy the evening's celebration.

My twenty-first birthday had officially begun.

Soft classical music filled the ballroom as waiters moved gracefully between guests, serving champagne, sparkling juice and exquisite hors d'oeuvres.

The atmosphere became lively almost immediately.

After welcoming the distinguished guests, Dad stepped onto the stage with a microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

"Thank you all for honouring our invitation and celebrating this special day with our daughter."

Warm applause echoed through the hall.

"Before we continue with the festivities..."

"I think it's time for the birthday girl to make a wish."

An enormous six-tier birthday cake was wheeled into the centre of the ballroom.

The live band began playing a beautiful orchestral version of Happy Birthday, and one by one, the guests joined in.

Their voices filled the hall.

I closed my eyes.

There was only one wish in my heart.

May happiness never depart from my family.

When I opened my eyes again, Mum and Dad were already standing beside me.

"Make a wish, sweetheart," Mum whispered.

"I already did."

Together, we held the silver cake knife and cut the cake.

The ballroom erupted into applause.

Camera flashes illuminated every corner of the hall as photographers captured the moment from every angle.

Thankfully, the cake-feeding tradition wasn't messy.

Dad fed me the first bite.

Mum followed immediately after.

The simple gesture reminded me of my fifteenth birthday, making me smile to myself.

After that came the photographs.

First with Mum and Dad.

Then with Uncle Edward, Aunt Celine and Henry, who had finally arrived just in time.

Then the entire Smith family.

Then family friends.

Then business associates.

One photograph after another.

Time seemed to blur together.

Guests approached one after another with warm smiles.

"Happy birthday."

"Congratulations."

"You've grown into such a beautiful young woman."

"May God continue to bless you."

The wishes seemed endless.

So did the gifts.

Despite everything that had happened earlier, I found myself genuinely enjoying the evening.

Dad's business associates hadn't come alone. Many had brought their children and grandchildren, making the celebration feel far livelier than I'd expected.

Mrs Ruby even tried introducing me to her incredibly shy son.

Poor thing.

He could barely meet my eyes.

Honestly, I thought I was less nervous than he was.

As I politely excused myself from another conversation, a sudden wave of excited voices swept across the ballroom.

At first, I thought something had gone wrong.

Then I heard the rapid clicking of cameras, reporters calling out questions and security giving instructions.

Curious murmurs spread throughout the hall.

"The Costellos are here."

"They actually came."

"I heard they own companies all across Europe."

"The Costello family rarely attends events like this."

Even from where I stood, I could feel their presence before I actually saw them.

They carried themselves with effortless elegance.

Power.

Authority.

The kind of confidence that couldn't be bought.

As they entered the ballroom, photographers surged toward them while security calmly cleared a path through the crowd.

Dad and Mum immediately stepped forward to welcome them.

Mum embraced Mrs Valentina Costello warmly, while Dad shook hands with Mr Alessandro Costello before greeting his son, Mr Lorenzo Costello.

It was obvious the two families shared years of friendship.

Mrs Valentina soon turned to me with a warm smile.

"Happy birthday, Sophia."

She hugged me gently.

"Thank you so much, ma'am."

I smiled before greeting Mr Lorenzo respectfully.

"It's wonderful to finally see you again, Sophia," he said kindly.

"Thank you for coming, sir."

I then turned toward the elderly gentleman standing beside him.

"It's an honour to see you too, Mr Alessandro."

He smiled proudly.

"Our pleasure, my dear."

Valentina gestured toward one of their security officers.

He stepped forward carrying an enormous gift wrapped in luxurious gold paper with a matching satin ribbon.

"This is for you, sweetheart."

I tried my best to hide my excitement.

Keyword...

Tried.

Judging from Mum's amused smile, I clearly hadn't succeeded.

"Thank you so much."

One of our bodyguards stepped forward to receive the gift before carefully placing it beside the growing mountain of presents.

As the Costellos continued chatting with Mum and Dad, the live band switched to a slow instrumental melody.

Dad smiled and extended his hand toward me.

"May I have this dance, Princess?"

I laughed softly before placing my hand in his.

"You've been waiting to embarrass me all evening, haven't you?"

"Oh, absolutely."

The guests chuckled as he led me onto the dance floor beneath the glittering chandeliers.