Three weeks had passed since the fight with the Rossi family, and life at the Vance Estate had settled into a rhythm that felt new and exciting. The biggest change was that Lila was no longer kept behind closed doors. Just as they promised, Damian, Cole, Elias, and Gideon had given her back her freedom, but this time, it was a different kind of freedom. She wasn’t running away or hiding anything. She was stepping out into the world openly, as Mrs. Vance, as their equal, and as a powerful person in her own right.
Today was the day of her first real public appearance. They were going to attend a big business event held at one of the city’s largest hotels. It was a gathering of all the important people in their world—partners, competitors, politicians, and wealthy families. Before now, Lila
