The hotel ballroom glittered under thousands of soft lights, the grand chandelier above throwing molten gold across the crowd.
Everything about tonight was perfect—
Too perfect.
Crisp linen covered every table, towering floral arrangements in ivory and blush framed the stage. Waiters in black ties floated through the space with trays of champagne, and a string quartet played something soft and expensive in the corner.
The crowd was already buzzing.
Investors. Press.
Socialites in designer gowns and custom tuxedos.
And at the center of it all—
Isabelle Bennett.
Sebastian Hale.
And their two children, bright-eyed and oblivious to the pressure tightening around their parents’ throats.
Isabelle smoothed her sleek black gown one last time as they approached the entrance, her hand ste
