MY SISTER TOOK MY POSITION

THE DANCE OF MASKS

Chapter 12

The Winchester ballroom glittered with chandeliers and polished marble, a stage built for power. Guests swirled in jewels and silks, their laughter echoing beneath the music of a string quartet. For Evelyn Winchester, this gala wasn’t just a celebration, it was proof of her family’s dominance.

For Nora, it was a cage.

She lingered near the back, her pale gown blending into shadows. Earlier, Evelyn’s sharp whisper had stung her ears: “Stay out of the way. Don’t embarrass me.” So she stood quietly, watching her sister shine.

Roxet dazzled in silver, her arm looped through Frank’s as if she had always belonged there. Her laugh, practiced and charming, drew admiration from every corner. And Frank, tall, composed, arrogant, looked the part of the perfect fiancé.

But Nora saw more than most. She caught the stiffness in Frank’s shoulders, the flicker of something unspoken in his eyes whenever they strayed toward her. She tore her gaze away before it betrayed her.

Evelyn lifted her glass. “Let us toast to a union that will secure the Winchester legacy of my daughter Roxet, and the distinguished Frank Whitmore.”

Applause thundered. Nora’s heart clenched. That was supposed to be her place, once. Now she was only a ghost in her own family’s story.

“Don’t hide, sister,” Roxet’s voice rang across the room, syrupy sweet but sharp beneath. “Why don’t you join us? Or are you afraid?”

Heads turned. Whispers spread. Evelyn’s lips curved with satisfaction.

Nora forced a smile. “I wouldn’t want to disturb your moment.”

“Nonsense,” Roxet pressed. “Frank, don’t you think Nora should dance? She used to love it.”

Frank’s eyes caught hers, and for a heartbeat, something dangerous flickered there. Then he turned away. “If she wishes to dance, she can.”

Nora’s pulse thundered. She could retreat or she could take a step no one expected.

“I will,” she said.

The orchestra shifted into a slower melody. Gasps rippled as Nora walked to the dance floor. But instead of reaching for Frank, she extended her hand to a young noble nearby. He flushed with surprise, then eagerly took it.

They danced. Nora’s movements were graceful, steady. She wasn’t the timid girl they thought she was. Whispers filled the hall: “She’s beautiful.” “Why has no one noticed her before?”

Frank’s gaze never left her. Roxet’s smile stiffened. Evelyn’s glass paused midair.

When the song ended, Nora curtsied lightly, ignoring the daggers in her sister’s eyes. For the first time, she felt power stir in her chest.

Seeking air, she slipped outside. The night was cool, the garden hushed. As she passed the balcony, the man in gray spoke low to Evelyn.

“If the truth comes out, it will ruin everything.”

Nora froze, hidden in shadow. Evelyn’s reply was sharp, furious.

Her heart pounded. What is the truth?

For the first time in years, Nora didn’t just want answers she needed them. And she knew this night was only the beginning.