VALERIE
The grand ballroom fell into a suffocating silence. All the movement, the music, and the chatter that had once filled the space seemed to evaporate in the wake of Ellen’s damning accusation. Every pair of eyes turned toward me, the weight of their gazes pressing down like an unbearable force. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing like a warning bell in my ears.
This was not how tonight was supposed to go.
I glanced around, searching for an anchor amidst the chaos. My gaze landed on Evans, standing alongside Kyle. Their eyes were fixed on me as though they were waiting for me to deny the accusation.
Shaken, I turned to Alpha Marion, the host of the evening. His face was twisted in anger and he stepped forward, raising a hand in an attempt to calm the situation.
“Enou
