Vivian stood behind the curtain, her heart hammering.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Wait!"
A sharp voice from the audience sliced through the silence.
Every head turned.
Chloe stood in the aisle holding a stack of papers.
Her expression was self-righteous, her chin raised like some self-appointed champion of justice.
"Mr. Hale," she called, raising her voice so everyone could hear. "Before you allow this designer onstage, there's something that must be made clear."
Whispers spread through the venue.
Ethan stood onstage and looked at her without speaking.
His expression barely changed, but people who knew him recognized the dangerous calm that came before a storm.
Chloe moved a few steps forward and lifted the papers.
"To my knowledge, the work Vivian is presentin
