Chapter 5 - The Gala of Wolves
The grand ballroom of the St. Jude Community Center was bathed in warm amber lighting. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, reflecting off crystal champagne flutes and silver chafing dishes filled with prime rib and poached salmon. More than three hundred people—city council members, prominent developers, wealthy church patrons, and the regional bishop—were gathered in their finest evening attire.
At Table Number One, situated directly in front of the elevated mahogany stage, sat the Sterling family.
Miriam was in her absolute glory. She wore an emerald velvet evening gown with pearls draped around her neck, holding court like an empress. Every five minutes, another church member walked over to kiss her cheek, praising her tireless devotion to the youth ministry.
""Oh, it's nothing, truly,"" Miriam cooed, fluttering her eyelashes with practiced humility. ""We must all sacrifice for the Kingdom. Even in times of personal cross-bearing, we must keep our eyes on service.""
Beside her, Garrick looked dashing in his tailored black tuxedo, sipping sparkling cider and laughing loudly with Councilman Bradley.
And then there was me.
I sat between them like a ghost. Garrick had forced me into a high-collared navy silk gown that concealed my bandaged torso. Beneath the thick fabric, my two drainage tubes were pinned awkwardly to the interior lining of an elastic girdle that squeezed my stitches with excruciating pressure. Every breath felt like inhaling crushed glass. My face was caked with heavy makeup to cover the gray, deathly pallor of my skin, and my hands trembled beneath the linen tablecloth.
""Smile, darling,"" Miriam whispered in my ear, her grip on my forearm tightening until her acrylic nails dug through the silk and into my bruised flesh. ""Pastor Thomas is looking this way. If you look like a corpse, people will think Garrick isn't taking good care of you. Sit up straight. Offer your suffering to God.""
""I hope you’ve said your prayers tonight, Miriam,"" I murmured back, looking straight ahead into the crowd.
Miriam scoffed under her breath. ""Don't you threaten me, you pathetic little mouse. You wouldn't dare make a scene here. You don't have the guts, and you don't have a dime that Garrick doesn't control. Now drink your water and look grateful.""
Garrick leaned over, tapping his gold watch against the table. ""Five minutes until presentation time, Mom. The media team has the slideshow cued up. The mayor is going to announce our firm as the primary contractor for the new city park right after the check presentation. It's done. We're golden.""
""I am so proud of you, my son,"" Miriam said, her eyes glistening with genuine adoration—an adoration she had never once shown toward me. ""A righteous man always prospers.""
At seven-fifty-five, the house lights dimmed. Pastor Thomas, a rotund, jovial man with silver hair, took the stage, tapping the microphone to silence the room.
""Brothers and sisters,"" Pastor Thomas began, his voice echoing warmly through the acoustic ceiling. ""Tonight, we celebrate the true spirit of Christian charity. We celebrate those who lead not only with words, but with immense sacrificial generosity. Before we present the blueprint for our new five-million-dollar youth sanctuary, we want to honor a family whose name has become synonymous with our parish's success: Garrick and Miriam Sterling!""
The room erupted into thunderous applause. Garrick stood, buttoning his tuxedo jacket, offering a suave, modest wave to the crowd. He extended his hand to Miriam, who stood gracefully, wiping away a theatrical tear of joy.
""And of course,"" Pastor Thomas added, peering over his glasses toward Table One, ""we must acknowledge Garrick's lovely wife, Nora, who has bravely joined us tonight despite her recent health battles. Come up, Sterlings! Come join me on stage!""
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Garrick grabbed my elbow with forceful urgency, practically hauling me out of the banquet chair. A blinding lance of pain shot through my ribs as my drains shifted against my hip, but I didn't cry out. I took a deep breath, looked up at the stage, and allowed a genuine, icy smile to touch my lips.
""Let's go, Garrick,"" I said clearly. ""Let's show them what you're made of.""
