Chapter 3 - The Unraveling
I didn't blink. I didn't flinch. I simply set my glass down on a passing waiter’s tray with a soft clink that felt unusually loud in the tense atmosphere.
"It is fascinating, isn't it, Sloane?" I said, my voice cutting cleanly through the ambient noise of the ballroom. "Some things are designed to be altered. Others are designed to be exposed."
Julian’s eyes narrowed. The playful arrogance in his expression began to crack, giving way to an uneasy edge. "What are you talking about, Evie? Always trying to sound cryptic. Can't you just accept that some chapters are over?"
"Oh, chapters are definitely over, Julian," I replied smoothly. "In fact, I'd say the entire book is about to be pulled from publication."
Before Julian could fire back a witty retort, the heavy glass doors at the main entrance of the ballroom pushed open again. Every head turned. Walking through the doors was Victoria Vance, the most feared and ruthless high-stakes divorce attorney in the city. She wasn't alone. Behind her walked two armed court bailiffs and a junior associate carrying a thick, heavy black leather binder embossed with gold lettering.
The ambient chatter in the ballroom died down instantly, replaced by a suffocating, dead silence. The string quartet stopped playing mid-note.
Victoria strode across the marble floor with the lethal grace of a panther, her heels clicking rhythmically against the stone. She didn't look at the guests. She didn't look at Sloane. Her sharp, calculating gaze locked entirely onto Julian Cross.
Julian’s face drained of color in a matter of seconds. The invincible aura he had worn all evening evaporated, leaving behind a panicked, sweating man. "Victoria?" he stammered, his voice cracking slightly. "What... what is the meaning of this? This is a private engagement celebration. You can't just barge in here—"
"Quiet, Julian," Victoria snapped, her voice cutting through the room like a razor. She stopped two feet away from him, completely ignoring Sloane, who stood frozen in the mutilated wedding dress.
Victoria turned her head slightly and nodded toward me. "Mrs. Cross, are we ready to proceed?"
"Whenever you are, Victoria," I said, stepping out from behind the pillar and walking into the bright light of the chandelier.
May you like
Julian’s eyes darted between Victoria, the bailiffs, and me, sheer terror finally registering in his pupils. "Evie... what is going on? What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything, Julian," I said, stepping right up to him, my gaze piercing straight through his expensive tuxedo. "You did. You just forgot to check the fine print—both in our prenuptial agreement, and inside the lining of my mother's dress."
