The ballroom glittered with lights and laughter as the party continued, as if the last few minutes hadn’t cracked the ground beneath it. Sarah stood tall beside Michelle, with a champagne flute poised but untouched in her hand. Powerful people around her clinked glasses and smiled, celebrating a night that nearly destroyed them.Malik stood at the edge of it all. Not quite in the light and not quite invisible. His actions tonight had shocked them all, but that didn’t change who he was in their eyes—and the Roys were ready to remind him of that.The laughter from the Roys' corner was louder than the orchestra now. David leaned toward Evelyn, pretending to whisper, but his voice carried just enough."Even a cleaner can shine in a suit. But you know what they say—scrub a street dog, and he still smells like trash," David said, gesturing for Evelyn to look toward Malik.Evelyn's gaze turned to Malik, but she didn’t laugh. She just looked away, uncomfortable—especially after what he had do