2026-01-31 02:07:38
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Chapter 118
Vanessa’s hand was already raised before anyone else in the room had fully decided whether they wanted to speak.It wasn’t rushed. It didn’t look eager. It was smooth, deliberate—timed just right so it appeared natural, like she had simply been the first to respond to the invitation. From where she stood, she could feel the subtle shift of attention begin to turn in her direction, just enough to acknowledge her presence without pulling focus entirely away from the stage.That was fine.She didn’t need the attention yet.She just needed the moment.The host noticed her and nodded, gesturing lightly.“Yes, the lady there.”Vanessa lowered her hand slowly, already stepping slightly forward, positioning herself just enough to be clearly seen but not so much that it looked like she was forcing herself into the spotlight.Her posture was perfect.Relaxed shoulders. Chin lifted just enough. A polite expression resting on her face that masked everything underneath.She glanced up at Adrian.A
Chapter 117
Vanessa was still thinking of how to make her move when a middle aged man neatly dressed, called everyone's attention. Then Adrian Vale’s name came up clearly across the hall as he was welcomed to the stage to deliver a speech.The shift was immediate.Conversations faded, movements slowed, and attention redirected in a single, almost synchronized motion. It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t dramatic. It was instinctive—the kind of response reserved for someone whose presence had already begun to settle into the room whether people were ready to admit it or not.Vanessa heard it.And for a moment, she didn’t react.It was as if her mind needed a second longer than everyone else’s to process what had just been said. The name echoed again in her head, sharper this time, clearer, impossible to misinterpret.Adrian Vale.Her gaze lifted slowly, almost reluctantly, following the direction of everyone else’s attention. And there he was.Not on the edges of the room.Not blending into the background
Chapter 116
The soft clinking of glasses and murmurs of conversation filled the air, but Vanessa’s focus had narrowed completely. She spotted Iris moving gracefully toward the bar, a drink in hand, and felt that familiar sting of irritation. Adrian was across the room, chatting lightly with another guest, completely oblivious to Vanessa’s internal storm. That was enough to push her into action.Vanessa moved slowly, weaving through the crowd until she was close to Iris. Her heels clicked on the floor, drawing a faint glance from nearby guests, though no one paid her much attention. She slowed as she approached Iris, timing herself so that her shoulder would graze the other woman’s.“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” Vanessa snapped, her tone sharp.Iris paused, turning calmly. “Oh! I’m sorry. Did I bump into you?”Vanessa flared, shaking her head, a little too quickly. “Don’t play dumb. You did that on purpose!” Her voice carried just enough for the small group around them to perk up. “Trying
Chapter 115
The main hall of the corporate gala was filled with low conversations, with crystal chandeliers hanging above and floors reflecting the light.Vanessa walked through the room calmly and with control, each step steady as her heels made soft sounds on the floor. Charles followed slightly behind her, adjusting his tie again and again as he tried to appear as relaxed as she was.She didn’t react to him, or if she did, she chose not to show it. Her attention was already on the room, looking at the people who mattered and the ones who might notice her or be influenced by her presence.Charles whispered, “You really think we need to be in that circle?”Vanessa didn’t immediately answer, her eyes catching the way certain guests laughed, nodded, and gestured with quiet authority. “We’re not just here to be seen, Charles. We’re here to be remembered,” she said finally, her voice low but sharp. She moved toward a group near the center, and Charles hurried to stay within her orbit, nodding al
Chapter 114
The entrance to the venue was wide, with a red carpet laid on the ground. Cameras kept flashing, people were talking over each other, and each person who arrived got attention for a short time before the focus moved to someone else.It was a place where presence mattered.Where perception mattered even more.Another car slowly stopped at the edge of the carpet, and people quietly turned their attention to it. The door opened, and Vanessa stepped out.She didn’t hesitate.She stepped onto the carpet confidently, standing straight with her shoulders back and her head slightly raised. She looked calm and sure of herself without trying too hard. The cameras started flashing right away, quickly and nonstop as they followed her.“Vanessa! Over here!”“Vanessa, this way!”She turned calmly, showing one side and then the other, with a relaxed and confident look. There was no doubt in how she moved or carried herself. She knew where to look, how long to pause, and how to hold attention for a
Chapter 113
Vanessa’s closet did not look like a place where someone had “nothing to wear.”It was expansive, carefully arranged, and filled with rows of clothing that reflected years of curated taste—structured dresses, tailored pieces, evening gowns, heels lined in precise order, accessories displayed like quiet trophies of past appearances. Everything had a place. Everything had been chosen at some point to make a statement.And yet, that afternoon, none of it seemed good enough.Vanessa stood in the middle of it all, one hand on her waist, the other flipping through a row of dresses with growing impatience. Fabric brushed against fabric in soft, irritated motions as she pushed hangers aside, her expression tightening with each passing second.“This is ridiculous,” she muttered.Behind her, Monica sat comfortably on the upholstered bench near the center of the space, one leg crossed over the other, watching her with an expression that hovered somewhere between amusement and mild concern.“You’
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