Chapter 9 - The Grand Ballroom
The grand ballroom of the Grand Oaks Country Club was a spectacle of blinding white florals, glittering crystal chandeliers, and tuxedo-clad guests sipping champagne from crystal flutes. A string quartet played softly in the corner, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and artificial luxury.
I walked through the double mahogany doors wearing a sleek, elegant emerald-green silk dress that hugged my figure perfectly—a dress I had purchased with my own hard-earned money. On my right wrist, Grandma’s silver watch caught the light of the overhead chandeliers.
As I stepped into the room, conversations gradually died down. Heads turned. Whispers rippled through the crowd of wealthy socialites and business elites. Word of the Voss family scandal had circulated through Cleveland high society, and seeing me—the estranged younger sister who had blown the whistle on the empire—walking uninvited into Sloane's fairy-tale wedding was the ultimate social grenade.
I ignored the stares, walking calmly toward the bar to order a glass of sparkling water.
Suddenly, a sharp gasp cut through the music.
I turned around.
Standing near the bridal arch at the front of the ballroom was Sloane, stunning in a massive, corseted white lace gown, her face flushed with triumph. Beside her stood the groom, Julian Montgomery, tall, impeccably groomed, in a tailored midnight-blue tuxedo.
Sloane had grabbed her groom's arm, pointing directly at me with a look of absolute, venomous shock.
"What are *you* doing here?" Sloane shrieked, her voice echoing across the silent ballroom.
Julian turned his head toward his bride, his expression filled with complete and utter disbelief. He looked back at me, his face turning completely pale as if he had just seen a ghost.
"Why are you looking at her like that?" Sloane demanded, her grip tightening on his arm.
Julian turned toward her slowly, his voice trembling as the color drained entirely from his cheeks.
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"You never told me her data... you never told me Hadley was your sister."
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