Chapter 4: The Rehearsal Dinner

Victor Vale arrived at the rehearsal dinner like a man who already owned tomorrow.

He wore a silver tie, a crocodile smile, and the confidence of someone who had bought bankers, judges, and silence for years. Elian stood beside him, handsome and hollow, his hand resting too tightly on Mara’s waist.

When I walked in, Victor lifted his glass.

“Ah, Clara,” he said. “The difficult sister.”

A few guests laughed, because wealthy cowards always know when to laugh on command.

I smiled.

“I prefer observant.”

Elian leaned toward me.

“Try not to make a scene tomorrow. Mara needs at least one stable woman in her family.”

Mara flinched.

I saw it.

So did he.

Worse, he enjoyed it.

Victor’s smile sharpened as he began talking about fragile businesses, nervous investors, and rumors. Continue Reading ⬇️