Chapter 48
The Gala
Veronica’s POV
The chandeliers above shimmered like stars, casting a golden glow over the room filled with the city’s elite. I tugged at the hem of my emerald green gown, the custom fit hugging me like a second skin.
Tonight wasn’t just any gala, it was supposed to be the turning point of my life. Meshach Peyton, CEO of Peyton Consortium, was going to officially announce me as his long–lost daughter and the heiress to his empire.
I was officially going to step into the business world and show everyone I deserved to be there.
I felt a knot of nerves twist in my stomach. The weight of expectation loomed, and although I was nervous, I was ready for it. After years of being underestimated, dismissed, and abandoned, tonight was my rebirth.
There was countless scenarios in my head of how this night could go but I knew in the end, it was going to be memorable for me.
I only wished Orthon would get here sooner before I passed out of nervousness. My eyes scanned through the crowd, hoping to spot him in case he already arrived.
Then I saw him.
Carter.
The world tilted as my ex–husband strolled into my line of sight, arm–in- arm with his new fiancée, Meghan. My heart clenched, but not from
longing. Seeing him brought back memories, bitter ones. His smile was tight, his eyes narrowing the second he noticed me.
I knew he was supposed to be here, I was the one who asked that he be invited, after all. I wanted him to see me become the woman he wouldn’t
let me be.
I wanted him to see me at the height that he could only dream of reaching.
“Veronica,” he said, his voice tinged with surprise and something else,
resentment?
That was laughable. If anyone should be better, it should be me.
“Carter,” I replied, tilting my chin. I wouldn’t let him see the effect his presence had on me. I was a different woman now.
His gaze swept over me, lingering a moment too long. “Well, this is… unexpected. You look different.”
Of course I did. He didn’t expect me to leave him and remain the same.
Meghan leaned into him, her grip tightening possessively. She looked at me up and down, her painted lips curving into a smug smile.
“Unexpected? Hardly. She’s always been good at showing up where she doesn’t belong.”
I ignored her, focusing on Carter. “You’re surprised,” I said calmly, “but you shouldn’t be. Then again, you never really saw me, did you? You were too busy taking advantage to notice.”
His face darkened. “Taking advantage? You’ve got some nerve. Or is this new attitude thanks to your sugar daddy?”
The sting of his words hit me, but I didn’t flinch. “You only say that because you’re not used to seeing me like this. You never cared enough to elevate me, you only wanted me to stay beneath you, slave away my life to
you.
Meghan let out a sharp laugh. “Elevate? Please, Carter couldn’t use you
for anything. You were nothing but a burden. A useless wife who had the audacity to throw herself at another man the moment she left him.”
I felt the heat of the crowd’s eyes turning toward us, whispers beginning. to ripple through the room.
Wow! That was quite rich coming from a mistress.
My throat tightened, but I stayed silent.
Meghan took my silence as an invitation to keep going. “What’s worse,” she sneered, “you’re pregnant, aren’t you? For him! Shamelessly flaunting yourself here while Meshach Peyton, your married lover, brings his wife as his date? You’re disgusting, Veronica.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh in her face and tell her off or just let the events of tonight unfold. I chose the latter, because it was way more fun.
I wanted to see their confidence crumble before me.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said quietly, forcing my voice to remain steady.
“Oh, don’t I?” Meghan shot back, her voice rising. “Look at you, strutting in here, pretending to belong. I’m sure you didn’t even get invite. You probably snuck in, hoping to ride his coattails to relevance.”
an
Gasps erupted around us as the whispers grew louder. My fists clenched hard and all I wanted to do was punch her in the face but heavens forbid indulge myself in such a lowly act on my night of glory. But then again, I couldn’t have them taint my father’s reputation.
“Enough,” I said firmly, my voice slicing through the noise. “You’re spewing nonsense…”
“Nonsense?” Carter cut me off, his voice dripping with venom. “Why don‘ t you admit it? We have proof, Veronica.”
I froze. “Proof of what?”
He smirked, and at that moment, the lights in the ballroom dimmed. Gasps echoed as all the projectors around the room flickered to life.
Images filled the screens… grainy, distorted photos of Meshach and me in intimate poses. In some, he was leaning close as if whispering in my car; in others, his hand rested on my shoulder. They were all taken at odd angles, the shadows and framing making them look damning.
A horrified murmur swept through the room.
My legs felt like jelly. My heart pounded so loud I could barely hear the commotion around me. I wanted to scream that it wasn’t true, that Meshach was my father, not my lover.
But my voice failed me.
Carter took a step closer, his expression twisted with satisfaction. “What’s the matter, Veronica? Cat got your tongue? Or are you finally realizing what a mess you’ve made?”
I turned toward the nearest screen, staring at the images in disbelief. They were fake I knew they were. But to everyone else, they looked real.
I opened my mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. My mind raced, searching for an explanation, a way to turn the tide. But all I could feel was the weight of their judgment pressing down on me.
This was supposed to be my night, my moment.
And now, it was turning into my worst nightmare.