Chapter 28 · Vows in the Ashes

The ballroom smells like money and lies.

I step through the entrance and every head turns. Designer gowns, champagne flutes, fake smiles stretching across faces that wouldn't spit on me three months ago. Now they're all staring because I walked in on Lin Yuhan's arm.

He's in a black suit that probably costs more than my dad's last car. Hair perfect. Smile cold. Playing the part like he was born for it.

Which he was.

"You good?" he asks under his breath.

I don't look at him. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because Ivy's already here."

I spot her across the room. Red dress, slit up to her thigh, holding court near the auction tables like she owns the place. She sees me and her smile goes sharp.

Claire's voice crackles in my earpiece. "Got eyes on you. Ivy's got two guys with her. Security, maybe lawyers. She's setting up something big."

"Copy," I whisper.

Lin's hand tightens on my waist. "You should leave."

"Not a chance."

He stops walking. Right there in the middle of the room, people flowing around us like we're rocks in a stream. "Stella. If she has what I think she has—