Her father jumped in, clearly eager to diffuse the awkwardness. “Ah, he’s just being coy. You know, keeping his edge close to the chest. That’s what makes him-“
“I should check on my fiancée,” I interjected, already stepping back from their circle.
“Stay, stay,” he urged, his hand catching my arm in a futile attempt to keep me there. “I told them all about your mergers and-“
“I’m sure you did,” I replied, my voice polite enough to pass but cold enough to warn. “My fiancée’s been standing alone for too long. Excuse me.”
Before he could pull me back into his circle, I was already moving, threading my way through the crowd and leaving his strained laughter behind.
The moment I reached Savannah, her eyes lifted to meet mine, and the fake smile she had been wearing softened, revealing the warmth beneath.
“You looked like you wanted to bite someone’s head off,” she said under her breath, a playful glint in her eye.
“I almost did.” I reached for her hand, intertwining our fingers. “Let’s get out of here before I actually do.”
We barely took two steps toward the exit when the music screeched to a halt, drawing every head toward the stage.
Chloe stood there in her snow-white gown, a glass of wine in hand, a smirk sharp enough to cut glass.
“Before anyone leaves,” she cooed, her voice dripping with faux sweetness, “we have a little announcement to make.”
Savannah’s grip on my hand went rigid, a sense of dread washing over her as the room fell silent.
**Roman**
“Savannah!” Chloe’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and sweet like a blade wrapped in silk. It rose above the murmur of the crowd, drawing attention like a moth to a flame. “You should come up here. You really need to be by my side for this.” She waved her hand, beckoning.
The crowd shifted, an ocean of faces turning to Savannah, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation. I noticed a few smirks forming, a glint of mischief in their eyes, as if they had been waiting all night for this moment. Everyone knew the history between these two sisters-Chloe was counting on it to unfold.
Savannah hesitated, her body tense. I could see her jaw tighten, fingers brushing the fabric of her dress, searching for something solid to ground her amidst the chaos. Chloe stood there, a perfect picture of sweetness laced with malice, her smile wide and patient, the microphone in her grasp like a weapon.
A knot formed in my stomach. Whatever Chloe was planning to say, it was bound to be a disaster.
Finally, Savannah moved. She straightened her back and lifted her chin high, as if daring the world to challenge her. She looked like she would rather face a raging fire than give Chloe the satisfaction of seeing her falter.
That’s my girl.
As Savannah approached the stage, Chloe wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, as if to ensure she wouldn’t escape whatever was about to unfold. The tension in the air was palpable.
“Smile,” Chloe whispered, her voice dripping with faux sweetness, loud enough for those in the front row to hear. Then, with a sly glance at Savannah, she turned back to the audience.
Clearing her throat into the mic, Chloe’s smile stretched wider, threatening to split her face in two. She glanced at her fiancé, who looked utterly out of place. His tie was abandoned, his posture slumped, and he clutched a glass of wine like it was a lifeline in a storm.
She blew him a kiss, but he didn’t even acknowledge it, raising his glass lazily in a half-hearted toast that felt more like a farewell than a celebration.
“Good evening, everyone,” Chloe began, her voice too rehearsed, too sharp-edged. “Thank you all for being here tonight. Your support truly means the world to us.”
The crowd responded, glasses clinking together, some even whistling in approval.
“And since we’re already in a celebratory mood, I thought-why not make it extra special?” Her grin widened, and she leaned forward, savoring the suspense that rippled through the room.
I caught sight of her mother leaning in to whisper something to her father, whose eyes darted to the stage as if sensing the impending storm.
I kept my expression neutral, but inside, I was a coiled spring, tension radiating through me. My gaze remained fixed on Savannah.
“I have a little announcement,” Chloe continued, her voice rising in pitch, excitement dripping from her words. “To everyone here… and especially to my fiancé…”
The room fell silent, the air thick with anticipation. I could almost feel the silence swell, pressing down on us.
“I’m pregnant.”
The words detonated like a bomb. For a heartbeat, the world stood still-thick, suspended, suffocating. Then, applause erupted, sharp and explosive, laughter and cheers blending into a cacophony of excitement. The atmosphere buzzed with electric energy.
But I focused on just two things.
First, Dean. He sat frozen, his knuckles turning white around the stem of his champagne flute, jaw clenched, eyes vacant and lost. He wasn’t celebrating; he seemed utterly absent, a man who had just been gut-punched.
Second, Savannah. She looked pale, as if the blood had drained from her face, her stillness almost ethereal. Her gaze flickered to Dean’s, and in that instant, their eyes locked, a silent exchange passing between them-a communication so potent it felt like a blade slicing through the air.
What in the world is happening?
My fists clenched at my sides, a storm brewing inside me. I was mere seconds away from storming the stage, grabbing Savannah, and whisking her away when Chloe leaned back into the mic, her voice dripping with sweetness.
“Oh, and one more thing,” she chirped. “Savannah, we would love for you to be our child’s godmother. Will you accept our request?”
Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by another eruption of applause, the cruelty in the room thick enough to choke on.
Savannah’s throat bobbed as she struggled to respond. She managed a small nod, but Chloe wasn’t finished. With a grin that could only be described as sadistic, she thrust the microphone into Savannah’s hands as if it were a live wire.
The audience quieted, anticipation hanging in the air like a thick fog.
Savannah tapped the mic once, then cleared her throat. Her voice emerged steady yet low, betraying none of the turmoil I knew she was feeling.
“Hello,” she began, her tone calm and measured. “I’d like to say… congratulations on the baby. I wish you both a happy married life. Thank you.”
It was brief, simple, and dignified-far more than Chloe deserved.
The crowd offered polite applause, but Chloe squealed theatrically, enveloping her sister in a tight hug. I noticed Savannah lean in just slightly, her lips moving as she whispered something into Chloe’s ear.
Whatever she said, it caused Chloe’s smile to falter for the briefest moment.
I didn’t care about the words exchanged; I only cared that Savannah was finally moving, breaking free from Chloe’s grasp. Instinct propelled me forward through the crowd before my mind could catch up.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.