THE GALA

Tonight is the Sterling Gala. I wore a sophisticated, floor-length gown in midnight navy blue, impeccably tailored and subtly accessorized with priceless jewelry from the Sterling family vault. It fits me like a glove, accentuating my delicate bust, highlighting my hips, and featuring a high slit on the left leg that reveals itself only when I walk. At the bottom, the airy silk flows out like a carnation, gracefully degrading into a deep, subtle crimson near the hem. I am wearing dark crimson Louboutin heels with navy undertones that accentuate my every step. My long hair cascades down my back in loose waves, paired with understated makeup and a natural-toned lipstick.

I am ready.

The ballroom is immense. Towering crystal chandeliers scatter multicolored reflections, bathing the entire room in thousands of shimmering hues. Round tables laden with exquisite culinary delicacies are already occupied by guests from all corners of the country and the world: friends, business partners, and former classmates. Elegance and refined taste are the undisputed stars of the evening. The ladies' gowns and jewels sparkle, their hairstyles competing in an array of colors and designs. The scent of fine perfumes fills the air, intoxicating the senses. The men’s tuxedos emphasize well-built physiques for the younger crowd or mark the relentless passage of time for the older gentlemen.

In this room, there is an undeniable parade of power. Whether it is financial power, the power of youth, the power of beauty, the power of hatred, or the power of love... it is all about POWER.

I look down from the high terrace, observing the ballroom with casual interest. I am immersed in my thoughts when I suddenly feel a gaze upon me. I look around, but see nothing. Down in the ballroom, everyone talks loudly, acting as if they know everything. Tonight, they are all friends. Tomorrow, everyone goes back to their place.

Conversations revolve around the return of the family's daughter after many years away. No one knows her, but everyone is eager to catch a glimpse. She left to study abroad, took a sabbatical year, followed by a break. Everyone hopes to meet her, to connect with her if possible.

At a nearby table, I spot Adrian with his mistress, Clara, his sister, Emily, his brother, Leon, and a few friends and business partners. They laugh loudly and act arrogantly, casting pompous, inquisitive glances around the room. Adrian boasts about his divorce from the "worthless woman, the cook, the waitress" he had the misfortune of being married to, bragging about how great it is that he divorced her without giving her a single penny. He claims it is perfect now that he has no obligations and can enjoy his mistress. Everyone at the table laughs and agrees: "You're right! You kept a fool in your house. Anyone can clean and cook! But being a secretary—now that's something else." Their table is full of obnoxious laughter, disturbing neighboring tables with their loud behavior. I wonder who invited them, but decide to ignore them completely.

At the back of the room stands a podium with a microphone where the master of ceremonies is speaking. At one point, I see my father walking toward me. He looks at me with admiration, twirls me gently, kisses my forehead, and tells me we must go inside where a big surprise awaits me.

When we reach the closed double doors leading to the ballroom, I see my beloved brothers waiting for us: Dominic, Elias, and Sebastian! They have all matured, and the years apart have transformed them into handsome, elegant, stylish men who are financially independent strictly through their own professional merits. We embrace, admire each other, and prepare for our triumphant entrance. Father insisted we all enter together today as a complete Sterling family. His wish is to present us to society alongside our self-made accomplishments, clean and personal.

From inside the hall, the master of ceremonies’ voice booms: — “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Miss Evelyn Sterling—Magna Cum Laude scholar of Stanford Graduate School of Business—accompanied by the Sterling Brothers: Mr. Dominic, Mr. Elias, and Mr. Sebastian.”

As the doors swing open, we make our entrance. Me in the center, Father and Sebastian to my right, Dominic and Elias to my left. A profound silence falls over the ballroom. The music stops. Only the sound of our footsteps echoing on the white marble can be heard. Guests standing in the aisle step aside, clearing our path to the podium. Every curious eye scans us. Not a single word is spoken.

From afar, I see Adrian and everyone at his table staring with wide, shocked eyes. Adrian looks suffocated, gasping for air, while the others stare at one another in utter bewilderment. I walk past them without casting a single glance. To me, they no longer exist.

Reaching the podium, Father takes the microphone, welcomes the guests, and invites everyone to be seated. —“At this Gala, I want to introduce my children and the accomplishments they achieved strictly on their own merits,” Father says. “Tonight, I simply want to be a proud parent of wonderful, hard-working, successful children whom you can count on at any moment, without reservation. You all know me—I am Marcus Sterling.” —“Dominic Sterling is my eldest son, CEO of a world-renowned Medical Biotechnology Laboratory—one of the most advanced and essential branches of modern medicine.” —“Elias Sterling, my middle son, is an International Infrastructure & Real Estate Mogul—the man reshaping the skylines of major metropolises across four continents. He doesn't just buy land; he builds the future of nations.” —“Sebastian Sterling, my third son, is a world-renowned legal strategist whose firm boasts an undefeated nine-year streak in high-stakes corporate litigation—the undisputed master of the courtroom.” —“Evelyn Sterling, the youngest of our family, Magna Cum Laude scholar of Stanford Graduate School of Business at just 18 years old, future heiress to the Sterling empire, and the new CEO of Sterling Holding.”

The room goes dead silent for a moment. Then, thunderous applause erupts, shaking the hall. Congratulations pour in for our father—the man who, after our mother passed away, guided us onto a righteous path, teaching us to build our own futures independently.

We retreat to our table, and soft music resumes in the background. I am enjoying catching up with my brothers when I hear a quiet, desperate voice behind me: —“Evelyn, please forgive me... I didn't know, I was wrong... Please forgive me... Let's try one more time. Please, I love you... I never stopped loving you... Evelyn...”

I stand up, turn toward Adrian, and speak with cold composure: —“In three years of marriage, I forgave you for everything: your lack of love, your vulgarity, your disrespect, your betrayals—your many betrayals—and your lack of empathy. But I will never forgive your crime. You killed our unborn child, who was innocent. You exposed me to permanent harm with your violent actions. You will answer to the law for that, as I told you before. Never show your face near me again. I never want to see you again. You are nothing. You are absolute zero.”

I turn my back on him and sit down, resuming my conversation with my brothers peacefully, as if nothing happened. In truth, to me, nothing had. I had moved past him the moment I walked out of that hospital.

The evening proceeds exactly as I imagined, yet I cannot shake the feeling of being watched. I look around—nothing. I quickly raise my eyes and catch a glimpse of a dark silhouette retreating into the shadows of a corner. There, two obsidian-black eyes gaze back at me, weighing heavily upon me. I look closer, but they vanish instantly into the darkness. I saw it with my own eyes. I choose to ignore it for now. Maybe it was just a coincidence, maybe I'm tired... maybe...