MasukThe ballroom settled. The MC continued speaking as she quietly headed toward a side staircase. "Tonight is not simply another gathering. This evening marks a moment that Chairman Miles and the entire Miles organization have waited many years to celebrate."Whispers immediately began. The hidden heiress, the mysterious daughter, everyone had been speculating for days. Who was she? Where had she been? Why had Kennedy kept her hidden?Aria reached the upper floor without much difficulty. Most security officers recognized her from earlier and knew she was Shannon's guest.She glanced down one corridor then another. "...Shannon?"Nothing.She continued walking. "Shannon?"A maid passing nearby stopped. "Miss Vale?""Do you know where Shannon is?"The maid pointed toward the eastern wing. "Miss Miles is preparing in the second dressing suite.""Thank you." Aria hurried away.Back downstairs the MC smiled before gesturing toward the edge of the stage. "And now please welcome the man responsi
Sean and Aria walked away without another glance behind them. As the siblings crossed the ballroom, several guests naturally stepped aside, curiosity followed them wherever they went."...They're heading toward the VIP section.""I knew it. They have to be important.""They've barely spoken all evening.""They're definitely old money."Within moments, Sean and Aria reached a smaller gathering near one of the grand pillars. Chairman Edward Vale, Mrs. Vale, several long time family friends and a handful of influential business leaders.The moment Sean arrived, Mrs. Vale smiled. "There you are."Aria immediately hugged her mother. "Mom."Mrs. Vale laughed. "I've been looking everywhere for you.""We were sightseeing." Sean answered casually.Mrs. Vale simply smiled knowingly. A few seconds later Noella approached the group. Her gown shimmered beneath the ballroom lights as she greeted everyone politely. "Chairman, Mrs. Vale."Edward nodded warmly. "Noella."Mrs. Vale smiled. "You look b
Julian Ashcroft walked casually beside Evelyn, hands tucked into his pockets. His eyes landed on Rowan first and a smirk immediately appeared. "Well..." He looked Rowan up and down. "...if it isn't the former chairman."Rowan's jaw clenched.Julian laughed. "I've got to admit I've seen your interviews, I've seen your old house." He glanced around dramatically. "This place must bring back memories."Evelyn folded her arms. "I didn't expect to find you all standing together." Her eyes slowly moved from Rowan to Sean then finally settled on Aria and a faint smile curved her lips. "Interesting." She looked around the luxurious ballroom. "You know..." Her tone carried effortless superiority. "I don't think this section is for people like you."Aria blinked. "...People like us?"Evelyn smiled. "This is a gathering for the country's elite." She glanced at Sean dismissively. "A street thug." Then toward Rowan. "A bankrupt former chairman." Finally she looked at Aria. "And..." Her smile widene
Another wave of excitement erupted outside the Miles Estate. "Another convoy is arriving!"Camera flashes immediately shifted toward the approaching luxury vehicles. Unlike the previous arrivals, this convoy carried no family insignia, no company logo just three identical black Rolls Royces gliding silently toward the red carpet.The first vehicle stopped and Chairman Edward Vale stepped out, dressed in an impeccably tailored black tuxedo, he adjusted his cuffs before extending a hand toward the woman inside.Mrs. Vale accepted it gracefully before stepping onto the carpet.The photographers immediately recognized them."Chairman Vale!""This way!""One picture together!"Camera flashes exploded around the couple. Edward forced a polite smile. Truthfully he hadn't wanted to attend not after everything that had happened, not after learning Shannon was Kennedy Miles' daughter, but his wife had insisted. "We received an invitation." She had told him that morning. "Kennedy knows Shannon
Evelyn wore a champagne colored designer gown that shimmered beneath the lights, diamonds decorating both ears while a matching necklace rested elegantly against her neck. Her makeup was flawless, her smile even more so.Camera flashes immediately erupted."Chairwoman Evelyn!""This way!""Over here!"Evelyn turned naturally toward the cameras, offering the practiced smile she'd perfected over the past several months. She knew exactly which angle favored her, exactly how long to pause and exactly when to continue walking.Another door opened and a tall man stepped from the opposite side of the vehicle in a tailored tuxedo, perfectly styled hair and an expensive watch, with the unmistakable confidence of someone born into old money.Gasps immediately spread through the reporters."...Isn't that Julian Ashcroft?""The Ashcroft heir?""What is he doing with Evelyn?"The whispers quickly multiplied."I thought he never attended events with the same woman twice.""He doesn't.""Didn't he d
The door barely closed before Aria heard it. The familiar sound of someone trying to throw up.Aria was already on her feet. She walked over and gently knocked. "Shannon?""I'm okay." Her voice sounded weaker than before. "It's just..." She took another shaky breath. "...Can you get my medicine?""Of course.""It's in the bathroom cabinet, the top shelf." Aria immediately opened the cabinet. "There are a lot of..." Her words stopped completely. She stared, one box, then another, then another. Her eyes slowly moved across the labels. Prenatal Vitamins, Folic Acid, Pregnancy Support Supplements, Morning Sickness Relief. Her brain stopped functioning. "...What?"She blinked, once, twice, three times. "No..." She picked up one of the boxes, read it again and her eyes became impossibly wide. "...No way."From inside the bathroom Shannon spoke softly. "The blue one..."Aria looked down, still completely frozen. "Oh... right." She hurriedly picked up the medicine Shannon had asked for befor
The guest room was at the end of the hall.Shannon paused at the doorway, her fingers resting lightly against the frame before she stepped in.It used to be a storage room now it was neat, cleaned and prepared.A bed, fresh sheets and a wardrobe that looked barely used.Shannon exhaled slowly and s
The hospital discharged them the next day.Shannon didn’t know whether that was fate or cruelty.She stood just outside the building, her fingers gripping the thin discharge papers in her hand as the sunlight hit her face. Too bright. Like the world hadn’t just ended for her.A few steps ahead Rowa
Shannon’s knees weakened beneath her. Three months of silence. Three months of absence. Three months where she wasn’t there. Her breathing grew uneven. Three months where someone else was. Her gaze slowly shifted back to Rowan. And this time she understood. Rowan watched her, something sharp
The first thing Shannon felt was the weight, like her entire body had been dragged beneath something heavy and invisible, pressing her down into a darkness that refused to let her rise.Then came the sound, a slow, steady beep... beep... beep...It echoed from far away at first, distant and unreal,







