Evelyn stared at the bright screen of her phone. Liam’s text message looked so fake and desperate. He really thought she was crying somewhere in a corner like a helpless little girl.
She looked up at Julian, who was standing quietly beside her. His face was calm, but his dark eyes were sharp and alert.
"Do you need to go somewhere?" Julian asked, his deep voice smooth and steady.
"Yes," Evelyn replied, a cold smile forming on her lips. "I have a big party to attend. My own engagement party."
She folded her official marriage certificate carefully and put it inside her purse. She was done playing nice with snakes. It was time to show them who was really in control.
Evelyn went into the changing room at the back of the civil office. She took off her simple white outfit and changed into a stunning, form fitting black dress she had packed in her bag. The black dress made her skin look bright like snow and highlighted her slim waist. Wearing black to her own engagement party was a clear message. She was here to bury her past.
She walked back out to the front entrance. Julian was waiting outside by the sleek black sedan. He looked at her dark outfit, a small spark of interest appearing in his deep eyes.
"Going to a funeral?" Julian asked softly.
"Something like that," Evelyn said, holding her head high. "It is the funeral of my old, naive self."
"Do you need a ride?" Julian offered, holding the car door open.
"No, thank you," Evelyn said politely. "I need to do this on my own first. I will see you soon, husband."
Julian gave her a slow, unreadable look, then nodded. "Call me if you need anything. You are my wife now, Evelyn. Nobody hurts what belongs to me."
Evelyn took a taxi straight to the Grand Regency Hotel. The grand ballroom on the main floor was packed with hundreds of wealthy guests, news reporters, and high society families. Expensive flower arrangements lined the hall, and soft champagne glasses clinked in the air.
She slipped into the hall through the quiet side doors, keeping herself hidden in the shadow of the tall marble pillars.
Up on the grand stage, two people were standing under the bright spotlights.
Liam was wearing an expensive tuxedo, looking sharp and handsome. Beside him stood Chloe, wearing a lovely pink dress. She held a microphone in her hand, wiping away fake tears with a soft paper tissue.
"Thank you all for coming tonight," Chloe spoke into the microphone, her voice sounding sad and trembling. "My heart is truly broken to share this bad news. My dear sister Evelyn could not handle the stress of taking over our family business."
The crowd gasped softly, whispering among themselves.
Chloe continued, looking up at Liam with sweet, innocent eyes. "Evelyn ran away earlier tonight. She packed her bags and left us all behind without saying a single word. She even canceled her wedding to Liam."
Liam stepped closer to Chloe on stage, putting his arm around her waist in front of everyone.
"It is true," Liam announced loudly into his own microphone, making his voice sound heavy and hurt. "Evelyn abandoned me on our special night. But I cannot let the Sterling family name suffer. Chloe has been by my side through this hard time. To protect both our families, I am announcing tonight that my engagement to Evelyn is over, and I am proposing to Chloe instead!"
The crowd erupted into loud chatter. News reporters quickly held up their cameras, snapping bright pictures of Liam pulling Chloe into a romantic hug on stage.
Chloe smiled softly into Liam’s chest, her eyes full of evil pride. They thought they had won everything. They thought they had ruined Evelyn’s name forever.
Suddenly, a clear, sharp sound rang out through the grand ballroom.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Evelyn stepped out from behind the tall marble pillar. She walked down the middle aisle with slow, proud, and steady steps. Her black dress moved smoothly around her ankles like dark water. She looked like a powerful queen walking through a room of common thieves.
The entire ballroom fell completely silent. All head turned toward her. Cameras stopped flashing for a second as everyone stared at the beautiful woman in black.
Liam froze on stage, his face turning pale like a white sheet. Chloe’s fake smile completely dropped, her eyes widening in absolute horror.
"What a wonderful performance," Evelyn said, her clear voice carrying across the quiet room.
She walked over to the media table near the front of the stage. She picked up a spare wireless microphone from the table, clicking the power button on. Her face was calm, her eyes sharp like shiny daggers.
"Evelyn!" Liam stammered, stepping forward on stage while shaking his head. "What are you doing here? You ran away!"
"Ran away?" Evelyn laughed softly into the microphone, her voice echoing through the heavy loudspeakers. "Liam, why would I run away from my own party? Were you hoping I would stay hidden so you could lie to everyone in this room?"
"Shut up, Evelyn!" Chloe yelled nervously, grabbing the microphone tight. "You are just upset because Liam dumped you! Security, throw her out right now!"
"Nobody touch me," Evelyn commanded sharply, her voice full of raw power that made the approaching guards pause in their tracks.
She looked directly at the crowd of reporters and high society guests.
"Before anyone tries to kick me out, let us look at what really happened in VIP Suite 501 just two hours ago," Evelyn declared loudly.
She held up her phone, connecting it wirelessly to the massive projection screen hanging on the main stage wall.
Chloe panicked, shouting at the top of her lungs. "Don't look at the screen! She is crazy!"
On the huge screen, the clear video began to play automatically.
The entire room saw Liam holding Chloe by her waist, kissing her passionately. Every single guest heard Liam’s mean voice echoing clearly from the speakers: Evelyn is just a boring, useless girl... Her old man died like a dog in that hospital bed...
The entire ballroom erupted into absolute shock. Guests gasped in disgust, pointing their fingers at the stage. News reporters went wild, snapping hundreds of bright camera flashes directly at Liam and Chloe’s pale, humiliated faces.
Chloe dropped her microphone to the floor, covering her face in total shame. Liam stood there shaking, looking like a cornered dog.
Evelyn walked right up the stage stairs, stopping three steps away from Liam.
"You did not dump me, Liam," Evelyn said, her voice dropping cold and icy into the microphone. "I left you because you are trash. And trash belongs in the bin."
She lifted her hand, ready to reveal her ultimate payback to the entire room.
Before Evelyn can speak, the heavy double doors of the ballroom burst open, and security guards drop to their knees as an imposing entourage enters the room.