Chapter 1
At my own engagement banquet, the seat beside my fiancé did not have my name on it.
It had hers.
And on Serena Hale's chest was my mother's white rose brooch.
I stood ten feet from the head table, my fingers gripping the invitation printed with the name Evelyn Vale.
Near the kitchen corridor, there was a small round table in a dim corner. My place card leaned against a potted plant.
I walked straight to the banquet manager.
"My seat is wrong," I said, looking at him.
"I'm sorry, Miss Vale." The manager stopped directing the servers. "Miss Hale updated the seating chart this morning. We're only following the procedure."
"Evelyn, you're early."
Serena walked over with a glass of champagne in her hand.
"Adrian thought there would be too much press and too many guests tonight." She stopped one step away from me.
"As his friend, I know the Blackwood family's social circle better. He wanted me to stay by his side tonight and help with the process."
That was when I saw it.
Pinned beneath her collarbone was a diamond brooch shaped like a white rose.
Last night, the Blackwood family's concierge team had come to my residence in person to collect that brooch.
They said that, for security reasons, the piece would be kept by a dedicated staff member and delivered directly to my bridal suite before the ceremony.
And now, it was pinned to Serena's dress.
"Take it off," I said, looking at the brooch.
Serena did not argue. She only let out a soft sigh and touched one finger to the diamond petals.
Before she could speak, an assistant hurried over. She walked right past me, as if I were only a transparent obstacle in her way, and stopped directly in front of Serena.
"Miss Hale." The assistant handed over a folder. "The signing documents from Legal."
I looked at the folder. In the lower right corner of the cover, two words were stamped in gold foil.
Evelyn Vale.
Serena reached out naturally and took it.
"I'll bring it to my room."
"What is going on?"
Adrian's voice came from the direction of the corridor. He strode toward us, his gaze pausing for half a second on the white rose at Serena's chest before shifting to me.
"Not tonight, Evelyn." He lowered his voice, impatience and exhaustion filling his tone. "Whatever you're trying to do, not tonight."
"She took my signing documents." I pointed at the leather folder in Serena's hand.
"I'm only helping Legal check the process." Serena turned slightly, shielding the folder with her body.
Adrian did not look at the folder at all.
He looked at me, his eyes cold.
"Go back to your seat, Evelyn. Don't embarrass everyone."
He turned and walked with Serena toward the center of the hall, where the camera flashes were the thickest.
I stood where I was, listening to the crisp clink of glasses around me.
Why was a folder with my name on it being handed to Serena Hale?