Chapter 2

Inside the ballroom, elegant guests were in glamorous attire, champagne flutes raised in constant toasts.

I glanced down at what I was wearing.

A simple white dress and flat shoes. I stuck out badly in this glittering crowd.

I was hoping to find a quiet corner and keep to myself, but luck wasn't on my side. I got spotted.

"Bridget!" Vivian Brooks took my hand, her voice overly sweet.

"I've been so eager to meet you, but Gilbert kept saying you were shy. I'm so glad I finally got to see you," she said.

Shy?

I looked down.

So that was what he told people about me.

When Vivian saw me stay quiet, a smug look flashed in her eyes, but her voice got even softer. "Your uncle's over there with some guests. Should I bring you over?"

I didn't respond, and the gossip around us kept swirling.

"Is that the girl the Sanchez family took in?" someone whispered.

"Look at what she's wearing. So plain," another one said.

"Shh! Word is, Mr. Sanchez totally dotes on her. There's even talk, something inappropriate going on between them," a third said.

"Oh, please. Like Mr. Sanchez would ever go for her? No matter how much he spoils her, she's just the adopted girl. Once Ms. Brooks marries Mr. Sanchez, she'll be out of the picture," yet another said.

I tried to pull my hand away, but Vivian only held on tighter.

When the whispers finally died down, she cleared her throat dramatically and said, "Alright, that's enough, everyone."

Then she patted the back of my hand with fake kindness.

"Bridget, don't take it to heart," she said, her tone full of feigned concern.

I felt humiliated and jerked my hand away from hers.

To my surprise, she let go easily.

With a sharp gasp, she fell backward—right into a solid embrace.

Gilbert's face was frosty. "Bridget, what do you think you're doing?"

I blurted out, "It wasn't me!"

"Enough!" he snapped.

He cut me off, his voice cold and sharp. "Do you have any idea where you are? And you're still causing trouble?"

My chest tightened painfully.

He didn't even ask and just blamed me right away?

Vivian gently tugged on his sleeve, her voice soft. "Gilbert, it was my fault. I just lost my balance. Bridget didn't push me."

His gaze softened right away as he looked at her. "You're always so sweet."

Then he shot me a frosty glare. "She's just spoiled rotten. No need to cover for her."

I lowered my head.

A wry, self-deprecating smile crept onto my lips.

Gilbert had always been distant with everyone.

Except for me, I'd never seen him act so tender toward anyone else.

It hurt more than I wanted to admit.

I started to walk away.

He didn't give a damn if I wished him well or not.

He just wanted me gone.

"Stop right there!" Gilbert barked.

I froze in my tracks.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Then I turned and met his gaze with as much calm as I could muster.

He looked at me, his brows drawing together ever so slightly.

There was a flash of something in his eyes—something I couldn't quite read.

"Apologize," he said, his voice cold.

My eyes went wide in disbelief. "What?"

"Apologize to Vivian," he said, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

"This is my failure in raising you. When you hurt someone, you apologize," he added, his voice cold and unyielding.

How absurd.

I tried to smile, but it felt stiff and broken. "I..."

Before I could finish, a sudden scream cut through the crowd.

"The chandelier! It's falling," someone screamed.

"Gilbert, watch out!" a voice shouted.

With a deafening crash, the crystal chandelier came crashing down.

Glass shards flew everywhere, and a cloud of dust filled the air.

A sharp pain shot through my leg as glass cut into my calf. I fell to the ground.

But no one was looking at me. All eyes were on Vivian, who was clutching her injured arm.

Someone shouted, "Ms. Brooks pushed Mr. Sanchez out of the way and got hurt herself. Call an ambulance!"

Gilbert's icy gaze locked onto me.

He shot me a glare that could freeze hell over.

I wanted to tell everyone I never even touched her.

Gilbert and Vivian were the only ones standing under the chandelier. I was only trying to get him out of the way.

Vivian could've easily dodged, but instead, she chose to crash right into me.

But the words died in my throat.

The look in his eyes said everything. All I saw was disappointment.

He carried Vivian in his arms, barely glancing my way as he passed, his words as cold as ice.

"Bridget, if anything happens to Vivian, I will never forgive you," he said.

I bit my lip, glaring defiantly at his retreating figure.

Once he was gone, I tuned out the pointing fingers and gossip swirling around me.

I limped out of the ballroom.

I was done with this place. There was nothing here worth staying for.