On the day of the engagement banquet, my family booked out the most expensive hotel in the city.
Crystal chandeliers blazed overhead. The champagne tower rose almost to the ceiling. Relatives arrived in their finest, their faces plastered with expectant, fawning smiles.
Sienna wore a custom pink gown that cost more than most people make in a year. She stood at the entrance like she owned the place.
Mom had on the jewels she never usually touched. Dad wore a brand-new tailored suit and worked the room, shaking hands with politicians and businessmen, smug and eager.
"Where are the Thornes?" Mom checked her watch, getting nervous.
Dad straightened his tie. "Relax. Dominic is the main event. He'll show up when he shows up."
Sienna checked her makeup in a little mirror. "Dad, what do you think Dominic's bringing me today? I heard the Thornes have a family heirloom. A full set of emeralds. Worth a fortune."
I sat in the corner of the banquet hall near the trash cans. Just a simple dress. No makeup, no jewelry. Sipping champagne in silence.
Mom glanced at me and wrinkled her nose. "That's what you're wearing? You look like a beggar. Just sit in the corner and don't draw attention. Don't steal Sienna's spotlight and don't embarrass us."
I said nothing. I set down my glass and checked my phone.
Dominic: I'm here.
The doors swung open.
A man walked in—tall, broad-shouldered, with a presence that made the whole room go quiet. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit. His eyes were dark, cold, and sharp. When he stepped into the room, he seemed to steal every ounce of light in it.
It was Dominic.
Aksara