Chapter 5 - The Gala
I stared at Julian’s name on the screen until the letters completely blurred together.
The man I was supposed to marry in three months was bankrupting my family’s legacy.
Jenna watched me quietly from the passenger seat, sensing the devastation in the car.
“What are we going to do now?” she asked nervously.
I wiped a single tear from my cheek and slammed the laptop shut.
“Tonight is the annual Avery Foundation Charity Gala,” I said, starting the car engine.
“Julian expects me to be there, playing the perfect, clueless billionaire bride.”
“Are you really going to go after he just tried to have you killed in a fire?” Jenna gasped.
“I am going to go because he thinks I burned to death in that store,” I replied coldly.
I drove Jenna to a high-end hotel and paid for a secure room under a fake name.
I told her to lock the door and not answer it for anyone but me.
Then, I drove to my private penthouse to prepare for the gala.
I showered off the smell of smoke and put on a real, flawless Maison Avery diamond gown.
When I arrived at the grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel, the cameras immediately flashed.
I walked through the double doors and scanned the crowded room of wealthy elites.
Julian was standing near the champagne tower, looking incredibly handsome in his tailored tuxedo.
He was laughing with some board members, completely unbothered by the fact that I was supposed to be dead.
I walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder gently.
Julian turned around, and for a fraction of a second, absolute terror flashed in his eyes.
He recovered flawlessly, pulling me into a tight, affectionate hug.
“Avery, darling, I was getting worried about you,” he lied smoothly into my ear.
“I just had a little trouble at the store today,” I smiled, kissing his cheek.
During the embrace, I slipped my fingers into his jacket pocket and stole his private cell phone.
“Excuse me, darling, I need to visit the powder room,” I said smoothly.
I walked briskly to a private bathroom stall and plugged his phone into my cloning device.
As the data transferred, a new text message popped up on his locked screen.
It was from a contact saved only as ‘N’.
The message read: “The boss is angry that she survived. Meet me in the coatroom now.”
‘N’ had to be Natalie.
I finished cloning the phone, slipped it back into my purse, and headed straight for the coatroom.
I peeked through the crack in the heavy wooden doors.
Julian was inside, aggressively pressing Natalie against the wall of luxury coats.
May you like
They were passionately kissing, completely consumed by each other.
I raised my phone and started recording the entire betrayal.
