Chapter 4 - The Engagement Announcement
The luxury penthouse Leo brought me to was a heavily guarded fortress in the sky.
A private physician had already bandaged my shoulder and declared my arm unbroken but severely bruised.
I sat on a velvet sofa, staring at the massive flat-screen television on the wall.
The local news channel was broadcasting a live feed from a high-society gala downtown.
Chloe was standing on a brightly lit stage, wearing a hideous sequined gown that cost more than most people's cars.
She was clinging to the arm of Dominic Thorne, the ruthless, volatile son of Marcus Thorne.
"Dominic and I are thrilled to unite our families," Chloe gushed to the reporters, flashing a blinding, fake smile.
"And as a gesture of our new bond, my father is gifting us the Vance vineyard in Napa as a wedding present."
My blood boiled furiously as I watched them flaunt my stolen inheritance on live television.
"Dominic runs the underground gambling rings that are trying to push into my territory," Leo explained, handing me a cup of hot coffee.
"By marrying Chloe, Marcus is officially linking his dirty money with your father's stolen clean assets."
I gripped the coffee mug until my knuckles turned completely white.
"They are moving fast to liquidate the properties before I can contest the signature."
Leo sat down next to me, resting his hand casually on the back of the sofa.
"The wedding is scheduled for this Saturday at the country club," he noted.
"That gives us exactly three days to completely destroy their empire."
I touched the pearl pendant at my throat, a dangerous plan forming in my mind.
The camera on the news feed zoomed in on Evelyn, who was proudly wiping a fake tear from her eye.
"They think they have completely erased me from the narrative," I whispered.
"Then we will just have to rewrite the story for them," Leo replied, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"What do you need me to do, Clara?"
I turned to him, my previous fear entirely replaced by a burning desire for vengeance.
"I need you to buy me a wedding dress," I said flatly.
"Because we are going to crash that engagement party and take my life back."
Leo's phone suddenly buzzed, interrupting our moment of triumph.
He answered it, his expression darkening instantly as he listened to his security chief.
May you like
"Clara," Leo said slowly, hanging up the phone.
"Your father just moved your grandmother's casket out of the family mausoleum, and he is holding her remains hostage."
