Chapter 17%
“You’re really going back?” Lucas asked, his sharp gaze fixed on me from across the room.
I met his eyes, calm and unwavering, a smirk playing at my lips. Tm ready to step back into the world.”
His jaw tensed. “They won’t welcome you back easily.”
I let out a soft chuckle, tilting my head slightly. “I don’t need their welcome.”
I had never needed it. Because I owned this game.
The charity gala was an extravagant affair
It was a night where the most powerful names in the industry gathered, where the elite of Hollywood stood beneath glittering chandeliers and flashing cameras. The venue was draped in luxury, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and aged wine
Actors, directors, executives–every influential figure was in attendance…
And at the center of it all-
Olivia.
Trisha:
Ethan.
They stood together, glasses in hand, their laughter blending into t
sins buried beneath golden awards and flawless reputations.
They thought they had buned me along with them.2
But then- A hush spread through the crowd
the hurn of the gala. Their polished images remained intact, their
It started with whispers, murmurs that traveled like a ripple through water. Conversations halted, glasses paused mid–air, gazes shifted toward the entrance.
And then they saw me.
Standing at the top of the grand staircase, poised, elegant, untouchable.
Dressed in a breathtaking jet black gown that cascaded over my figure like liquid silk, adomed with diamonds that glistened against my skin, I exuded power with every step I took.
My hair was swept into an elegant updo, my makeup flawless. There was no trace of scars, no evidence of the burns that had once marred my skin.
I descended the staircase slowly, each step deliberate, the sound of my heels clicking against the marble floor echoing through the silence.
All eyes were on me.!
Shock. Disbelief. Fear, And then, Olivia’s grip tightened around her glass, her knuckles turning white. Trisha’s complexion turned ghostly pale, her lips parting slightly in horror
Ethan? He simply stared. Frozen. As if he were looking at an apparition, a ghost that had returned to haunt him.
I reached the center of the room, letting the silence stretch, letting the weight of my presence settle over them. And then, with a slow, deliberate smile, I lifted my chin &
“Did you miss me?”
The murmurs in the room grew louder, buzzing like static, filled with curiosity and anticipation &
Richard Blackwood stood at the center of it all, radiating power, his presence commanding every eye in the grand hall.
The charity gala had already been an extravagant event, but now, it was something more. It was the stage for an announcement that would shake the entire industry.”
*Ladies and gentlemen,” Richard’s voice boomed across the hall, silencing the crowd instantly. “Tonight, I wish to share something that has been long hidden from the world.”
People leaned in, their breaths held.
The press cameras focused on him, the journalists already anticipating a major headline.
*For years, I believed I had lost someone dear to me. A granddaughter I never knew existed, a legacy I thought had vanished.” Excitement rippled through the audience. Some of the most powerful figures in the entertainment world exchanged glances, whispering amongst themselves.
Richard Blackwood’s granddaughter?
The heir to the Blackwood empire?!
The same empire that owned multinational companies, entertainment agencies, real estate, and media conglomerates?
“After years of searching, I have finally found her.” Richard’s voice carried a deep, unwavering authority. “The rightful heiress of my fortune, the woman who will take over my empire”
Gasps echoed throughout the grand hall.
Someone from the audience shouted, “Is she here tonight?”
Gasps echoed throughout the grand hall.
Someone from the audience shouted, “Is she here tonight?%
Richard smiled. “Yes, she is ”
The anticipation thickened like smoke in the air. Everyone craned their necks, searching for a clue, waiting to see who she was.
And then Richard turned his gaze towards me.X
Claire, come forward”
A breathless silence fell upon the roarn 3
Every eye followed his line of sight–until they landed on me.X
I could see their reactions shift instantly
Faces froze in pure disbelief X
A woman in a crimson gown covered her mouth, while a director I had once worked with took a step back as if unable to process what he was sering Xi
Trislu’s nails dug into Olivia’s arm, Olivia’s entire body stiffened, her lips trembling as she realized–her worst nightmare had come true X
Ethan–He choked on his drink, His hand clutched the glass so tightly it almost shattered, his entire body turning rigid
I stepped forward.
One foot in front of the other, my posture poised, my expression unreadable.X
Cameras flashed, reporters whispered furiously into their recorders.
When I reached Richard’s side, he placed a firm hand on my shoulder, looking at me with something I had never seen before X Pride.
Then, he turned back to the crowd.
“Sophia Lancaster’s mother–my daughter–was banished by me years ago,” Richard declared, his voice filled with regret. “I was blinded by power, by wealth, and in my foolishness, I cast her out
More gasps. More murmurs.
This was the kind of revelation that could make history
“But fate has given me another chance. My granddaughter, Claire Blackwood, has returned,” Richard announced, his words heavy with meaning “Whoever wronged her in the past–whoever dared to harm her-will now face severe justice.”
The weight of his statement sent chills through the room.
The people who had betrayed me–the ones who thought I had been erased forever–were now trembling.
Olivia’s complexion turned ghostly white.
Trisha staggered back.
Ethan’s eyes darkened, his breathing uneven, the p
Because the truth was undeniable now.
the panic settling deep in his chest.
I was not just back. I was more powerful than ever!!
The Next Morning. Ethan never saw it coming.
One by one. Richard and I pulled out every single Investment tied to Ethan’s company.
His biggest investors–who once trusted him–followed suit, unwilling to risk going against Richard Blackwood.
Within hours, his company’s stocks plummeted.
By noon, Ethan was drowning in financial ruin.
By evening, he was kneeling before me X
“Claire, please” His voice was hoarse, desperate. His once–pristine suit was disheveled, his face pale with stress. “Don’t do this.” I stared down at him, unimpressed.
His hands trembled as he reached for mine, but I pulled away before he could touch me.ll
His parents arrived shortly after.
“Claire,” his mother pleaded, “This… this isn’t necessary. We made mistakes, but please reconsider.”
His father nodded, stiff with unease “We’re willing to negotiate.
let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. “Negotiate?” My voice was cold. “Did you ever offer me that chance when you took everythin
from me
They fell silent!!
