Chapter 5 - The Grand Invitation
By mid-November, the babies were cleared to leave the hospital. Julian had arranged for us to move into a secure, breathtaking townhouse in the Upper East Side, complete with full-time pediatric nurses, private security, and every comfort imaginable.
Sitting in the sunlit nursery of the townhouse, holding tiny Charlotte against my chest while Alexander and Benjamin slept soundly in their cribs, I looked at the golden invitation resting on the mahogany desk.
It was an invitation to the Annual Manhattan Financial Gala—the most prestigious charity event of the year, held at the iconic Plaza Hotel ballroom. Every major player on Wall Street, every high-profile investor, and every media outlet in the city would be there.
Ethan had spent weeks begging Julian Vance for an invitation to the head table. To Ethan, this gala was supposed to be his coronation. He planned to publicly announce his merger with Vance Holdings and formally introduce Sabrina Vale to New York high society.
"He received his confirmation this morning," Julian said, walking into the nursery and leaning against the frame of the door. He was holding two glasses of sparkling cider. "He thinks I’m signing the buyout papers at the gala."
"And what is he actually signing?" I asked, looking up at Julian with a quiet, dangerous smile.
"His own execution order," Julian replied, handing me a glass. "Victoria has filed the full criminal and civil lawsuit under seal with the Supreme Court of New York today. The judges signed the emergency seizure orders two hours ago. Ethan’s personal assets, his corporate funds, and his access to Mercer Capital are officially frozen as of eight o’clock tonight."
"And the grand reveal?"
"The ballroom," Julian said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Ethan wants a stage. We are going to give him a spectacle he will never forget."
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I looked down at my reflection in the dark window pane. The exhausted, terrified girl on the downtown bus was gone. In her place stood a mother who had fought through hell to protect her blood, backed by the most powerful man in the city.
"Send the dress," I told Julian softly. "I’m ready."
