Chapter 469
Chapter 469:
Inside sat a set of jewelry that made the room go silent. It was the Romanov Emeralds—a necklace and tiara that had been lost to history for fifty years.
An expert from Christie’s auction house, who was a guest, actually fainted.
“And,” Julian said, his voice soft but amplified by the mic. He pulled a document from his jacket pocket. “The deed to the Vance Ancestral Clocktower in the Old Quarter p>
The room erupted. The Clocktower was the most iconic landmark in Seaview. It wasn’t just real estate; it was history. Owning it was like owning the Statue of Liberty.
“The Vance family stands behind Skye Sterling,” Julian declared. “Now and forever p>
He handed the deed to Skye. His hand lingered on hers.
“Thank you, brother,” Skye whispered, tears pricking her eyes. She knew what this cost him.
Julian squeezed her hand, then swayed slightly.
“I need… fresh air,” he whispered, his voice strained. “I’ll be in the garden. Don’t worry about me p>
He stepped down from the stage, signaling for an attendant to help him toward the side exit. Skye watched him go, concern etching her brow, but the applause demanded her attention.
Dominic Thorne, watching from the balcony, crushed the ice in his glass.
He had ten billion dollars. But this… this was influence. This was loyalty. You couldn’t buy this.
“She has too many allies,” Dominic hissed. “I need to isolate her p>
Skye hugged Harper. The crowd cheered.
Alistair took the microphone. He wrapped his arm around Skye’s waist.
“She doesn’t need your money,” he joked to the crowd, looking at the pile of gifts. “But I suppose I will keep it safe for her p>
Laughter rippled through the hall. The atmosphere was electric, triumphant.
Victoria and Paris couldn’t take it anymore.
“Let’s go,” Victoria spat. “I need to see Sienna. At least she knows how to suffer properly p>
They slipped out the back exit, driving their Porsche toward Kensington Manor, eager to spread their poison.
At Kensington Manor, the “exclusive” party was turning into a wake.
Sienna checked her livestream. The viewer count was dropping. People were logging off to watch Skye’s gift opening.
𝖱o𝘮𝘢𝘯𝗰𝖾 ո𝗈𝘷𝖾lѕ 𝗼𝗇 𝗯e.𝖼𝗈𝗺
“We need a moment,” Sienna decided. “A viral moment.” She turned to the DJ. “Play the entrance music. I’m going to walk down the grand staircase p>
“But there’s no one watching,” Liam pointed out from his corner.
“The internet is watching!” Sienna screamed.
She ran—well, shuffled—to the top of the grand staircase. The stairs were marble, wide, and sweeping.
She posed at the top. The Imperial Brocade dress was stiff as a board. She looked like a chess piece.
The music started. A dramatic orchestral swell.
Sienna took the first step.
Or she tried to.
Her knee hit the unyielding fabric. The mermaid cut was so tight around her thighs that she couldn’t bend her leg enough to descend the step.
She froze.
She tried to shuffle her foot forward. The fabric held fast. She had to pivot her hips, swinging her entire leg out to the side in a semicircle just to clear the step.
Thump.
She landed on the first step.
It wasn’t elegant. It looked like a penguin trying to navigate an iceberg.