Chapter 1 - THE MARBLE FLOOR
Crystal chandeliers hummed softly above the grand ballroom, casting a warm, suffocating golden glow across the round banquet tables.
Silks rustled, sterling silver clicked against fine china, and heavy diamond necklaces caught the light.
On the polished marble floor beside a table set for ten, three-year-old Lily collapsed onto her side.
Her pristine white dress spread around her small body like torn flower petals.
Tears streamed down her flush cheeks, her tiny fists pounding softly against the hard, cold stone.
Standing directly over her, Veronica adjusted the draped neck of her shimmering gold sequence gown.
Her blonde hair was swept up into a severe, perfect chignon.
Veronica didn't reach down to help the child.
Instead, her red lips curved into an icy, impassive sneer.
"Louder," Veronica whispered, her voice carrying smoothly over the clinking glass.
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"So your father can hear you."
At the head of the table, an elderly man with pristine white hair took a calm sip of red wine.
