Chapter 1 HER FATHER HAD A SON, AND HE HAD CHOSEN HIM OVER HER

Chapter 1

The ballroom gleamed brighter than ever, the mirrored surfaces reflecting fragments of gold and silver light that danced across the crowd. Mia's smile remained firmly in place as she surveyed the room. Her wine glass felt comfortably solid in her grip, grounding her amidst the excitement and chatter. This was her masterpiece. Every detail, from the glittering chandeliers to the impeccable catering, had been planned under her watchful eye. She had made sure tonight would be perfect.

Her father had entrusted her with overseeing every detail, and she had succeeded brilliantly. Tonight wasn't just a celebration of her twenty-eighth birthday, it was a symbol of her readiness to take on the Meyers legacy.

She felt certain. She was certain. She was her father's only child, the one who had devoted her entire life to his vision. Samuel Meyers had made it clear, through countless tests and challenges, that she was the future of Meyers Industries. She had earned this moment. As she stood among New York's elite, gliding through conversations with practiced ease, she imagined her father's announcement echoing through the room. His proud declaration that his daughter would carry his empire forward.

She remembered, as clear as the crystal glasses around her, sitting at her mother's vanity when she was nine. Her mother, with gentle strokes, had combed through her long hair, her voice soft and full of conviction. "You have it in you, Mia," she'd said, her eyes meeting hers in the mirror. "One day, you'll rule over everything your father and I have built." That day, Mia had known with a child's unwavering certainty that her future lay within the walls of Meyers Industries. Her parents had built this together, a formidable empire forged from their shared vision and tireless work, before her mother's untimely death had cast a long shadow.

Standing amidst the influential figures of New York society, engaging in practiced small talk, she pictured her mother's beaming face. This wasn't just about proving herself to her father, it was about fulfilling the promise whispered during those quiet moments by the vanity, about making her mother proud of the woman she had become, the leader she was ready to be.

Her father ascended the stage, commanding attention with his presence alone. A hush fell over the room, the crowd turning as one to face him. Mia felt her heart lift slightly. This was it, the moment she had rehearsed a thousand times in her mind. Samuel adjusted the microphone, his deep voice steady and sure. "My friends, tonight we celebrate not only the legacy of Meyers Industries but also its future."

Mia held her glass a little tighter, anticipation buzzing through her veins. She scanned the faces of the audience, catching glimpses of admiration and curiosity. Her father continued, his words laced with authority, his pauses measured. And then he did something Mia hadn't expected. He turned slightly and extended his arm in a gesture toward the edge of the stage.

From the shadows, a figure emerged. The man was young, impeccably dressed, his suit tailored to perfection. He carried himself with quiet confidence, his steps smooth and deliberate. Mia tilted her head slightly, watching him approach. Surprise flickered in her mind, but her certainty didn't waver. Perhaps her father wanted to introduce a new partner or announce an expansion of their team. The man stepped into the light, and the crowd murmured softly in curiosity.

Then Mia's eyes locked onto his face. Her grip on the wine glass tightened as a flicker of doubt crept into her chest. His warm brown eyes, flecked with gold, were undeniably familiar. They were her eyes. They were their father's eyes. She drew a shallow breath, confusion swimming in her mind. Who was this man?

Samuel's voice cut through the murmurs, calm and authoritative. "It is my honor to introduce Ethan Meyers."

Mia's heart skipped. The wine glass in her hand grew heavier, her fingers stiffening around its stem. Ethan Meyers? The name felt foreign, wrong. The knot in her stomach tightened as her mind searched for an explanation.

Her father took a step closer to the man and placed a hand on his shoulder. The gesture was unmistakably paternal, filled with pride Mia had spent her life chasing. And then Samuel spoke the words that shattered her world.

"My son. Ethan will carry Meyers Industries to even greater heights in the years to come."

The applause was immediate, roaring through the room like an unstoppable wave. But for Mia, the sound was muffled, distant. Her smile faltered for the briefest moment before she forced it back in place. Her father had a son? And he had chosen him over her?

As the applause continued, she felt herself growing smaller, as if the weight of the betrayal was physically pressing down on her. She glanced at the audience, the smiles and nods they exchanged, their glances at Ethan. Her gaze flicked back to her father, searching for some sign of explanation, some acknowledgment of what he had done to her. But there was nothing.

The ache in her chest grew sharper, making it harder to breathe. She fought to keep her composure, knowing the crowd was watching her, waiting to see how she would react. She raised the wine glass to her lips, the cold rim pressing against her skin as she sipped slowly. Her fingers trembled slightly, but she kept her hand steady, her movements deliberate. To the crowd, she was calm, collected, the perfect image of professionalism.

Inside, she was breaking. The years of sacrifice, the sleepless nights, the constant efforts to prove herself. They all felt meaningless now. Her father had chosen Ethan. And he had chosen this moment, on her birthday, at the event she had meticulously planned, to announce it.

She stared at Ethan. His polished smile, his easy confidence, it all felt wrong. His gaze swept across the room, meeting hers for a fleeting moment. There was no warmth in his expression, no sense of recognition or gratitude. If anything, his look carried an air of indifference, as though she didn't matter.

Samuel and Ethan exchanged a quiet word on stage, their connection undeniable. Mia clenched her jaw, swallowing the bitterness rising in her throat. She wouldn't let them see her hurt. She wouldn't let them see how deeply she had been betrayed.

The applause grew louder, ringing in her ears like a cruel reminder of the future that had slipped away. Her hands lowered to her sides, the weight of the wine glass suddenly unbearable. Her gaze remained fixed on her father, but he didn't look at her. He didn't acknowledge her at all.

And still, she smiled.