Chapter 3

The night of my 21st birthday gala was a grand affair. The ballroom of our family estate was filled with New York' s high society, the air buzzing with champagne and speculation. My father wanted this night to be perfect, a celebration of his heiress coming of age.

Ethan, Andrew, and Brian were there, of course. They moved through the crowd with an easy confidence, accepting congratulations and compliments as if they were already the masters of the house. They were playing their parts, pretending our confrontation never happened, assuming I would eventually come to my senses.

I was standing near the grand staircase when I saw them huddled together, their heads bent over a phone. A moment later, Andrew looked up, his eyes locking on me from across the room. His face was a mask of pure rage.

He started walking towards me, pushing through the glittering crowd. Guests turned to stare, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.

"What is wrong with you?" he hissed as he reached me, his voice low and shaking.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Andrew," I said calmly, though my heart began to beat faster.

"Don't play dumb!" he snarled. "Maria just texted us. She said you hired thugs to attack her on her way here. She said you threatened to ruin her life if she ever spoke to Ethan again!"

Before I could even process the absurdity of the lie, his hand shot out.

The slap was sharp and loud.

The entire ballroom fell silent. Gasps rippled through the guests. The sound of my own shock echoed in my ears as my head snapped to the side, my cheek stinging.

As if on cue, the ballroom doors burst open. Maria ran in, her dress artfully torn at the shoulder, her hair a mess. Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled towards Ethan, collapsing into his arms.

"Ethan! She... she tried to kill me!" she sobbed, a picture of terrified innocence.

Ethan held her, glaring at me with utter contempt. He raised his voice for the whole room to hear.

"Stella Anderson, I have never seen such viciousness in my life! To think I ever considered marrying a woman like you. It's over. I would never, ever marry someone so cruel and heartless!"

He declared it like a verdict, a public execution of my reputation. The three of them stood there, a united front of righteous fury, with Maria trembling in their protection. They expected me to crumble, to be ruined by the shame and humiliation. They turned to leave, confident they had won.

"Wait," I said.

My voice was quiet, but it carried through the silent room.

They stopped, turning back with smirks on their faces, expecting a tearful apology.

I walked past them, my head held high, and ascended the few steps to the stage where the band had been playing. I took the microphone from the stunned bandleader. My cheek throbbed, but my mind was perfectly clear.

"Good evening, everyone," I began, my voice steady. "Thank you all for coming to celebrate my 21st birthday. My father and I have an important announcement to make tonight."

I paused, letting the tension build. I could see the confusion on Ethan's face.

"Tonight is not about an engagement to any of my father' s protégés," I said, my eyes sweeping over the three of them. "They are fine executives, but my future lies elsewhere."

I nodded to the tech crew. "Tonight, I am thrilled to announce my betrothal."

The massive screen behind me, which had been displaying a simple birthday message, flickered to life. It was not a picture of Ethan, Andrew, or Brian.

It was a formal portrait of a handsome man with kind, intelligent eyes and a strong jaw. He stood with a quiet confidence that radiated power. The caption below the image read: Caleb Lester, of the Texas Lester Corporation.

A collective gasp went through the crowd. The Lesters were legendary. This alliance was a bombshell.

I turned my gaze back to the three men standing frozen at the foot of the stage. The color had drained from Ethan's face. Andrew's mouth hung open. Brian looked utterly bewildered.

They had come to my party to destroy me.

Instead, they had just witnessed my coronation.