Chapter 5 The Gala Showdown

SERAPHINA's POV:

The grand ballroom shimmered under the weight of crystal chandeliers, their light fracturing into rainbows across the polished marble floor. The air buzzed with laughter, clinking glasses, and the low hum of carefully curated conversations. It was the kind of night where every smile was a mask and every glance a calculated move.

Seraphina stood near the entrance, the scarlet of her dress a bold slash of color amid the sea of black tuxedos and muted gowns. She felt every eye flick to her - whispers chasing her path like shadows.

She could hear the faint click of heels behind her and turned to see Zayden approaching, his gaze unreadable, sharp as a blade.

Without a word, he took her hand, the heat of his touch igniting a storm inside her.

The room fell quieter as the couple moved together, the mingling crowd parting like a sea. Whispers turned to murmurs, and murmurs to stunned silence. Seraphina held her head high, the weight of every stare fueling her resolve.

The gala was more than a celebration-it was a battlefield. And tonight, she was ready to fight.

Her eyes caught the familiar face of Genevieve near the buffet, her expression unreadable. The older woman's gaze was icy, calculating-like she was watching a game of chess where every piece was about to move.

Seraphina forced a smile, steadying her breath. She had heard the rumors: Genevieve didn't want her here. That she was a reminder of a debt unpaid, a failure waiting to happen.

But Seraphina wasn't the same frightened girl who had walked into this house weeks ago.

She had a plan.

The night's first challenge came in the form of Damien Blake-the family's charming yet ruthless cousin. He approached with a confident smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Well, well," Damien said smoothly, "the new Mrs. Knight wearing red. Bold choice."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "I like to keep people guessing."

He chuckled. "That's dangerous in a place like this."

"Maybe," she replied, "but sometimes you have to shake the cage to see who's really inside."

Damien's smile faltered, and for a moment, Seraphina saw a flicker of respect-or was it fear?-in his

As the evening progressed, Seraphina found herself navigating a labyrinth of conversations, each one a test of wit and will. Business deals floated around like smoke, alliances whispered behind delicate glasses of champagne.

She caught snippets about her family-old betrayals, power struggles, secrets she hadn't been told.

But Seraphina wasn't here to be a shadow.

She was here to claim her place.

Later, Zayden led her to a secluded balcony overlooking the city lights. The cool night air was a balm against the suffocating heat of the ballroom.

He finally spoke, voice low and sharp. "You're playing a dangerous game."

She met his gaze, unwavering. "Maybe. But I've learned that sometimes the only way to win is to change the rules."

He smirked, a slow, deliberate curl of his lips. "I like that."

For the first time, something like respect-or maybe something more complicated-passed between them.

The gala's climax came with the announcement of a major business merger that the Knights had been quietly negotiating-a merger that would secure their place at the top of the city's elite.

Seraphina stood beside Zayden as the news broke, the crowd erupting into applause. But inside her, a fire burned hotter.

Because this victory wasn't just his.

It was hers.

And she was ready to make sure everyone knew it.

As the night wound down, Seraphina caught her reflection in a gilded mirror. The woman staring back wasn't the scared girl who'd arrived months ago.

She was a force.

A queen in red.

And the war was just beginning.