Chapter 4

Scarlett POV:

The annual O'Hara Legacy wine launch gala was the pinnacle of the Virginia social season, an event I used to anticipate with fluttering excitement, always on Julian's arm. This year, it was going to be a battlefield.

Instead of waiting for Julian to escort me, I called Carter.

"Carter, I need a date for the Legacy gala," I said, no preamble.

"I thought you'd never ask," he replied instantly, a warm smile in his voice. "I'll pick you up at seven."

The centerpiece of the gala was the ceremonial uncorking of the first bottle of our new vintage, a tradition reserved for the O'Hara heir. It was a symbolic act, a passing of the torch in front of the media, our biggest clients, and all of our peers. It was my right. Lily had been dropping hints for weeks, fluttering her eyelashes at Julian, making it clear she felt she was more deserving of the honor.

When Carter and I walked into the grand ballroom, a hush fell over the crowd. He was devastatingly handsome in a tailored tuxedo, and I wore a blood-red gown that left nothing to the imagination. We were a power couple, and we knew it.

I spotted them near the champagne fountain-Julian, Lily, and the other five knights. Julian's eyes locked on mine, darkening when he saw my hand resting on Carter's arm. Lily clung to him, her smile a little too bright, a little too forced.

When the time came for the ceremony, Julian, as the acting head of the estate, took the stage.

"Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice smooth and confident. "Tonight, we celebrate a new chapter for O'Hara Vineyards. And in that spirit, we have a small change to our tradition."

My stomach clenched. I knew what was coming.

"The honor of opening the first bottle of the Legacy 2024," he announced, smiling down at Lily, "will go to someone who I believe truly embodies the passion and spirit of this family. Miss Lily Vance."

A wave of shocked whispers rippled through the room. It was a public slap in the face. He was stripping me of my birthright in front of everyone who mattered and handing it to her. Lily, looking angelic in a white dress, glided onto the stage, her eyes shining with triumph.

Julian handed her the ceremonial corkscrew. "The future of O'Hara is in your hands," he said, loud enough for the microphone to catch it.