Chapter 4 - The Dress Made of Spite
The night of the Sterling Corporate Gala arrived with all the sickening opulence I expected.
Dominic had rented out the grand ballroom of the city’s most expensive hotel. Chandeliers dripped with crystal, champagne flowed like water, and the city’s elite mingled, unaware they were about to witness a massacre.
I stood in the shadows of the mezzanine, looking down at the crowd.
I wasn't wearing the modest, conservative business suits Dominic always forced me into.
Tonight, I wore a backless, blood-red silk gown that clung to every curve. My hair was swept up, my lips painted the color of vengeance.
Down below, Dominic was holding court. He wore a custom tuxedo, holding Brooke by the waist. Brooke was dripping in diamonds—my diamonds, taken from my personal safe.
Victoria was parading three-year-old Liam around to the board members.
"This is the future of Sterling Enterprises!" Victoria bragged to a group of elderly shareholders. "A strong, healthy boy. Not like that... other unfortunate creature."
My blood boiled, but my heart remained ice-cold.
Mr. Vance stepped up beside me, handing me an iPad.
"Everything is in place, Clara," he said. "The servers are locked. The media has been anonymously tipped off. The police are waiting in the underground parking lot."
"Are the board members briefed?" I asked, my eyes fixed on Dominic.
"The ones that matter. The ones who know that you are the real brain behind the company."
"Good."
A microphone screeched slightly downstairs as Dominic stepped up to the grand podium. The room fell silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed partners," Dominic began, flashing his charismatic smile. "Thank you for joining us tonight. This year has been monumental for Sterling Enterprises. Our expansion into Asia has tripled our revenue."
Polite applause echoed through the room.
"But tonight is not just about business," Dominic continued, reaching out to pull Brooke up onto the stage.
"Tonight is about family. Many of you know that my marriage has been... strained. But I have found my true north. Brooke has been my rock, and together, we are raising my true heir, Liam."
The crowd murmured in surprise. This was a bold, scandalous move.
"Therefore, I am officially announcing my divorce, and my upcoming marriage to this beautiful woman!"
Brooke beamed, waving at the crowd like royalty.
I took a deep breath. The stage was set. The actors had played their parts perfectly.
Now, it was time to burn the theater down.
I stepped out of the shadows, walking down the grand sweeping staircase. The click of my crimson heels echoed over the silence.
"A beautiful speech, Dominic," my voice rang out, amplified by the perfect acoustics of the room.
Every head in the ballroom snapped toward me.
Dominic's smile instantly vanished. Brooke took a step back, her face paling.
"Clara?" Dominic choked out into the microphone. "What are you doing here? Security! Get her out!"
"I don't think they'll do that," I smiled, reaching the bottom of the stairs and walking straight into the center of the crowd.
Two massive security guards stepped forward, but stopped immediately when Mr. Vance flashed a piece of paper at them.
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I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, taking a slow sip.
"I'm here to celebrate, darling. You said it yourself... this year was monumental. But you forgot to mention who actually built the monument."
