---- Chapter 5 The ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton was buzzing. Everleigh Hooper, radiant in a designer gown, was holding a press conference to announce her "miraculous recovery" and her engagement to Ignatz Turner. She was in the middle of a glowing speech about their love story when the grand doors at the back of the room swung open. | walked in. The room fell silent. Every camera, every eye, turned to me. | was dressed in a simple, elegant black dress, my head held high. The bandage on my forehead was a stark white against my pale skin. Ignatz, standing beside Everleigh, went pale. "Genevieve," he hissed, his voice a mixture of shock and fury. "What are you doing here?" | walked calmly up to the stage, stopping directly in front of him. | held out a single piece of paper. The divorce certificate. "Congratulations on your engagement," | said, my voice clear and steady. "I just wanted to make sure you had a copy of this. Since you were in such a hurry when you signed the agreement." ---- His eyes widened in disbelief. He snatched the paper, his pupils shrinking as he read the official stamp. He grabbed my wrist, his grip like steel. "No," he whispered, his voice shaking. "We can fix this, Gen. We can. "Iggy," Everleigh whined, tugging at his other arm. "Tell her to leave." He didn't seem to hear her. He was just staring at me, his face a canvas of dawning horror. Just then, the ballroom doors slammed open again, this time with such force that they banged against the walls. A man strode in, flanked by a team of sharp-suited security guards. He was older, with silver hair and an aura of immense power that silenced the remaining whispers in the room. A wave of murmurs rippled through the press. "Is that... Arlington Foley?" "The CEO of Foley Tech? What's he doing here?" Everleigh's eyes lit up. She dropped Ignatz's arm and rushed forward, her smile dazzling. "Mr. Foley! What an honor! I'm Everleigh Hooper, I'm a huge admirer of your work." She held out her hand, ready to network with one of the most powerful men in the country ---- | didn't move. | just stood there, watching. Arlington Foley's cold, piercing gaze swept over Everleigh as if she were a piece of lint on his suit. His eyes scanned the room and then locked onto me. The hard lines of his face softened almost imperceptibly. He walked past the fawning Everleigh, past the stunned Ignatz, and stopped in front of me. He held out his arm. Without a word, | took it, linking my arm through his. It felt like coming home. Ignatz stared, his mouth hanging open. "What is this? What's going on?" he stammered, looking wildly from me to the tech titan. "Mr. Foley, you should know, your niece, Everleigh, she..." Arlington Foley cut him off with a cold, dismissive laugh. "Niece? Turner, you're an even bigger fool than | thought." The crowd buzzed with confusion. | looked at Ignatz, at the man who had destroyed my life, and | delivered the final, killing blow. "He's not her uncle, Ignatz," | said, my voice soft but carrying in the dead silent room. "He's my father." The color drained completely from Everleigh's face. She looked like she had seen a ghost.