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“What do you think of this heiress<b>?</b>” a woman in a pale blue off–shoulder gown asked, her jeweled clutch resting delicately in her hand. Her name was Vicky Hale, wife of one of the Be family’s long–time business partners. “I never knew the Bes were hiding a daughter. Or was it a granddaughter? The introductions were vague.<b>” </b>
Beside her, Eleanor More, dressed in a fitted emerald–green gown with a long slit that revealed a pair of diamond–studded heels, sipped her champagne. “Granddaughter. But I agree, it’s strange. I’ve been attending Be events for over twenty years and never once heard her mentioned. No photographs, no rumors in the magazines. Nothing.”
“That’s exactly my point,” Richard Langston, a broad–shouldered man in a dark tailored suit, said as he adjusted his drink. “How does someone just appear out of nowhere and suddenly be the Be Heiress<b>? </b>They’re not amateurs. If they kept her hidden this long, it was intentional.”
“Intentional or not,” Vicky said, lowering her voice slightly. “The question is why. Was she illegitimate? A scandal the family buried until now?<b>” </b>
Eleanor raised a brow. “If she was illegitimate, would Mary Be really put a crown on her head tonight of all nights? You know how that woman is, every move of hers is calcted. There must be a reason.”
Richard leaned in a little. “I heard rumors she lived abroad for years, possibly under a different name. That would exin theck of sightings.”
“Abroad?” Vicky scoffed. “Wealthy families always say that when they’re covering something. I’ve sent my children abroad for schooling, and believe me, people still know where they are. This girl… what was her name again?”
“That wasn’t even included on the invitations,” someone answered.
“See? She was hidden. And hidden well.”
“Ma, what do you think of this heiress?<b>” </b>ire leaned towards Vanessa. “Do you think this is even real?”
“Who cares about an heiress?” Vanessa sneered. “Even if this rumored heiress is even real, she is not going to inherit everything. <b>It’s </b>James Be.”
“Speaking of James…”
“He must be apanying his grandmother, I heard they are really close. Come… I can see Mr and Mrs. Be, let me introduce you to her.” Vanessa said.
Vanessa’s gaze flicked toward Samuel, who had kept his silence since they arrived. He stood stilly, jaw <b>set</b>, as though he would rather be anywhere else. She red at him until he finally shifted his weight.
“Come,” she ordered under her breath. “I’ll introduce you to the Bes.”
Samuel followed behind as Vanessa and ire made their way across the hall. Adam and Deana Be stood near the center, greeting guests with the <b>ease </b>of people long used to being the focus of attention.
<b>9:26 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15 <b>d </b>
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“Mr. and Mrs. Be,” Vanessa said warmly, her smile stretched wide as she reached them. “What a pleasure to see you both again.”
Adam Be tilted his head, squinting for a moment before a thin smile curved his lips. “Ah… Mrs. Dwight, isn’t it? Yes, yes. It has been some time.”
Vanessa’s face lit up at the recognition, though Adam’s tone carried just enough pause <i>to </i>sting. “Allow me to introduce my children. This <b>is </b>my daughter, ire Dwight-”
ire stepped forward, lowering her head with what she hoped was elegance.
“And my son, Samuel Dwight.”
Adam’s smile tightened. “Samuel… Samuel Dwight, yes. The future son–inw of the Arden family, isn’t that right?”
Deana Be’s brows arched slightly as she sipped her wine. “Ah yes, the engagement that made headlines. Quite the story. The ident was dreadful, of course. The poor Arden girl… such a tragedy.”
Adam nodded solemnly, though his eyes flickered with something sharper. “One might hope, with all the noise in the media, that her fiance would be more present by her side instead of letting the journalists do the work of painting a picture.”
Samuel’s nostrils red, his fists flexing at his sides. He could feel that these people know more than they are saying. But is that any of their business<b>? </b>Before he could open his mouth, Vanessa’s hand shot out, lightly brushing his sleeve in warning.
“Of course he is taking care of her,” Vanessa said quickly, herugh forced but bright. “Talia is already living in Samuel’s house so he can personally see to her recovery after her surgeries. There is no better way to ensure herfort.”
ire gave a satisfied nod as though that exnation was enough, but Vanessa’s own thoughts wandered bitterly. Surgeries. Yes, that was plural. That foolish girl had needed facial reconstruction after the drunk driving incident that nearly ruined their ns.
No amount of coddling or hand–holding would change the fact that she was a liability. Still, for now, Talia was their connection <i>to </i>the Arden name, and Vanessa would swallow her disgust until the alliance was secured.
Adam gave a polite hum<b>, </b>his expression carefully unreadable. “<b>I </b>see. Well, we do wish her the best with her recovery. Truly. And of course, the wedding, surely it will happen very soon, yes? After all, everyone is expecting it.”
“Oh, it will happen sooner than you think,” Vanessa said with an awkwardugh, trying to keep her tone light. “Of course, when the timees, I’ll be sending both of you an invitation. You’ll be at the top of the list.”
To her surprise, Adam was already turning away to talk to other guests while Deana’s eyes lingered on Samuel for just a moment longer, before she turned back to greet another guest.
For some reason, Vanessa couldn’t shake the feeling that Adam and Deana Be disliked her and her family. Their polite smiles never reached their eyes, and every word they spoke seemed to carry a hidden edge.
She reyed past encounters in her mind, trying to remember if she had ever said or done anything to
9:27 Mon, Sep 15 <b>d</b>..
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offend them. Nothing stood out. She even tried to think back to interactions with their circle of friends, wondering if she had unintentionally caused offense there, but again, she came up with nothing. No matter how she turned it over, she couldn’t find a clear reason for the coldness.
“Ma… is that… Emery?” ire’s voice pulled Vanessa’s attention.
Vanessa followed her daughter’s gaze, and her breath caught. It wasn’t Emery’s presence alone that made her pause, it was the
it was the way she appeared by the stairs. Emery was dressed in a striking fire–red gown that clung to her frame, the fabric flowing behind her like a trail of me. A beautiful ne rested against her corbone, its rare gem catching every bit of light in the room, making her impossible to ignore.
What unsettled Vanessa even more was who nked her. On one side was James Be, unmistakable in his tailored gray suit, his posture sharp and formal. On the other side walked Mary Be herself, the matriarch,manding attention simply by being there.
However, before Vanessa could react to Emery’s appearance, she turned and just as she expected, Samuel was no longer standing with them. Her eyes darted around the room, irritation shing across her face. “Damn it!” she cursed under her breath.
AD