Chapter 2
Alessia did not chase Garrett.
That was what he expected.
Instead, she turned toward Miriam.
“Doctor first.”
Garrett’s smile faltered.
Only slightly.
Miriam tried to object.
“I’m fine.”
Alessia took her mother’s hand.
Her thumb brushed once across Miriam’s knuckles.
“You’re shaking.”
Miriam looked down.
She was.
The admission seemed to cost her something.
“So are you.”
Alessia released a slow breath.
“Not for the same reason.”
The physician attending the gala examined Miriam in a private sitting room.
Bruising.
A strained wrist.
No fracture.
Alessia stayed beside her until the doctor finished.
She did not ask about Garrett.
That silence traveled through the house faster than an order.
When Alessia finally returned to the ballroom, most guests had left.
Garrett remained.
So did Evelyn.
Garrett had changed into a dry shirt brought by one of his men.
His posture had recovered.
His arrogance had too.
Alessia walked toward him.
“You sent edited footage.”
Garrett rolled his shoulder.
“I sent footage.”
“You removed what happened first.”
His eyes narrowed with amusement.
“Does context change your fist?”
Alessia stopped directly in front of him.
For one second neither moved.
Then Evelyn stepped between them.
Her pearl necklace rose and fell with one nervous breath.
“You've spent years convincing people you're different from your father.”
Alessia’s eyes shifted toward her.
Evelyn smiled.
“Tonight they saw the truth.”
Miriam entered behind Alessia.
She had heard.
Her face hardened.
Evelyn looked toward her.
“Still hiding behind your daughter?”
Miriam’s fingers tightened around her cardigan.
Alessia did not turn.
“Say one more thing to my mother.”
Garrett’s smile widened.
There.
The reaction he wanted.
Alessia saw it this time.
She went quiet.
Garrett waited.
Nothing happened.
His smile weakened.
Alessia looked toward her security chief.
“Full footage.”
“We’re pulling it now.”
“Every camera.”
“Yes.”
Garrett’s expression changed.
Only briefly.
Alessia noticed.
“What?”
He looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Nothing.”
“Garrett.”
He said nothing.
The security chief returned ten minutes later.
His face had gone pale.
Alessia felt Miriam’s hand touch her elbow.
“What happened?”
The man looked at Garrett.
Then at Alessia.
“The cameras recorded everything.”
Garrett’s shoulders loosened.
Alessia knew immediately that something was wrong.
The security chief continued.
“But someone deleted the first seven minutes before your attack.”
May you like
Garrett lowered his eyes.
This time he didn’t bother hiding the smile.
