Chapter 7 - The Gala of Wolves
Forty-eight hours later, the annual Manhattan Heritage Gala commenced at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This was the pinnacle of New York high society. Corrupt politicians, syndicate bosses, billionaire developers, and socialites rubbed shoulders under the gilded ceilings, drinking vintage champagne from crystal flutes.
At the center of the grand gallery stood Chloe Reed, wearing a backless emerald gown, holding court with Oliver Vance and Marco Rossi.
Chloe was glowing, sipping champagne, laughing loudly. "My poor stepsister," she sighed theatrically to a circle of reporters. "She vanished after that terrible incident at the Venetian. The police say she may have run away with some criminal. I’ve already stepped in to assume full control of our family firm to protect our clients."
"You did the right thing, darling," Oliver chimed in, adjusting his new diamond cufflinks. "A woman like that was always unstable."
Marco smiled, raising his glass. "To family enterprise. Undivided and uninterrupted."
Suddenly, the grand doors at the top of the marble staircase swung open.
The classical orchestra faltered. The chatter in the grand gallery died down to an absolute, echoing hush.
Walking down the grand staircase was Harper Reed.
She wore a bespoke, blood-red silk gown that cascaded like liquid fire down her silhouette. Her dark brown hair was styled in an immaculate, sovereign updo, exposing the diamond-and-sapphire choker resting against her collarbone—an heirloom belonging to the Rossi matriarchs for three generations.
And beside her, holding her arm with proprietary grace, walked Salvatore Rossi.
He was in an all-black bespoke tuxedo, his posture commanding, his gaze sweeping the room like a monarch surveying condemned men. Flanking them in the shadows behind were Dante and twelve armed security operatives in matching charcoal suits.
Chloe’s champagne glass slipped from her hand, shattering loudly against the marble.
"Harper...?" Chloe choked out, her face turning pale as bone. "You're... you're alive?"
Harper stopped at the bottom of the grand staircase, looking down at her stepsister with a smile that was colder than a winter grave.
"Alive, Chloe," Harper's voice echoed through the silent museum. "And I brought the receipts."
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👉 What shocking revelation is Harper about to reveal in front of the entire city elite?
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