Amidst the hushed whispers, the crowd parted like the Red Sea.
On the stage, three glamorous figures finally deigned to look my way.
"Aria?"
The man on the left faltered, his expression crumbling.
That was my biological brother, Matthew Henson, President of the Henson Group.
On the right stood my childhood friend, the man I grew up with—Ryan Gilbert, now the capital's top "gold-medal" lawyer.
And standing between them, basking in their adoration, was Georgia Pruitt. The woman who stole everything from me.
Five years ago, she was just a poor student Ryan sponsored. Five years later, she was the Chief Assistant of the Henson Group and the cherished "little princess" held in the palms of the capital's two most eligible bachelors.
"Aria, is it really you?"
Georgia's eyes widened in feigned surprise, tears instantly welling up to make her look sympathetic. "Sister, how much have you suffered? You used to love beauty so much... how could you come here dressed like *this*?"
She sounded heartbroken, as if she were defending me.
Ryan's brow furrowed heavily. He scanned me from head to toe, his gaze dripping with revulsion.
"You reek of poverty." He didn't bother masking his disgust. "Did you come back specifically to make Georgia uncomfortable, or just to humiliate Matthew?"
Ice-cold. The eyes that once looked at me with affection were now walled off by indifference.
Matthew strode over, his expression complicated.
"Aria, you're being incredibly ignorant. Is this the place to make a scene?" His voice dropped to a hiss, as if speaking to me was a stain on his reputation. "Security! Bring Georgia's spare dress... actually, no. That one is too expensive. Just find a waiter's uniform and put it on her!"
Impatience bled into every syllable.
I didn't answer.
I simply tossed the dirty woven bag I was holding onto the marble floor with a dull thud.
"No need to trouble yourselves." My gaze slid over Matthew without a hint of emotion. "I'm here to sign the agreement relinquishing my inheritance rights. Once I sign, I'll leave."
Matthew grabbed my arm, his grip bruising, and dragged me toward the VIP lounge as if terrified I'd bolt halfway there.
Ryan spent less than three minutes printing the documents. He threw them onto the coffee table in front of me with a sneer.