Every pair of eyes in the room snapped toward the entrance.
I walked in wearing a crimson gown beneath a black overcoat, flanked by Quinn and over a dozen bodyguards in dark suits.
William's smile froze on his face. Then his brow furrowed.
He strode off the stage, his voice a harsh whisper. "Seraphina, what the hell are you doing here? I told you to bring the authorization documents, not crash the event!"
Alma sidled up beside him, her voice dripping with wounded innocence. "Seraphina, even if you're upset with me, you can't cause a scene on such an important day for William..."
I didn't spare either of them a glance. I walked straight to the stage and picked up the microphone.
"Has Mr. Stephens gotten something confused?" My gaze swept the room, my voice cool and precise. "The neuro-degenerative therapy patent belongs to YZ Medical Consortium. And I, Seraphina Ashford, am YZ's sole executive director."
Silence swallowed the room whole.
William froze. His pupils contracted sharply. "What did you just say? YZ Consortium? Seraphina, have you lost your mind? Where do you get the nerve to impersonate—"
"Director Lambert." I cut him off.
The director of the private hospital, who had been seated in the VIP section all evening, rose immediately. He walked to me with measured steps and bowed deeply. "Director Ashford, the legal documents you requested are ready."
The silence that followed was absolute.
William looked as though lightning had struck him where he stood. He stared at me, disbelief cracking his composure wide open. "You... you're really YZ's executive director? Then these past five years..."
"These past five years were nothing more than me playing house with you." I hurled a thick stack of documents into his face. "Effective immediately, YZ Medical Consortium is revoking all patent authorizations to the Stephens Group and pulling every cent of investment. William, your IPO dream is over."
William's entire body trembled. The color drained from his face until he was white as paper.
The realization of what he'd lost hit him all at once. He lunged forward, grabbing for my hand. "Seraphina! Listen to me, let me explain. I didn't know. I didn't know it was you! I love you. I was deceived—"
"Deceived?" I let out a cold laugh. I was about to expose the truth about Alma's staged car accident when a vicious pain tore through my abdomen.