The ballroom remained silent as the guards positioned themselves beside Vivianne. For a moment, she looked around, expecting someone to defend her. No one did.
Chapter 1: The Fall of Vivianne Carter
The ballroom remained silent as the guards positioned themselves beside Vivianne.
For a moment, she looked around, expecting someone to defend her.
No one did.
The women who had laughed with her moments earlier suddenly found great interest in their champagne glasses. The businessmen who had once competed for her attention stepped backward.
Distance had become protection.
"You're all making a mistake," Vivianne said, forcing confidence into her voice.
Aiyana merely raised an eyebrow.
"A mistake?" she asked calmly. "You threw wine at the owner of this estate in front of three hundred witnesses."
The words hit harder than the wine ever could.
Vivianne's face drained of color.
The head of security stepped forward.
"Miss Carter, please come with us."
"You can't do this!"
Aiyana's gaze remained steady.
"I already have."
The guards escorted Vivianne toward the exit.
As the grand doors opened, camera flashes exploded outside.
Reporters.
Someone had leaked the story.
Vivianne's humiliation was no longer confined to the ballroom.
May you like
It had become tomorrow's headline.
And for the first time in years, she realized money could not buy back respect once it was lost.
