Valeria's POV
Sienna burst into my bedroom at six in the morning.
"Get up! We have four hours!"
I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. "Four hours until what?"
"Until you show this city who Valeria Arden really is." She yanked the blanket off. "The charity gala starts at ten. You're going. End of discussion."
"Sienna, I can't. Someone sent me that threat yesterday. They're watching me."
"All the more reason to go." She pulled me out of bed. "Bad guys love scared victims. Show them you're not afraid."
"But I am afraid."
"Then fake it." She dragged me toward the bathroom. "Shower. Now. We have work to do."
Thirty minutes later, I sat in front of my mirror while Sienna worked magic with makeup.
"Stop frowning," she ordered. "You'll get wrinkles."
"I'm going to walk into a room full of people who read about my divorce online. They all know Kane cheated. They know I was hiding my identity. They probably think I'm pathetic."
"They think you're fascinating." Sienna blended something on my cheeks. "Trust me. Every woman there wishes she had your story. Poor girl marries badly, turns out to be rich, dumps the loser, reclaims her throne. It's perfect."
"It's humiliating."
"It's powerful." She spun my chair around to face her. "Listen to me. You survived two years with a man who treated you like dirt. You walked away with your head up. You came home to family who loves you. That's not weakness, Val. That's strength."
Tears burned my eyes. "Don't make me cry. You just did my makeup."
"Then don't cry." She smiled. "Save it for when you see Kane's face later."
"Kane will be there?"
"Probably not. But half the city will be. And they'll all be staring at you." Sienna picked up a lipstick. "So let's give them something worth staring at."
Two hours later, I barely recognized myself in the mirror.
My hair fell in soft waves. My makeup made me look older, stronger. Sienna had designed a simple dress that somehow made me feel like royalty.
"Perfect." Sienna grinned. "Now let's go break the internet."
Lucien waited downstairs with two security guards.
"You look beautiful, little sister." He kissed my forehead. "Ready?"
"No."
"Good. Honesty is important." He guided me toward the door. "These men will stay close. Don't go anywhere alone. Understand?"
"The threat said no bodyguards."
"The threat can go to hell." Lucien's jaw tightened. "You're my sister. You don't go anywhere without protection."
The car ride felt too short. Before I knew it, we pulled up to the event hall.
Cameras flashed immediately.
"Ms. Arden! Look here!"
"Valeria! How does it feel to be back?"
"Is it true your ex-husband is bankrupt?"
Lucien squeezed my hand. "Breathe. Smile. Walk."
I stepped out of the car.
The crowd went crazy.
More cameras. More shouting. People pushing to get closer.
Sienna appeared on my other side. "Remember. You're a queen. Queens don't run."
I lifted my chin and walked forward.
The photographers loved it. Flashes exploded everywhere.
Inside the event hall, conversations stopped. Every head turned.
I wanted to run. Hide. Disappear.
Instead, I smiled and kept walking.
"Valeria Arden!" A woman rushed over. "I'm Rebecca Stone from the charity board. We're so honored you came!"
"Thank you for having me."
"Your family has always been generous supporters." Rebecca beamed. "Will you be continuing that tradition?"
Before I could answer, someone else interrupted.
"Valeria?"
I turned.
Adrian Cross stood there, looking like he stepped out of a magazine. Confident. Handsome. Smiling.
"Adrian." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "It's been a long time."
"Three years." He took my hand and kissed it. "You look stunning. Even more beautiful than I remembered."
Sienna coughed loudly beside me.
"This is my best friend, Sienna Vale," I said quickly.
"The fashion designer." Adrian shook her hand. "I've heard about your work. Impressive."
"And I've heard about your work," Sienna replied sweetly. "Buying companies and breaking hearts. Very impressive."
Adrian laughed. "Direct. I like that."
"Valeria!" Another voice called.
Damon pushed through the crowd, looking worried. He saw Adrian and stopped.
The two men stared at each other.
"Damon Hale." Adrian's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Still following Valeria around, I see."
"Still pretending to care about people, I see." Damon moved closer to me. "Val, we need to talk. Now."
"We're in the middle of—"
"Now." His tone left no room for argument.
Adrian stepped between us. "The lady is busy."
"The lady can speak for herself." Damon's voice went cold. "Back off, Cross."
"Make me, Hale."
"Stop it!" I hissed. "Both of you. People are watching."
They were. Everyone nearby had stopped talking to stare at us.
"Fine." Damon took a breath. "But I need five minutes. Please."
Something in his eyes scared me. "Okay. Five minutes."
Adrian looked unhappy but stepped aside. "I'll save you a seat for the presentation."
Damon pulled me toward a quieter corner.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Everything." He showed me his phone. "Lucien just sent this."
A message: Elias Ward escaped custody. Location unknown. Be alert.
My stomach dropped. "Escaped? How?"
"Someone helped him. Someone with money and connections." Damon glanced around nervously. "He could be here. At this event."
"Why would he come here?"
"Because you're here. And he blames you for everything falling apart."
Fear crawled up my spine. "We should leave."
"No. Running makes you look guilty. Plus, Lucien has security everywhere." Damon put his phone away. "Just stay close to me or your brother. Don't go anywhere alone."
A waiter walked by with champagne glasses. I grabbed one and drank it fast.
"Easy." Damon caught my hand. "You need to stay alert."
"I need to stop shaking."
"You're doing great. Everyone here thinks you're confident and strong."
"I'm terrified."
"I know. But you're still standing. That's what matters." He squeezed my hand gently. "I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise."
The lights dimmed. Someone announced the charity presentation would begin.
Everyone moved toward their seats.
I turned to follow Sienna but bumped into someone.
"Sorry," I said automatically.
The person grabbed my arm. Hard.
I looked up.
Sarah stood there, her face bruised and swollen. Blood stained her shirt. Her eyes looked wild.
"You," she whispered. "This is all your fault."
"Sarah? What happened? Are you—"
"They took me because of you!" Her nails dug into my skin. "They hurt me because you didn't pay!"
People started noticing. Gasping. Taking photos.
"Sarah, let go. You're hurt. You need help—"
"I need you to die!" She screamed it. Right in my face.
Security rushed over.
But Sarah pulled something from her purse.
A knife.
She raised it high.
Everyone screamed.
I froze.
The blade came down toward my chest.
Someone slammed into me from the side. We crashed to the floor.
I heard Sarah scream. Heard running footsteps. Heard chaos everywhere.
Strong arms wrapped around me, protecting me.
I looked up.
Damon covered my body with his, breathing hard.
"Are you okay?" he gasped.
"I think so. Are you—"
He winced. Rolled off me.
His white shirt turned red.
Blood. So much blood.
"Damon!" I pressed my hands against the wound in his side. "No, no, no! Help! Someone help!"
He smiled weakly. "Told you... I'd protect you..."
His eyes closed.
"Damon! Stay awake! Please!" Tears poured down my face. "Don't leave me! Please don't leave me!"
Sienna dropped beside me, calling 911.
Lucien appeared, barking orders at security.
Adrian pushed through the crowd, his face pale.
But I couldn't look away from Damon's blood on my hands.
And somewhere in the chaos, someone whispered in my ear:
"Ten million. Tomorrow. Or next time, we won't miss."
I looked up.
No one was there.
Just the crowd. The cameras. The blood.
And Damon dying in my arms.