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.