ca's

u talking t

y phone and looked

an eyebro

ust a m

briefly settling on my phone before retur

ned "I

you that the dress for the anniversary celebr

l come downs

turned towards

u received any stran

nged slightly "Wha

ous just an u

ould stop answering strangers n

t answer

oo

person who smiles at you the most I wondered who the sender could be the next morning, I woke up earlier than usual. The anniversary celebration was only two days away, and the entire mansion seemed to be preparing for it. My mother had arranged for a stylist to come over, while my father spent most of his time on busines

th a polite smile "Go

d mo

to bring a few optio

t a beautiful black evening dress I ran

like it," my mother

returned, the stylist smiled appr

ant without being too revealing. My long black hair fell over my shoulders, bringing out the green in my eyes f

om my face I turned towa

"Make sure you keep your hair neat t

w

r my mother realised how much her words hurt me that afternoon, I decided to visit a small café near the shopping district. I needed a break from

gged her "Traffi

ur excuse

ings. For a little while, I forgot about my family and the stra

one sent me anoth

r cup down "W

expression became serious as she

w the number

haven't

N

s is clearly knows somet

hat's what

phone "Have you t

ents If I tell them, they'll probably accu

tell them bu

w

eld my hand "And remember, you don

"Thank yo

the mansion was unusually busy. Several employees were carrying boxes into the main hall, and my fat

ed "I w

informing

now I needed permissi

ardened "Watch y

my eyes "I

She's becoming q

y father adjust

portant. I don't want any unnecess

s,

ct you to re

ehind my brother stepped closer

him "What

e long memories, Monica don't expect e

"I haven't done

ling your

ng upstairs I was beginning to understand that attendi

my bedroom getting ready when my

lm

, simple earrings and a pair of silver heels. My hair was styled in soft w

a smile "

downstairs. We need to l

ka

ds the door but

es

our father in front of people. We have worked

r "Why would I

ust remember

ownstairs the celebration was being held at a luxurious hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The ballroom was decorated with crystal chandeliers, expensive floral arrangements and enormous screens displaying the Hayes

It's good t

ra stayed close to our mother I followed quietly. For once, I wanted to enjoy an evening without feeling like an outsider but that

responsible for

ly still allows her to

continued walking. A waiter passed with a tray

different from the last time I had seen him taller somehow, dressed in a perf

intly "It's

ded "

ily before looking back a

at was a difficult

gh he knew I wasn't tellin

er appeared beside us. "Henry!

ards him "Good e

but as I moved towards the refreshments table, I noticed something strange Myra was standing near the corridor, speaking to a man I didn't recognise. She looked nervous w

he corridor "Who w

ltered "Nobo

ain stage I moved closer, hoping the speech would be over quickly. My father stepped forward and welcomed the guests, speaking proudly about the company's achievements and the famil

eared for a brief moment another journalist stood up "Has H

are currently handling the matter internally, and I assure everyo

list spoke. "Mr Hayes, we've received information suggesting th

face made my heart sink. Something was wrong before I could understand what was happening, his assistant rushed towards him and whispered something into his ear. My father went com