Chapter 57 Chapter 57
Silence.
A deep silence followed Cynthia's entry.
It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room.
She confidently walked inside even after everyone's heads turned to her. She didn't hesitate, not even for a second.
She was wearing a deep emerald silk dress that clung to her body as if it had been made for her alone. I remember, selecting that dress for her personally. I never knew she would use it like this.
Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders and the soft fabric of her dress moved with every step she took. She looked more like a host than a guest.
Suddenly, whispers erupted almost instantly among the guests.
“Isn’t that—” “Cynthia…?” “She’s back?” “With him here?”
Every pair of eyes in the room was on her and the cameras moved to her. My father didn't seem to be very pleased by it. He was about to make a very important announcement which was ruined.
But Cynthia?
She didn't look at the cameras. Her eyes burned with fire as she looked at my father, a fire that I had never seen before. And then slowly her eyes moved to me, ignoring all the gazes and the cameras.
The silence that followed was deafening. My fingers tightened around the glass in my hand until I thought it might shatter.
Even from far I can see a slight smirk playing across her lips. The challenge was quite clear in her eyes.
I asked her to stay home.
How dare she come here!
“What is she doing here?” Sofia’s voice reached my ears. I can feel her burning with anger.
Cynthia continued walking further into the ballroom, completely unaffected by the attention, the whispers, the judgment.
Like she had expected it.
Planned for it.
Owned it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention on the stage, please" the host announced.
The guests turned their heads to the stage. My father cleared her throat. He was looking offended. He gave me one sharp look as if I were responsible for it.
"Here, I am to announce the engagement of my son, Lucien Vaughn to Sophia Lopez"
The ballroom suddenly erupted into cheers. I know my father must have prepared a script but he cut it short and directly made the announcement. He must be feeling humiliated.
But what caught my attention was Cynthia. I was expecting her to be surprised but instead she was clapping with a wide smile on her face and I know it wasn't a fake one.
When the father stepped down from the stage, the attention once again shifted to Cynthia. The paparazzi ran to her.
“Ms. Vale! Where have you been all these years?”
“Why did you disappear overnight?”
“Are you here for Mr. Vaughn?”
“Is it true you were married after leaving him?”
The paparazzi kept asking her questions continuously while she stood there with a soft smile on her lips.
She never liked being the centre of attention but right now it seems like she is enjoying it.
The kind that owns the room.
“I think,” she began, in a calm yet firm voice, “you all have too many questions and not enough patience.”
A few of them chuckled nervously but didn't step back. They looked impressed by her.
I could feel my father intensely gazing at her as if he wanted to kill her at that moment. My father was one of the biggest reasons for not bringing her here.
“I was exactly where I needed to be,” she said simply. “Away from unnecessary noise… building something of my own.”
Her eyes flickered to me for a fraction of a second and then back to the cameras.
“As for my personal life,” she continued, folding her hands lightly in front of her, “I don’t think it requires public clarification.”
“Ms. Vale you had a past with Mr. Vaugh. Do you have anything to say about the engagement announcement?”
She turned her head to the reporter who asked the question.
“The past is past.” she tilted her head slightly.
Her words were followed by a silence. It was not what everyone was expecting from her.
“Situation changes and people move on. . And sometimes… distance gives you the clarity you didn’t have before. And I believe Mr. Thorne and I,” she added, without looking at me this time, “have both moved on… quite well.”
The crowd started whispering among themselves. Sophia, who was still standing beside me, let out a deep breath of relief and clung to my arm more.
All eyes snapped between the two of us.
“That being said,” she continued smoothly, “I didn’t come here to talk about the past.” She shrugged and straightened her back "I am here as the sole heir of my father’s legacy.”
My eyes slightly narrowed at her. Every ear, every camera, every ounce of attention in that room was on her.
“My father built something from nothing, and it was taken away but what was taken… can be rebuilt.”
Her shoulders straightened.
What is she up to?
“I have officially reinitiated the operations of my father’s company,” she announced and my eyes widened in surprise. Ripples of gasps could be heard in the room “under a new structure and independent management.”
My spit gets caught in my throat.
When did she do that?
“And I am here tonight,” she added, “not as a guest… but as a participant.” Her eyes now moved among the guests, scanning the faces, confidently and fearlessly. “I am opening doors for strategic partnerships, investments, and collaborations.”
My hold on the glass tightened so much that I was surprised it didn't shatter yet.
Who is backing her because I am sure she can't do all this alone.
She walked ahead confidently and the paparazzi gave her way, clicking pictures as if she were the show stopper.
That was enough of me watching her drama. I need to put her in place.
I could take only one step toward her, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"What are you doing, Lucien!" My father said from behind "Paparazzi is all around"
My jaw clenched and fists tightened.
Suddenly a man approached Cynthia and the colour of my face drained when I saw who he was ...