Chapter 73
Camille's point of view
The Kane mansion gleamed like a jewel against the night sky, every window ablaze with light, every entrance adorned with arrangements of fire lilies and black orchids. Limousines lined the circular driveway, de I watched it all from Victoria's private study, a closed-
circuit feed showing me every entrance, every reaction, every whispered speculation about why Kane Industries had gathered such an illustrious crowd on this particular evening.
"They're calling it the event of the season," Victoria said, adjusting the
diamond clip in my hair. "Everyone who matters in New York is
here, wondering what magnificent announcement Camille Kane plans to make."
I barely heard her, my eyes fixed on the feed showing the main entrance. Rose had just arrived, looking thinner than I remembered but still maintaining that perfect poise that had once made me so jealous. Her dress, likely one of the few remaining from her collapsed fashion line, was a study in understated elegance. No one watching her would guess that her company had failed, her reputation was in tatters, and her Only I could see the strain around her eyes, the slightly too-
tight smile, the carefully hidden desperation of a woman clinging to the last threads of her social standing.
didn't come," Victoria noted, following my gaze. "The invitation was returned twice
said softly. "She couldn't bear being
about. Even if it meant
Victoria nodded. "And Stefan?"
another camera feed, scanning the growing crowd until
near a pillar, looking uncomfortable
months had aged him visibly, his once confident posture now
11
of satisfaction curving her lips. "Perfect positioning for what's to come." She
revenge, was I ready for the moment when everyone would finally
the steadiness in my
Victoria nodded
nine o'clock precisely. You'll enter from the left side of the stage. Everything is prepared exactly as we discussed."
me was both familiar and strange, Camille Kane's surgically perfected features overlaying Camille
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