The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 256

Chapter 256: Gala

The following evening found Vivian being chauffeured to one of the city's most prestigious a museums for its annual gala exhibition opening. She sat rigidly in the back of the town car fingers fiddling with the dazzling diamond rivière at her throat.

Part of her was still in mild disbelief that this was actually her life now-draped in jewels fi for royalty, about to play the role of a high society wife on Mathew Shaw's arm. Just a few weeks prior, she had been a struggling actress barely keeping herself and her niece financiall afloat. Now she floated in a strange parallel universe of opulence and unreality.

As they pulled up to the museum's entrance, a small crowd of paparazzi and art patrons ha already gathered behind velvet ropes, eagerly craning to catch glimpses of the night's ests Vivian took a steadying breath, squaring her shoulders as Joe opened her door and offered ar arm to help her from the car.

"Just follow my lead and keep that chin up," he muttered under his breath as they ascended the broad staircase toward the entrance. "You're supposed to own this scene, understand?"

Vivian gave the slightest of nods, subtly adjusting the layered folds of her shimmering silver gown. Hundreds of crystal accents refracted the flashing lights into prismatic sparks, drawing more than a few stunned looks her way. She lifted her chin higher, back ramrod straight as she glided across the crimson carpet, the picture of regal confidence.

The museum's executive art director himself was waiting inside the opulent lobby, looking every bit the effete curator in his tuxedo and wire-rimmed glasses. He greeted Vivian with exaggerated deference, an obsequious smile plastered across his narrow face. "Mrs. Shaw, we are beyond honored to have you here tonight. We've been looking forward to this moment for weeks." He moved to take her hand, flashing a quick look of surprise when Joe smoothly intercepted, shaking it firmly instead.

Vivian allowed the businessman to bend reverentially over her knuckles, dipping into a courtly bow. "Please, allow me to give you the personal grand tour before we open up to the masses."

Without awaiting a response, he turned and gestured for them to follow, prattling on about the prestigious exhibits and pieces being unveiled as they swept through the thick of the milling crowd. More than a few heads turned in vivian's wake, incredulous murmurs rippling out as attendees took stock of her eye-catching jewels and imperious entourage of bodyguards. She could feel the weight of their curious stares, prickling over her skin. Clearly, word was rapidly spreading about the mysterious diamond-draped woman who had arrived in such extravagant style, yet no one seemed able to identify precisely. Their confusion only amplified as the sycophantic art director rolled out the red carpet treatment, simpering over Vivian's every vague hum of acknowledgment.

At one point, they swept through a secondary gallery area where Vivian could hear a familiar

apter 256. Gala

being passed in hushed tones from group to group. Shaw... Shaw's wife... The

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a portly middle-aged man in an ill-fitting tuxedo, finally dared to approach as they

madsam," he spoke up in a thick brooklynite accent, dabbing sweat from his brow. "But there's been

peel away her regal facade. She took a slow breath through her

with as much hauteur as she could project. "Wife to Mathew Shaw, Head of the

allowed the gasps and muttering to ripple through the assembled patrons. The art director looked like he might faint from excitement over entertaining such a connected figure without proper forewarning. "Oh, but of course, of course...! The honor is truly ours, Mrs. Shaw!" He bustled over, palms

she already knew the man's excessive sucking up was likely to get worse

won't be necessary. I'll enjoy perusing

presence - and apparent status - fully sank in. For the next hour, she moved in a strange bubble of deference, able to step up and examine any piece from just inches away while crowds of the city's elite parted ahead of her. No one dared approach inappropriately, though she could sense the air practically thrumming with unanswered questions. Just who was this woman who had seemed to materialize from nowhere into the Shaw family fold? And how had

for her, yet her every appearance in public was rapidly metastasizing into high theater for consumption. Enough was enough - she refused to be paraded about like an prize filly any longer this evening. She turned on a heel and mutely signaled Joe

onto the

curb and merged into traffic did Vivian allow herself to physically deflate back against the leather seat, pinching the bridge of her nose as if staving off the beginnings of a tension headache. Playing the role of an unbothered, haughty socialite was utterly

a sidelong look through the rearview as he navigated them back

Mathew. As if he takes pleasure in parading me before people to see how they'll react." Joe hummed noncommittally, leaving Vivian to simply stew

residence. As she mounted the front steps, her phone began buzzing with an incoming call. Fishing it from her purse,

she accepted. "I have some excellent news -