Chapter 4 - Sloane’s Last PerformanceSloane Harrington had never been ignored in her life.
She had been feared, envied, flattered, invited, photographed, and excused.
But now, while checks were written and donors whispered apologies to Clara, Sloane stood near the ruined strip of silver silk as if she had become furniture.
No one looked at her unless they had to.
That was what broke her.
“This is ridiculous!” she shouted.
The room stopped again.
Nolan whispered, “Sloane, don’t.”
She spun on him. “You coward.”
His face flushed. “You assaulted his wife.”
“I embarrassed a volunteer.”
A stunned silence followed.
Even Sloane realized too late what she had said.
Clara stepped down from the stage.
Dominic followed close behind her, but he did not interfere.
Sloane pointed at Clara. “You planned this. You wanted everyone to feel sorry for you.”
Clara stopped a few feet away.
“I planned to carry champagne and go home.”
“You married him,” Sloane snapped. “Don’t pretend you’re innocent.”
Dominic’s expression darkened.
Clara lifted one hand slightly, stopping him.
Sloane saw the gesture and laughed. “Look at that. She controls him with one little touch. Is that your secret, Clara? You tame monsters by acting fragile?”
The room went cold.
Dominic’s old reputation pressed against the walls.
Clara’s face changed.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
“You think kindness is weakness because cruelty is the only strength you understand.”
Sloane’s eyes filled with furious tears.
“My family built half this city.”
“No,” Clara said. “Your family inherited half this city. There is a difference.”
Someone gasped.
Sloane lunged forward.
Security moved instantly.
But Clara did not step back.
Dominic did.
That surprised everyone.
He allowed Clara the space to stand for herself.
The security officers caught Sloane before she reached her.
“Get your hands off me!” Sloane screamed.
The foundation director nodded once.
“Remove her.”
As security escorted her toward the doors, Sloane twisted back toward Nolan.
“Tell them who she is! Tell them what Raines really is!”
Nolan looked at Dominic.
Dominic looked back, unreadable.
The doors opened.
Sloane shouted one final sentence that sliced through the ballroom.
“Ask his wife what happened to the man who touched her last time!”
The doors slammed shut.
For a moment, no one moved.
Clara’s face drained.
May you like
Dominic became perfectly still.
And Nolan Whitmore, desperate enough to survive, realized Sloane had just handed him a weapon.
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