Chapter 1 - THE TORN BALLROOM
The chandelier light glinted off the crystal glasses scattered across the polished floor.
Guests whispered behind their gloved hands as the tension in the room reached a boiling point.
Julian held the newborn child tighter against his chest.
His knuckles turned stark white against the dark fabric of his jacket.
"You are insane, Evelyn," Julian sneered, his voice ringing across the grand ballroom.
Evelyn reached out her trembling, bruised hands toward her crying son.
Tears cut clean tracks through the dust and dried blood on her cheeks.
"He is my son, Julian!" she screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of her agony.
"You took him from my arms the moment he was born!" she cried out.
"Security, remove this woman immediately," Julian commanded without blinking.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on her!" Victoria shouted, stepping directly between Julian and the guards.
The room gasped as the Sterling matriarch took a stand against her own son.
Julian's eyes darkened as he stared at his mother.
"You don't know what she did, Mother," Julian hissed.
"I know what you are doing, Julian," Victoria countered, her voice icy cold.
Evelyn took a step forward, her vision blurring as dizziness rushed through her head.
"The truth comes out today," Evelyn whispered, staring directly into Julian's cold eyes.
"You hid the medical reports, but I found the real files," she declared.
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Julian’s composure cracked for a fraction of a second.
Before Evelyn could say another word, two heavy hands grabbed her arms from behind.
