Chapter 186
Chapter 186:
“No,” Aurora said. “I have to do this myself. He’s family p>
Elias leaned down. His lips were inches from her ear. “Be careful,” he whispered. “If they touch you, I will burn this estate to the ground p>
The night of the Welcome Gala arrived.
The Kensington ballroom was a sea of diamonds, silk, and hypocrisy. Crystal chandeliers dripped light onto the crowd of New York’s elite. Waiters moved like ghosts with trays of champagne.
Vivian stood near the entrance, wearing a custom Haute Couture gown that cost more than a mid-sized sedan. It was gold, tight, and screamed for attention. She was surrounded by her clique of mean girls.
“Wait until you see her,” Vivian whispered, giggling. “She’s probably wearing something tacky. Or maybe she’ll wear a suit like a man. She has no idea how to dress for old money p>
At the top of the grand staircase, Aurora appeared.
The room went quiet.
She wasn’t wearing a ballgown. She was wearing a vintage, midnight-blue velvet dress with a high neck and an open back. It was simple, severe, and utterly elegant. It clung to her like a shadow. She wore no jewelry except the silver locket.
She descended the stairs. She didn’t look at her feet. She looked straight ahead, her eyes sweeping the room with the confidence of a queen inspecting her subjects.
“She looks… actually kind of incredible,” one of Vivian’s friends whispered.
“It’s old,” Vivian snapped. “Probably moth-eaten p>
The French Ambassador, Monsieur Dubois, was the center of attention near the orchestra. He was a distinguished man with a silver beard.
Vivian grabbed his arm. “Monsieur Ambassador! Come, you must meet our… long-lost cousin p>
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝑔ⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧿ⅽ𝗈𝗺
She dragged him toward Aurora, who had just reached the bottom of the stairs.
Vivian smirked. This was it. The execution.
“Aurora!” Vivian called out loudly. The crowd turned. “This is Monsieur Dubois p>
Vivian switched to rapid-fire French. “Monsieur, voici la fille dont je vous ai parlé. Celle qui est nouveau riche.” (Sir, here is the girl I told you about. The new money one p>
She turned to Aurora, her eyes glittering with malice. “Aurora, l’Ambassadeur demandait si tu te sens à l’aise ici, entre les gens de qualité?” (Aurora, the Ambassador was asking if you feel comfortable here, between people of quality p>
The crowd went silent. Everyone knew Vivian was speaking French. Everyone assumed Aurora wouldn’t understand a word.
Aurora looked at Vivian. She blinked. She looked confused.
Vivian laughed, a high, cruel sound. “Oh, I’m so sorry! English only? I forgot, pedigree isn’t really something you can buy, is it p>
A ripple of chuckles went through the room. Eleanor, watching from the side, smiled into her champagne.
Aurora’s expression shifted. The confusion vanished. Her eyes turned cold.
She opened her mouth.
“Au contraire, cousine,” Aurora said. Her voice was low, husky, and her accent was flawless—not the modern Parisian accent Vivian had learned in school, but the crisp, aristocratic French of the old courts.