Chapter 35 - The Charity Gala
The grand ballroom of the city’s most luxurious hotel was packed with the elite.
Politicians, billionaires, and celebrities mingled under the glittering crystal chandeliers. A year ago, Valentina would have shrunk into the background, desperate to avoid the judgmental whispers of the very people who had attended her ruined wedding.
Tonight, she was the undisputed center of attention.
Valentina arrived wearing a breathtaking, floor-length emerald silk gown that commanded the entire room. She wore no excessive jewelry, just a simple diamond necklace. Her confidence was her most brilliant accessory.
Julian walked beside her, impeccably dressed in a tailored tuxedo, offering her a glass of champagne.
"Everyone is staring at you,"
Julian whispered, leaning in slightly.
"Let them stare,"
Valentina replied smoothly, taking a sip of the champagne.
"They are looking at the woman who just closed a two-billion-dollar merger. They aren't judging me anymore, Julian. They are terrified of me."
"As they should be,"
May you like
Julian chuckled deeply, leading her toward the main tables.
Several prominent socialites, women who had once snickered behind their fans at her ruined dress, now practically tripped over themselves to greet her, offering false smiles and desperate attempts at networking. Valentina handled them with polite, freezing grace, enjoying her absolute dominance over the room.
