Chapter 3 - THE CRACK IN THE FACADEAdrian abandoned Valentina mid-sentence, cutting through the parting crowd like a shark through water. His jaw was clenched so tightly a muscle twitched near his temple.
"Mia," he hissed, grabbing my bare elbow with a grip that bordered on bruising. "What the hell are you doing here? I told you not to cause a scene."
I didn't flinch. I simply looked down at his hand until, with a flicker of self-consciousness under the gaze of a hundred high-society criminals, he released me.
"You invited me, Adrian," I replied, my voice carrying effortlessly across the suddenly silent hall. "How could I miss the wedding of the century? Especially when you made such a point of telling me how successful Valentina was compared to me."
Valentina drifted over, her hand resting protectively over her swollen belly. Her smile was sickly sweet, dripping with toxic condescension.
"Mia, darling," Valentina purred, stepping into my personal space. "I'm so glad you decided to witness this. I know it must sting, seeing what a real woman can do for our family, but life goes on, doesn't it?"
The crowd chuckled nervously, waiting for me to shatter. They expected tears. They expected screaming, clawing, public humiliation.
Instead, I smiled—a cold, sharp smile that made Adrian take an involuntary half-step back.
"You're right, Valentina," I said softly, tilting my head. "Some women are built to carry a legacy. Others are just kept around to keep the seat warm until the real cleaning crew arrives."
Valentina's smile faltered. "Excuse me?"
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"Nothing," I replied smoothly, checking my diamond wristwatch. "Enjoy your big moment, Valentina. Cherish every single second of it. Because time flies when you're building a house of cards."
Before Adrian could demand an explanation, the orchestra struck up the wedding march, signaling the start of the ceremony. Adrian stared at me with intense, paranoid suspicion, his instincts screaming that something was fundamentally wrong. But the doors at the end of the aisle were already opening, and the cameras were rolling. He had no choice but to turn away and play his part.
