Chapter 3
The ballroom orchestra continued to play a soft waltz, utterly ignorant of the sudden, suffocating void that had engulfed the head table. Serena’s eyes darted frantically across the faces of the wealthy guests who were now staring openly, desperately seeking an ally, but finding only polished masks of curiosity.
"Gabriel, please," Serena hissed, attempting to keep her voice pitched for high society while her chest heaved. "This is neither the time nor the place. We are raising millions tonight. We can discuss administrative changes tomorrow."
Gabriel did not blink. The loose strands of dark hair over his forehead cast a faint, ominous shadow across his eyes. "You have exactly five seconds to tell me where they are, Serena. Or I will ask you again in a room where no one can hear you scream."
The words were spoken so quietly, so smoothly, that a passing waiter might have thought he was whispering endearments. But Serena knew the monster behind the tailored suit. Her carefully applied makeup suddenly looked like a porcelain mask ready to crack.
"They were... relocated," she stammered, her fingers bruising her own wrist as she gripped her bracelet. "The real estate market, Gabriel. The property value of the orphanage was astronomical. I made an executive decision for the foundation’s portfolio. I sent them to the overflow facility in the South District."
Martha gasped, burying her face in her hands. "The South District? Gabriel, that building was condemned five years ago. There’s no heat. No water."
Gabriel’s jaw tightened. He slowly pulled his signet ring off, slipped it into his waistcoat pocket, and turned away from the woman he was supposed to marry. He looked at Rose, the waitress who was still standing nearby, watching the exchange with wide but remarkably steady eyes.
"You," Gabriel said, his tone shifting from lethal to commanding. "Get her coat."
"Yes, sir," Rose replied instantly, stepping forward to assist Martha out of her chair.
"Gabriel, you cannot walk out of your own gala!" Serena pleaded, her voice finally cracking as she stood up, the chair scraping loudly against the marble floor. "The mayor is here! The governor!"
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Gabriel paused. He turned his head just enough to look at Serena over his shoulder. "Enjoy the party, Serena. Because when I find out exactly why you sold my home behind my back, there won't be enough money in this room to save you."
Without another word, Gabriel escorted Martha toward the grand exit, the sea of elite guests parting frantically to let the silent, furious king walk through. Rose, having grabbed Martha’s worn coat, followed closely behind, leaving the luminous warmth of the gala for the cold, dangerous night.
