Chapter 3 - The Crimson Gala of Vengeance
The annual Manhattan Elite Charity Gala was an event where blood money was washed through expensive champagne and designer gowns.
Lucas Ravalini commanded the room the moment he stepped through the wrought-iron ballroom doors.
He wore a custom Tom Ford tuxedo that accentuated his broad shoulders and predatory grace.
On his arm was Hannah Cooper, transformed by a team of stylists into an ethereal vision in an emerald silk evening gown.
Every head turned in disbelief as the ruthless mafia boss introduced a former unemployed teacher as his intended bride.
Whispers rippled through the elite crowd like venomous snakes.
Victoria Vance intercepted them near the champagne tower with a sickeningly sweet smile plastered across her face.
She congratulated Lucas on his charity case, making sure the emphasis dripping from her lips was dripping with venom.
Victoria subtly nudged a waiter carrying a tray of sparkling wine.
The tray tilted, spilling red wine directly down the front of Hannah's emerald dress.
Gasps echoed around them as Victoria feigned absolute horror and false apologies.
Before Hannah could even open her mouth to excuse herself, Victoria struck her next blow.
Victoria loudly declared that someone should check Hannah's evening clutch because people from Queens had a habit of pocketing diamonds.
Before security could move, Victoria snatched Hannah's velvet purse and dumped its contents onto the marble floor.
A heavy diamond necklace encrusted with rubies tumbled out from the pouch.
The ballroom went dead silent.
Accusatory murmurs erupted from the surrounding socialites pointing their fingers at Hannah.
Hannah stared at the stolen necklace in utter shock, knowing she had never seen it before in her life.
Victoria smirked triumphantly, thinking she had finally destroyed the peasant interloper.
Lucas stepped forward, his face carving into an expression of absolute, bone-chilling fury.
He did not raise his voice, but the acoustic weight of his words silenced every breathing soul in the room.
Lucas casually reached into his inner suit pocket and pulled out his phone, displaying a high-resolution security recording.
The video clearly showed Victoria Vance slipping the ruby necklace into Hannah's purse while bumping into her in the powder room ten minutes earlier.
The color drained completely from Victoria's face as she realized she had walked right into a trap.
Lucas looked down at Victoria with eyes devoid of any human mercy.
He told her that her family's shipping empire was now officially under Ravalini receivership for attempted theft and defamation.
Victoria collapsed onto her knees in front of hundreds of elite guests, begging for forgiveness.
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Lucas turned his back on her without a single word and extended his arm to Hannah.
Hannah took a deep breath, placed her hand in his, and realized this man was both her protector and her greatest danger.
