"Everything must be flawless tonight," Nick said firmly, his tone commanding yet laced with excitement. He stood in the grand hall of the Carter mansion, watching the maids hurry across the marble floor with silver trays and polished cutlery. "No mistakes. Not even the smallest."
"Yes, sir," Lily, one of the maids, replied as she adjusted a crystal vase in the dining room.
Chloe, dressed in a soft ivory gown, was already walking around the dining table, correcting placements and making sure the glasses and napkins aligned perfectly. "This isn't just about dinner. It's about image. About business. Samantha Bradley deserves a presentation worthy of her presence."
Kate appeared from the kitchen, her cheeks flushed from the heat. She carried a tray of freshly baked rolls and handed them to Naomi. "Even the food must impress," Kate said. "If we do this right, we can finally secure Elevate's backing."
Nick smiled, adjusting the cufflinks on his black suit. "Tonight is the night. Samantha Bradley is coming to our table."
*****
---
The clock struck seven as thunder rolled low across the evening sky. A sleek Aston Martin DBX707, black as midnight, pulled up the driveway. Its headlights swept across the mansion's façade, glowing against the storm-darkened horizon.
The car door opened, and Samantha stepped out. She wore a fitted black dress with a structured collar, her straight hair falling silkily down her back. A Dior bag hung from her wrist, and the sparkle of her watch glinted faintly under the moonlight. Her heels clicked sharply against the stone driveway as she made her way toward the entrance.
For a brief moment, she stopped. Her chest tightened, and an old memory hit her like a wave of ice. The night she had been cast out, the night the man she trusted had shut the door behind her and left her in the cold. She blinked back the sting of tears, straightened her lapel, and tightened her grip on her bag. Not tonight, she told herself. Tonight, they will smile at me. And tomorrow, they will bleed.
The front doors opened. Nick emerged with two maids flanking him. One of them rushed forward to take her bag.
"Welcome, ma'am," Lily greeted warmly.
"Welcome," Nick echoed, smiling as though nothing dark had ever existed between them.
Samantha returned the smile, though her eyes held a storm. You once closed this door on me, Nick. Tonight, you will open it again. And again. Until you kneel.
They ushered her into the mansion. The golden chandeliers sparkled above, and Samantha's gaze immediately fell on the wall—where framed photos of Nick and Kate's wedding now hung. The very space where hers once had been. A quiet shiver ran through her, but she kept her stride steady.
"Make yourself at home," Chloe said as she appeared gracefully at the entrance to the dining hall.
"Thank you," Samantha replied smoothly.
*****
---
Dinner began. The Carter family surrounded her with warm smiles and polite conversation. The table was laid with fine china, polished silver, and crystal glasses that gleamed under the chandelier's glow.
Nick raised his glass. "To partnerships," he said. "And to the future."
Samantha let the rim of her glass rest on her lips before lowering it. "I appreciate your hospitality, Nick. But let's be clear. Elevate doesn't make decisions based on dinner invitations."
"Of course," Nick said quickly, masking his unease with a smile. "We respect your process. But still, it's important to show you who we are."
Chloe leaned forward, her tone sweet yet deliberate. "And to remind you that Carter Group has a history of building legacies. Imagine what could happen if Elevate and Carter aligned."
Samantha's eyes sharpened as she set her glass down. "You speak of legacy. But Elevate doesn't move on sentiment. It moves on results. Every decision I make is guided by evidence and strategy, not by persuasion."
Kate, who had been unusually quiet, tried to soften the atmosphere. "We only mean to show you how serious we are. You're not just a guest here tonight—you're family."
"Family," Samantha echoed softly, almost to herself. Her fork cut into the roast on her plate. "Interesting choice of word."
The tension broke suddenly as Sophia, small and teary-eyed, entered the room. She ran straight to Kate, clutching her arm.
"Why are you crying, sweetheart?" Kate asked, lifting her daughter onto her lap.
"I lost Ally, Mama," Sophia sobbed.
The name struck Samantha like a knife. Her eyes narrowed, and her grip on her fork tightened.
Nick exchanged a glance with Kate, silently warning her.
"You have such a beautiful daughter," Samantha said with a measured smile.
"Thank you," Kate replied quickly, kissing Sophia's hair.
"Who's Ally?" Samantha asked, her tone deceptively casual.
"Oh, that…" Nick forced a smile. "It's her favorite doll."
Samantha's gaze lingered on him. Liar.
"But why name her doll Ally?" Samantha pressed, her eyes never leaving Nick's face.
Chloe jumped in, her voice steady. "We once had a maid named Ally. She… she died in an accident about seven years ago."
"What kind of accident?" Samantha asked, her tone cool but probing.
"We don't know much," Chloe replied, her fingers tightening around her wine glass. "We were only told she passed."
Samantha leaned back in her chair, studying each face around the table. Every word, every glance, reeked of lies.
Nick cleared his throat. "Kate, take Sophia upstairs. Help her look for her doll. I'll join you later."
Kate stood, cradling Sophia. "Excuse me." She left the dining hall quietly, disappearing into the corridor.
*****
---
Thirty minutes later, Samantha dabbed her lips with her napkin and rose from the table. "Would you excuse me? I need to use the washroom."
"Of course," Naomi said politely. "The guest restroom is upstairs, first door on the right."
"Thank you," Samantha replied, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she ascended the staircase.
The hallway was dim, the storm outside rattling the windows with rain beginning to fall. As she walked past the guest room, a faint murmur caught her attention.
She slowed.
The voice was coming from Sophia's room. The door was ajar, just enough for sound to spill out. It was Kate's voice—low, urgent, speaking into a phone.
Samantha's breath caught. Her instincts flared. She stepped closer, her heart steady but her curiosity burning like fire.
She leaned toward the door, listening—
And froze.