Chapter 1

The charity gala was suffocating.

I stood near the back of the university' s grand hall, the air thick with expensive perfume and the low hum of self-congratulation. My stepfather, Matthew Scott, the CEO of Nexus Dynamics, was on stage, his arm around his son, Andrew.

"We are so proud," Matthew announced, his voice booming through the speakers, "to honor a student who embodies resilience and brilliance. A young woman who has overcome so much adversity."

He gestured to Maria Chavez, who stood between them, looking fragile and humble in a simple, elegant dress. She was a scholarship student, her education funded by a foundation my mother, Sylvia Chadwick, had started.

The crowd of wealthy donors and students applauded. They loved a good sob story.

I knew the truth. I knew Matthew was just a glorified employee my mother had married to give me a father figure. I knew Andrew, his son from a previous marriage, had no blood relation to my mother and no claim to her company. And I knew Maria was a snake, coiled and ready to strike.

As the applause died down, Maria' s eyes found mine across the room. She took the microphone, her hand trembling for effect.

"Thank you all," she began, her voice cracking. "It' s... it' s been so hard. Especially when you feel like you don' t belong."

Her gaze locked onto me.

"There are people here... people with everything... who make it their mission to remind you of that every single day."

A hush fell over the hall. All eyes turned to me.

Maria' s voice rose, filled with manufactured tears. "Gabrielle Johns has made my life a living hell. The bullying... the constant reminders that I' m just a charity case... it' s been relentless. I... I almost couldn' t take it anymore."

The accusation hung in the air, ugly and sharp.

Andrew' s face contorted with rage. He stormed off the stage and marched directly toward me, his lacrosse-honed physique parting the crowd.

"You hear that?" he spat, his voice low and menacing. "You made her want to die."

He was so close I could smell the champagne on his breath.

"You are a disgrace to the Scott family name. You will get on your knees, right now, and you will apologize to Maria."

I stood my ground, my expression unmoving.

Matthew approached, playing the part of the disappointed patriarch. "Gabrielle, this is not how I raised you. Apologize to the young lady. Now."

He thought he was the king. He had no idea he was just a pawn in a game he didn' t even know my mother was playing.

From the stage, behind her two protectors, Maria' s tearful facade dropped for a split second. She flashed me a smirk, pure venom and triumph.

Then, as Andrew moved even closer, she whispered something to him, something I couldn' t hear but could easily guess.

He grabbed my arm. "Did you hear me? Kneel."

I met his furious eyes without flinching.

"No."