Chapter 12 - The Gala of Deceit

Downstairs,

the lockdown was officially lifted.

Gabriel had instructed his head of security to inform the guests that a routine security check had been successfully concluded.

The string quartet resumed playing,

and the chatter of New York's elite filled the grand ballroom once again.

None of them knew that a political dynasty had just collapsed upstairs.

None of them knew that the future attorney general was currently sitting in the back of a federal transport van.

In the executive suite,

Lucy finally stirred.

She rubbed her heavy eyes with small fists and sat up on the sofa.

“Mama?” she mumbled sleepily.

“Are we still in the castle?”

“Yes,

sweetheart,

” I said,

sitting beside her and brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead.

“Are the bad men gone?” she asked,

looking around with wide,

innocent eyes.

“The bad men are gone forever,

” Gabriel said softly,

kneeling beside the sofa.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the tarnished silver medal.

He placed it gently into Lucy's small palm.

“Your father was a very brave man,

Lucy,

” Gabriel told her earnestly.

“And you are just as brave as he was.

”

Lucy looked down at the silver medal,

then up at the billionaire.

“Does this mean I don't have to dance the waltz?” she asked innocently.

Gabriel let out a genuine,

hearty laugh—the first real laugh I had ever heard from him.

“No,

” Gabriel smiled warmly.

“But it means you can dance whenever you want,

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and no one will ever tell you that you don't belong.

”