My sister pulled me toward her billionaire fiancé’s father and laughed, “This is the quiet one.” My parents added, “We don’t brag about Sophie much.” I smiled politely—until Richard Vale stared at me

the billionaire father of her fiancé stared at me as if he had seen a ghost.

The Vale Foundation gala glittered with chandeliers, champagne towers, and people wearing watches worth more than my car.

My older sister, Olivia, belonged in that world—or at least she thought she did.

She was marrying Evan Vale, heir to Vale Meridian Industries, and for six months our parents had acted as if Olivia had joined royalty.

I had nearly skipped the gala.

“Come on,” Olivia said, grabbing my wrist. “You have to meet Richard.”