The next evening. Summit Manor — the most exclusive private club in New York.

Tonight was the annual Charity Elite Night.

Everyone here was real money. Net worth starting at ten billion.

Linda's so-called "finishing school" was really just a pipeline — funneling girls to these rich men as companions.

She'd packaged herself as an etiquette coach and the girls as socialites, skimming massive commissions and tuition fees off the top.

Tonight was her "graduation ceremony" — and her sales pitch.

When Mia and I arrived, the entrance was already lined with luxury cars.

Mia was wearing the haute couture gown from yesterday, her palms slick with nervous sweat.

"Viv, can we actually get in? I heard security tonight is insane — no invitation, you get tossed out on the spot."

"Relax."

I linked my arm through hers and walked toward the entrance.

The security guards saw me and immediately bowed with respect.

"Ms. Sinclair, welcome."

Mia stared at me in shock.

I smiled. "Oh, I forgot to mention — Summit Manor is another part of my grandfather's estate."

Mia had officially gone numb.

The moment we stepped into the ballroom, we turned heads.

Mia was stunning.

That priceless gown draped perfectly over her figure, and I'd hired a top stylist yesterday to complete the transformation. She looked like a princess who'd stepped straight out of a fairytale.

The "socialite students" in their rented dresses and caked-on foundation faded into the background instantly.

Linda was in a corner with her students, toasting a heavyset middle-aged man with a beer belly.

When she spotted us walking in, her face went white.

"How did they get in?!" Faye blurted out.

Linda clenched her jaw, set down her glass, and marched over.

"Security! Where is security?! How is anyone just walking in?!"

Her shrill voice drew every eye in the room.

Several guards came running, but the moment they saw me, they froze. Nobody moved.

Linda didn't notice the hesitation. She jabbed a finger in my face and screamed:

"Vivian! Mia! You've got some nerve! You steal a card and then show up here to pull another con?! I will call the police right now!"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"A stolen card? Really?"

"They don't look the type — she carries herself well."

"You never know. Scammers these days come in pretty packaging."

The heavyset man waddled over, leering at Mia from head to toe, then turned to Linda.

"Linda, is this the disobedient student you mentioned? Not bad looking. Just needs a little breaking in."

Linda instantly switched to a fawning smile.

"Mr. Briggs, patience. A wild filly like her is more fun once she's tamed. But first, we need to teach them their place."

Then she turned to me, eyes venomous.

"Vivian, I don't care how you snuck in. Get out. Now. Or I'll expose your little credit card scam to everyone here!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Evidence? Let's see it."

Linda smirked and pulled out her phone, showing a photo on screen.

"This is from the bank — that black card was reported stolen! You're not even the cardholder!"

She held the phone up for the crowd to see.

It was a doctored image, of course. But in a setting like this, it was enough to sow doubt.

The crowd erupted.

"She really is a thief!"

"How shameless!"

"Throw her out — she's tainting the whole event!"

Faye was beaming with triumph. "What do you have to say now, Vivian? You put on a good show at the boutique, but the truth always comes out!"

Mia wanted to charge forward and argue, but I held her back.

I looked at Linda, my voice even.

"Linda. Are you sure you want to do this here?"

"Scared?" Linda stepped closer. "Then get on your knees! Slap each other like I told you yesterday — until I'm satisfied! Maybe if Mr. Briggs is in a good mood, he'll throw you some scraps."

Briggs chuckled and reached out to touch Mia's face.

"Come with me, sweetheart. I'll keep you fed and happy — no need to steal and scheme…"

His hand was inches from Mia's cheek.

CRACK.

A slap echoed through the entire ballroom.

It wasn't Mia.

It was me.

I backhanded Briggs across his greasy face with everything I had.

The room went deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Striking someone at Summit Manor's gala — and not just anyone, but the wealthy Mr. Briggs.

It was suicide.

Briggs clutched his face, staring at me in disbelief, then erupted in a roar:

"You hit me?! Do you have any idea who I am?!"

Linda shrieked. "Vivian! You've lost your mind! Don't drag us down with you!"

She spun toward the guards and screamed: "What are you standing around for?! Grab this lunatic! Break her hands!"

The guards exchanged glances. Still, nobody moved.

Linda was apoplectic. She lunged at me, clawing for my hair.

"ENOUGH!"

A commanding voice thundered from the second floor.

Everyone looked up.

An elderly man in an impeccably tailored three-piece suit was descending the staircase, flanked by a phalanx of men in black.

The instant the crowd recognized him, every face in the room changed — including Briggs, mid-rage.

It was Mr. Hartford. New York's true power broker.

The official steward of Summit Manor — and my grandfather's closest friend.

Linda spotted Mr. Hartford and assumed her savior had arrived. She rushed toward him.

"Mr. Hartford! Thank God you're here! These two women crashed the gala — they've been stealing, scamming, and assaulting people! They've destroyed the sanctity of this event! You must punish them!"

Briggs stumbled over too, hand still on his cheek. "Mr. Hartford, this girl is out of control — she even hit me! She's spitting in your face!"

Mr. Hartford didn't spare either of them a glance.

He walked straight to me.

Then, in full view of every stunned face in the room, he gave a slight bow and said respectfully:

"Ms. Sinclair. I'm sorry you had to endure that."