Chapter 7 - THE MASQUERADE REVELATION
Chloe stood in the center of the ballroom, surrounded by a wall of eager admirers.
The same people who had ignored her bleeding on the floor were now begging for her attention.
They offered compliments, business cards, and fake smiles, trying to win her favor.
Chloe accepted their greetings with cold, polite nods, her voice smooth and distant.
She watched Victoria Vance watching her from a distance, her amusement growing.
Victoria was trying to build up the courage to approach the new billionaire heir.
Finally, Victoria pushed through the crowd, her father following closely behind her.
"Miss Harrington, it is an absolute honor to meet you," Victoria's father said, bowing.
"This is my daughter, Victoria. Our family runs the prestigious Vance Group," he introduced.
Victoria forced her best, most charming smile, holding out her hand to Chloe.
"It's a pleasure, Miss Harrington. You look absolutely stunning tonight," Victoria purred.
Chloe looked at Victoria's extended hand, but did not move to take it.
The silence between them grew heavy and awkward, drawing the attention of other guests.
Victoria’s smile began to falter, her hand dropping awkwardly back to her side.
"Is something wrong, Miss Harrington?" Victoria asked, her tone sharpening slightly.
"I just find it funny how quickly people forget their own cruelty," Chloe said softly.
Her voice was amplified by the silence of the immediate circle around them.
Victoria frowned, confusion mixing with the growing dread in her heart.
"I'm sorry? Have we met before?" Victoria asked, trying to laugh it off.
Chloe reached up with her bandaged hand, catching everyone's eye for a moment.
The bandages were gone, replaced by faint, perfectly healed silver lines on her palms.
Then, she slowly took off her diamond mask, revealing her full face to the crowd.
Victoria’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening to the point of popping.
Her father gasped, recognizing the girl from the viral video weeks ago.
The entire ballroom erupted into a frenzy of shocked whispers and gasps.
"It's her! The waitress!" someone shouted from the back of the room.
"The girl Victoria beat up is the Harrington heir!" another voice exclaimed.
Victoria staggered backward, her face turning completely pale behind her golden mask.
"You... it's you... the filthy rat," Victoria stammered, losing all control.
"How can a peasant like you be a Harrington?!" she screamed, her mind breaking.
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Chloe stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Victoria's terrified gaze.
"The only rat I see here is the one whose family is going bankrupt tomorrow," Chloe said.
