A small smile tugged at June’s lips as she got out of the car, and Rauf hooked his arm with hers.
She could still remember the look of surprise on Rauf’s face when she told him she was going to be his date to the party.
Unlike what Rauf had expected, she had laid down certain rules she intended to follow, and Rauf had accepted them.
Now, she watched as others presented their invitations before being allowed into the mansion’s grand hall. The guards didn’t bother asking for one from them.
The others behind them noticed, and that quickly made them interested in June and Rauf.
The mansion looked different from what she remembered. The place was heavily decorated and heavily secured.
June bet everyone here was feeling quite safe.
Regardless of what she had learnt in the past few days, she was feeling safer than expected. It might be because Rauf was beside her.
And she was feeling happy until her eyes landed on someone inside the hall.
Amie wore a floor-length, deep emerald-green gown, fitted closely around her waist and hips before widening into a dramatic train. The upper part had an off-shoulder neckline with delicate crystal detailing along the edges, while the fabric had a faint shimmer that caught the light whenever she moved.
Her hair was swept into an elegant high bun with a few carefully curled strands framing her face. She wore diamond drop earrings and a thin diamond necklace, deliberately luxurious but not bulky.
Her makeup was polished and glamorous, with defined eyes and deep red lipstick.
And to complete her look, she wore golden heels. Anyone who stared at her would surely look twice.
She looked beautiful, especially as she stood beside Serena.
June felt something stir in her heart. Her hand tightened into a fist as her knuckles turned white.
Rauf could tell something was wrong. "Do you want water?"
June nodded. She suddenly felt parched.
As a waiter passed beside him, Rauf took a glass of champagne and a glass of water. He gave the water to her and drank the champagne.
As June tried to calm her nerves, she looked around for any familiar faces, but there were none yet.
Not even Chris or Ellie had arrived.
Her father, whom she expected to be at the party too, was not around yet.
She told herself maybe they were too early.
Suddenly, the sound of a spoon hitting a glass filled the hall, and every other conversation seemed to stop instantly. Everyone glanced towards the direction of the sound and watched Serena.
Serena was dressed in a floor-length black satin gown, elegant and structured, with long sleeves and a modest V-shaped neckline. The waist was fitted before the skirt fell smoothly to the floor, with no dramatic train or excessive decoration. Tiny black crystals along the cuffs and neckline caught the light only when she moved.
Her hair was swept into a low, polished bun, and her makeup was refined: soft foundation, defined eyes, and muted wine-coloured lipstick.
June could see the necklace she had given her around her neck, and occasionally, Serena’s hand touched it just as she had done at the hospital.
She had a sleek black cane with a silver handle, and Amie stood beside her to support her.
June swallowed as Serena’s voice carried through the hall.
"You’re all welcome to the introduction of the missing heir of the Vassari empire."
The room burst into practiced applause.
Behind her, June could tell more people were coming in, but she was only interested in what was happening before her.
"As I announced years ago, I lost my daughter due to certain circumstances I wouldn’t want to recount at the moment. The loss was so great to me that a few months later, I lost my sight from excessive crying."
June felt Rauf slip his hand back into hers, and she couldn’t help but be thankful.
At that moment, it felt as though, under the black glasses, Serena’s gaze was on her as she spoke.
With everyone thinking she was blind, no one would have guessed what was happening.
And with every word from Serena’s mouth, June wanted to leave her position, walk over to her, and reclaim her place beside her.
"The loss of my sight only made it more difficult for me to find my daughter, but I never gave up on her. I searched and searched until we found her recently."
Serena paused.
"Ladies and gentlemen," her voice echoed through the hall. "Let me introduce you to my daughter, Amie Trevor."
The room erupted into a louder round of applause.
The people around them had already started gossiping.
"What a lucky lady."
"I think she has the Vassari aura already."
"Trevor. Are they her adoptive parents?"
"I need to get closer to her."
The more they spoke, the tighter Rauf held June’s hand.
He leaned towards her. "Don’t listen to what anyone is saying. They’re all ignorant."
June knew he was trying to console her, but she only felt more miserable.
It felt as though the jade bracelet she wore was burning against her skin.
Serena spoke again, making them all go quiet.
"As my daughter, she will be assisting Chris with running the companies. I’d like everyone to start giving her the respect accorded to a Vassari."
The more Serena spoke, the smugger Amie looked. She hadn’t said a word, and she didn’t need to. Her expression said it all.
"And now, I’ll present some gifts to Amie to welcome her into the family."
Serena started listing lands, buildings, and money.
Amie didn’t bother to hide her excitement. The more Serena mentioned, the more she bounced on her feet, probably already calculating how much she would receive.
"But there’s a clause to all of this. Amie must be in love and married before she can have access to her gifts."
Someone in the room shouted, "I object!"
At the same time, Amie said, "I’m married already."