Chapter 5 - The Gala of Lies
The ballroom of the estate was dazzling, dripping in crystal chandeliers and echoing with classical music.
I wore my most expensive silk dress, clutching a glass of champagne to hide the violent shaking of my hands.
My father stood at the center of the room, laughing loudly with politicians and wealthy elites.
He looked exactly as he always did: powerful, untouchable, and utterly terrifying.
I walked up to him, forcing my lips into a bright, convincing smile.
"You look beautiful tonight, my dear," he said, kissing my cheek with a warmth that I now knew was entirely fabricated.
I played the role of the dutiful daughter, keeping him engaged in conversation while nervously checking my watch.
At exactly ten o'clock, the lights in the main hall were scheduled to flicker, a distraction Arthur was orchestrating from the electrical grid outside.
When the clock struck the hour, the chandeliers abruptly cut out, plunging the massive room into temporary darkness.
Gasps and panicked murmurs erupted from the crowd as security guards began shouting into their radios.
I used the chaos to slip away, abandoning my champagne glass on a passing tray.
I moved swiftly through the shadows, heading straight for the hidden doorway that led to the old servant tunnels.
My heart pounded furiously as I unlocked the heavy oak door and slipped into the damp, narrow passageway.
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I turned on a small flashlight, the beam cutting through the thick dust of the abandoned corridor.
I was walking directly into the belly of the beast.
