CHAPTER 95 The Gala of Secrets

  The Astoria Hotel radiated opulence, its grand ballroom illuminated by cascading crystal chandeliers that sparkled against the sea of richly dressed guests. Laughter and conversation floated through the air, accompanied by the soft strains of a string quartet. The charity gala was the jewel of Julie's social calendar, a perfect display of wealth, charm, and power and a veneer of philanthropy that masked the darker dealings beneath. Tonight, though, it wasn't just the guests wearing masks, Angela felt like she was too.

  She stepped into the room, her sleek black gown hugging her figure, she moved through the crowd like a shadow, her every step deliberate. Her entrance turned heads, but Angela was oblivious. Her focus was sharper than ever, fueled by the whirlwind of revelations and betrayals that had unraveled her world in the past 24 hours. Her heart pounded, not from nerves but from the suffocating weight of suspicion. She was here to get answers, no matter what it took.