Chapter 18
Another looked surprised.
Then they resumed taking pictures.
No one screamed.
No one recoiled.
No one ordered me to cover myself.
I was a woman standing on a red carpet.
And the world kept turning.
Across the entrance, Cassidy noticed the commotion.
She looked over.
At first, she seemed confused.
Then her eyes landed on Gideon.
Her expression tightened.
Finally, she saw me.
Her smile vanished.
Completely.
She stared at the gown.
At my uncovered shoulders.
At the scars visible beneath the lights.
Her face lost color.
Preston followed her gaze.
I watched the instant he recognized me.
His confident expression collapsed.
For a moment, he looked as though someone had struck him.
"Vivian?"
His voice barely reached me through the noise.
He took one step forward.
Then stopped.
Gideon and I continued walking.
A reporter near the velvet barrier raised her microphone.
"Vivian, your gown is extraordinary. Did you choose it for tonight's unusual dress code?"
I stopped.
This was the moment Cassidy had created.
The moment she imagined would force me into shame.
I could say nothing.
I could smile and let the photographs tell their own story.
But I had spent five years swallowing words.
I looked at the reporter.
"Actually, I chose it because I wanted to wear it."
She smiled.
"And are you comfortable discussing your scars?"
My stomach tightened.
The question was direct.
Perhaps too direct.
But I had the choice to answer.
So I did.
"They came from a fire five years ago."
The reporter waited.
I looked briefly toward Preston.
"I was badly burned while pulling my husband out of a burning building."
The reporter's smile disappeared.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize."
I shook my head.
"You don't need to apologize for asking. I just want people to understand something."
The cameras continued flashing.
I breathed carefully.
"These scars aren't evidence that something is wrong with me."
My voice strengthened.
"They're evidence that I survived."
For a second, the reporter said nothing.
Then she nodded.
"Thank you for sharing that."
I returned her smile.
Gideon offered his arm again.
We moved toward the doors.
Preston reached us before we could enter.
"What are you doing?" he hissed.
I stopped.
Cassidy stood several feet behind him, looking between us with wide, furious eyes.
"Attending the gala," I answered.
Preston glanced at Gideon.
"With him?"
"I'm here as an employee of Ashford Capital."
His jaw tightened.