Chapter 5 Unmasking the Heir

My mind went completely blank. The shock hit me like a punch to the stomach.

I wasn't the only one who was stunned. People around me started whispering excitedly.

"Is that really him?"

"Oh my God, look how handsome he is now."

"Didn't they say he was sick? That man doesn't look sick at all."

"That's what everyone was saying. Why else would he disappear from society for so many years?"

The whispers buzzed around me, but I could barely think straight. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

The famous third son of the Vale family. Caspian Vale.

It was really him.

But wait. Wasn't he supposed to be the sick heir who had been recovering overseas for years? The weak son who was too frail to appear in public?

My mind flashed back to what I had seen in the hotel bathroom earlier. Those were definitely not the shoulders of a sick man. The way his shirt fit across his chest, the confident way he moved, the powerful energy that seemed to come from him... everything about him screamed strength.

So what was the truth behind all those rumors about him being weak?

A hundred thoughts raced through my mind, but before I could figure any of them out, the group had reached our table.

The other guests were all with their families, important couples making their social rounds. I sat alone, suddenly feeling awkward and out of place.

James Wright, Vice President of Vale Industries, introduced Caspian to each guest at our table. When he got to me, he hesitated, clearly not sure who I was.

"This is..." James looked around helplessly, obviously confused.

I stood up, my heart pounding as I forced myself to look into those intense dark eyes. There was something about the way he looked at me, like he could see right through every wall I had built around myself. I held out my hand, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hello, Mr. Vale. I'm Vera Sinclair."

His fingers wrapped around mine, and the touch sent a shock through my whole body. His hand was warm, strong, completely covering my smaller one. He wore a perfectly fitted dark gray suit with clean lines and no fancy details except for silver cufflinks that caught the light. Everything about him radiated quiet power and danger.

"Hello, Mrs. Blackwood."

His voice was deep and smooth, and it made me shiver. The formal way he said it, you would think we had never met before.

Even James looked confused by what he said, but I just smiled. After all, we really shouldn't have met before tonight.

We really shouldn't have.

By eight o'clock, when the main party started, Caspian sat at the head table, right in the center where everyone could see him. Every eye in the room seemed drawn to him.

After the host's opening speech and the entertainment, after all the rich guests had made their charity donations, the real business of the evening began. The networking, the social climbing, the careful dance of New York's wealthy elite.

Within minutes, Caspian was completely surrounded. Men and women crowded around him, each wanting their moment with the mysterious Vale heir who had finally come out of hiding.

"Looking at this scene, I'd say the succession question has been settled," someone said behind me.

"Hard to say. He might look good, but looks don't make someone capable. Remember what happened with the other Vale children. That family has a history of disappointments."

"But he's certainly good-looking enough. If Damien Blackwood were here tonight, I wonder how they would compare."

"Compare? What does he have besides that pretty face? Does he have Damien Blackwood's business skills? Don't forget, the Vale children have never been known for being reliable."

"Maybe not, but Damien Blackwood would still have to call him Uncle Caspian, wouldn't he?"

I lifted my wine glass, taking a slow sip of the expensive red wine. They were right about the family connections. The Blackwoods and Vales were distant relatives, and Damien would have to show respect to Caspian because of their family hierarchy.

Which meant I would have to as well, as Damien's wife.

I found myself looking toward Caspian again, pulled by some force I couldn't understand. The crowd around him had shifted enough for me to see his profile. He was listening carefully to something a young woman beside him was saying.

Evelyn Reed, the youngest daughter of the Reed family. She had always acted like she owned the world, but now she was looking up at Caspian with obvious interest, her eyes bright and her smile charming.

I forced myself to look away, feeling something uncomfortable twist in my chest.

Whatever else Caspian Vale might be, he was a Vale. Which meant he was on Damien's side of whatever power games were happening in this city.

I didn't know what I was doing, standing there drinking wine and watching him like some lovesick teenager. I finished my glass in one gulp, grabbed another, and walked in the opposite direction.

There were plenty of other important people at this party, all worth talking to tonight.

I walked toward the conservatory that connected to the main ballroom. Near the big windows, several well-dressed men had gathered, looking relaxed and comfortable, chatting and laughing with the easy confidence of old money.

I walked straight up to them and, without any warning, threw my entire glass of wine right into one man's face.

Everyone around us gasped in shock. The man I had targeted stood frozen, red wine dripping down his face and staining his white shirt. When he saw me, his expression changed from confusion to recognition to what looked like fear.

"Who is this woman?"

"Is she trying to cause trouble?"

"That's her... Damien Blackwood's wife, from the Quinn family..."

While everyone whispered and stared, I calmly put my empty wine glass on a passing waiter's tray before speaking.

"I'm so sorry, Uncle Robert. I didn't expect to see you here tonight. My hand slipped, please forgive me."

Robert Palmer. He's my father friend, and the man directly responsible for destroying my family's business.

His whole face turned red with rage. He lowered his voice, trying not to make an even bigger scene. "Vera, this is the Vale family's party. Don't you dare cause trouble here."

Before he could finish speaking, I had already grabbed another glass of wine and splashed it across his face again.

I watched the expensive wine drip down his designer suit, my smile perfectly sweet and innocent. "I'm sorry, I really couldn't control myself this time."

Robert was shaking with anger, and I continued smoothly, "If Uncle Robert is upset, why don't you throw one back at me? I really don't mind."

As I spoke, I picked up another glass of wine and held it out to him.

The silence around us was complete. Everyone was watching like this was the most interesting show they had ever seen.

Robert didn't take the glass, because he knows that doing so will only tarnish his reputation.

"Heh, smart old-man!" So I simply raised it above his head and poured the entire thing over his perfectly styled hair.

Everyone around us was clearly shocked by my behavior. These were some of the most respected people in the city, and here was Damien Blackwood's supposedly well-behaved wife acting completely wild. I could see them backing away from me, shaking their heads in disapproval.

The public humiliation pushed Robert over the edge. His whole body was shaking with fury, his right hand rising as he swung it toward the empty wine glass in my hand.

The sharp sound of breaking glass cut through the air.

The wine glass flew from my hand and shattered on the marble floor, the pieces scattering right in front of a pair of polished black shoes that had just appeared.

Everyone gasped.

Even Robert's face went white with terror.

I looked down at the broken glass, and when I raised my eyes, I was staring directly into Caspian Vale's dark eyes, unreadable gaze.

Vale security had already appeared, smoothly creating space between me and Robert.

"Mr. Vale, I wasn't trying to cause trouble at your family's event, but this woman..." Robert stammered, wiping wine from his face as he hurried toward Caspian, shooting me an angry look.

Even though there were many Vale executives present tonight, Caspian was the only one who actually carried the family name. Despite this being his first public appearance in years, every important person in the room had been circling around him all evening. His position and power were crystal clear.

Robert knew exactly what kind of person he couldn't afford to anger.

"Please help Mr. Robert get cleaned up."

Caspian didn't even look at Robert as he gave the calm order, and someone immediately stepped forward to handle it.

Then his attention turned to me, those sharp eyes still completely neutral.

The broken glass lay on the floor between us like a barrier. He didn't step forward, and neither did I.

Everyone around us was waiting for what would happen next.

This woman was clearly out of control, making scenes at the wrong time and place. No wonder she couldn't win Damien Blackwood's love despite her looks, no wonder he never brought her out in public.

With something like this happening, surely someone would escort her out right away.

But then I heard Caspian's calm, steady voice.

"Mrs. Blackwood has had too much to drink tonight. Please take her to the private lounge so she can rest."