Exhaustion weighed heavily on me as I checked into a nearby hotel. After tending to my injuries, my phone buzzed with a call from Zephyr Collins.
“How’s the investigation progressing? There’s a banquet at the Wallace family tonight. Send me the address, and I’ll arrange for a dress to be delivered. Join me there.”
I nodded, signaling my agreement.
Zephyr’s voice brimmed with satisfaction as he hung up.
When the dress arrived, I took my time putting it on.
It was clear this was no ordinary garment—a striking contrast to Caesar, who had never offered me anything of such elegance.
Clothes had the uncanny ability to transform a person. Once I dressed and adorned myself, I marveled at how enchantingly different I appeared.
The moment I entered the banquet, all eyes gravitated toward me.
In the center of the room, Caesar and Gaia flirted openly, their playful banter making everyone around them squirm. “Mr. Wallace, stop tickling me! I don’t want to play anymore!”
“Oh, come on, Gaia. Stop acting coy. Isn’t this what you love most?”
Just then, Caesar's assistant broke in quietly. “Miss Reeves has arrived.”
Caesar turned to me, his eyes wide with disbelief.
For a moment, he seemed stunned, as if struggling to recognize the elegantly dressed woman before him. “Zelia? What are you doing here? Who invited you?”
His frown deepened, filled with disdain. “That dress, who bought it for you? Was it that guy from the last photo?”
I brushed him off, lifting my dress as I walked away.
Frustrated, Caesar clutched my wrist, ignoring Gaia’s irritation. “Didn’t you hear? Who bought that dress for you?”
