Chapter 3: The Wrath of the Host
"Elara," Sebastian whispered, his voice cracking with a raw, agonizing emotion that sent a shockwave through the watching elite.
He gently cupped Elara’s face, his thumb lightly grazing the edge of the brutal, dark red handprint left by Penelope’s rings. Elara leaned into his touch, a silent sob escaping her lips. Sebastian then wrapped his other arm around his daughter, pulling them both into a fierce, protective embrace on the floor of the grand ballroom.
Penelope stood frozen, the blood slowly draining from her face. The arrogant supremacy she had wielded moments ago began to violently evaporate. "Sebastian... what are you doing? She's just a maid..."
Sebastian slowly stood up, helping Elara to her feet and keeping her tucked safely against his side. He picked Lily up, resting the child on his hip. He finally turned to look at Penelope, and the sheer, unadulterated disgust in his eyes made the heiress physically take a step backward.
"Just a maid?" Sebastian echoed, his voice echoing off the vaulted ceilings. "Elara has been the beating heart of this family for two years. When my wife died, Elara was the one who held my daughter while she cried. Elara is the reason this house feels like a home again. She didn't want to attend tonight as a guest because she knew the catering company was short-staffed, and she possesses a work ethic and a kindness that you couldn't buy with all the shipping money in the world."
The ballroom was dead silent. The elite guests realized they were not witnessing the firing of a servant; they were witnessing the public execution of a socialite.
"Sebastian, please, it was an accident," Penelope stammered, her voice pitching up in genuine panic as she realized the catastrophic error she had made. "She tripped me! I was defending myself!"
"You are a liar, and you are a monster," Sebastian stated coldly, cutting her off. He turned his attention to his head of security, a towering man in a dark suit standing near the exits. "Marcus. Escort Miss Kensington off my property."
"You can't do this!" Penelope shrieked, her pristine, manufactured image completely shattering. "My father is your biggest investor! If you throw me out over this... this peasant... my family will pull every dime from Sterling Tech! You will lose billions!"
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Sebastian let out a dark, humorless laugh. "Your father's investments make up exactly four percent of my portfolio, Penelope. And as of tomorrow morning, I am hostile-taking over his entire logistics division. You thought your money made you a god in this room. You are about to find out exactly what it feels like to have absolutely nothing."
Two massive security guards stepped forward, grabbing Penelope by the arms. She kicked and screamed, her blue velvet dress tangling around her legs, her heavy sapphire collar looking like a glittering leash as she was violently dragged out of the grand ballroom, her reputation permanently incinerated in front of the most powerful people in New York.
