The ballroom went dead silent.
Harry's arrogant smile vanished. His outstretched hand froze in midair, making him look ridiculous.
A low gasp spread through the guests. Whispers broke out at once. Hundreds of eyes moved between Ciel's rigid back and Harry's stunned face.
Harry yanked his hand back. The blood drained from his face. His jaw clenched so tightly the muscles jumped under his skin. He was still trying to look calm, still trying to maintain the image of a polished future politician.
Eleonora gripped the stage railing until her knuckles turned white.
"Ciel Miller!" she snapped. "Have you had too much champagne? Stop speaking nonsense this instant!"
Ciel raised her chin and met Eleonora's glare.
"I have never been more sober in my entire life, Mrs. Chavez."
A sharp laugh cut through the tension.
Karina Chavez, Harry's younger sister, pushed to the front of the crowd. She crossed her arms, her designer heels clicking against the floor.
"Oh, please," Karina sneered. "You follow Harry around like a stray dog every day. Now you're playing hard to get? This is a cheap trick to get his attention. It's sickening."
Several socialites covered their mouths and laughed softly.
They all believed Ciel was only throwing a desperate tantrum.
Harry heard Karina's words, and the tension in his shoulders eased. His smirk returned. He convinced himself that Ciel was only trying to make him jealous.
On the stage, Peregrine lifted his cane and struck it against the floor.
The room fell silent again.
He stared down at Ciel. His gaze was heavy and suffocating.
"Do you understand what rejecting this arrangement means for the Miller family name, Ciel?"
Ciel's hands curled into fists. Her nails pressed into her palms.
"The honor of the Miller family does not require me to sacrifice my marriage to maintain it, sir."
Harry finally stepped forward. He moved behind her, close enough for her to smell his expensive cologne.
"I can forgive your little outburst tonight, Ciel," he said loudly, making sure everyone heard. "As long as you apologize right now."
Ciel's stomach turned again.
She slowly turned her head and looked him in the eye.
"Your arrogance makes me physically sick, Harry. I have absolutely zero feelings for you."
The words struck him like a slap.
Harry's eyes darkened with rage. His chest rose and fell heavily.
Peregrine's face hardened. Ciel had humiliated the Chavez family in front of New York's elite.
"If my grandson is not good enough for you," Peregrine said coldly, "then what exactly do you want from the Chavez family?"
Ciel took one slow breath.
This was her only chance to rewrite her fate.
She looked around at the curious, mocking faces, then fixed her gaze on Peregrine.
"If the family insists on fulfilling its promise to take care of me," she said, "then I am willing to marry into the Chavez family."
The crowd murmured in confusion.
Eleonora opened her mouth, ready to mock her.
Ciel did not give her the chance.
"The man I wish to marry is the war hero who was severely injured overseas. I want to marry Deacon Chavez."
The name landed like a grenade.
The ballroom seemed to lose all air.
Harry stared at her as if she had gone insane.
"Are you crazy?" Karina shrieked. "You want to marry a vegetable? The doctors said he's never waking up!"
Peregrine's pupils tightened. His grip on his cane grew so hard the veins in his hand stood out.
Eleonora froze for a few seconds.
Then something calculating flashed in her eyes.
Ciel stood in the center of the storm, calm and unbroken.
She waited for the patriarch's answer.
