The Gala Victoria Refused to Cancel
Chapter 08 - The Gala Victoria Refused to Cancel
Despite her suspension, Victoria refused to accept defeat.
Hawthorne Industries’ centennial gala was scheduled for Saturday night at the city’s largest hotel. Hundreds of investors, reporters, employees, and political leaders had been invited. Victoria believed that if she appeared in public as the confident face of the company, the board would be too embarrassed to remove her permanently.
She also knew Lily’s ownership claim had not yet been announced.
Through loyal assistants, Victoria spread rumors that Adrian had suffered a breakdown abroad and returned under the influence of a former servant. Anonymous messages described Lily as an opportunist exploiting a grieving family.
Lily wanted to avoid the gala. Adrian insisted that hiding would allow Victoria to define the story.
“You do not owe anyone a performance,” he told her. “But the employees deserve to hear the truth from us.”
Grace was still recovering in the hospital, so Lily visited her before deciding. When Lily described the evidence, her mother began to cry—not because of the shares, but because Thomas’s name would finally be cleared.
“Your father never wanted wealth to make you hard,” Grace said. “Go there as his daughter, not as their enemy.”
On Saturday evening, Lily entered the ballroom wearing a simple navy dress borrowed from a friend. Guests whispered when they recognized the maid from Victoria’s rumors.
Victoria stood onstage beneath a gold Hawthorne crest. She announced that the company faced an attempted takeover by “people who had never built anything.”
Then she projected Lily’s unsigned confession onto a screen, presenting it as genuine.
Before Lily could respond, Adrian walked onto the stage with the original document. He showed the blank signature line and explained how Victoria had created a false theft charge to force Lily into signing.
The room erupted in questions.
Victoria tried to call security.
No one moved.
Adrian invited Lily forward. She carried the partnership agreement and the final letter written by Richard Hawthorne, in which he praised Thomas Carter as the company’s cofounder and equal.
Lily faced the crowd.
“My father’s name was erased from this company,” she said. “I am not here to erase anyone else. I am here to return the truth to the people who were denied it.”
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Employees began to stand.
The applause grew until Victoria’s voice disappeared beneath it.
