When the Ballroom Broke
Chapter 04 - When the Ballroom Broke
The manor trembled as the fracture spread across the marble floor.
Guests rushed toward the exits as the chandeliers swung overhead. Vivienne’s guards abandoned her, and state officers arrived outside.
Vivienne stood at the center of the blue circle, gripping the necklace. Her mother’s betrayal played again and again in the air around her. She had grown up believing Evelyn stole the family’s legacy. In reality, her mother had tried to weaponize the fracture, and Evelyn had sacrificed herself to save everyone in the building.
“You can still close it,” Nora said.
Vivienne’s face twisted with grief and rage. “And lose the only thing that made my life matter?”
“Power did not make your life matter,” Sebastian replied. “It only made you forget who you were.”
Vivienne almost listened. Then she commanded the fracture to obey her.
The black crystal she had planted earlier cracked.
A violent wave threw Sebastian across the floor. Nora dropped the pocket watch, and it slid toward the expanding doorway. Evelyn’s image began to fade.
Nora crawled after it, but the pull was too strong. Sebastian caught her hand. Together, they fought their way forward until Nora reached the watch.
She could save her mother or close the fracture—unless someone willingly broke the necklace and released its power.
Nora looked at Vivienne.
Behind the anger was a frightened woman who had inherited someone else’s bitterness.
“Your mother made her choice,” Nora said. “You are still allowed to make yours.”
Vivienne stared at the memories surrounding her. She saw her mother lying, manipulating, and walking away while Evelyn entered the fracture alone.
At last, Vivienne removed the necklace.
With tears in her eyes, she placed it on the marble floor and crushed the black crystal beneath her heel. Then she handed the restored ruby to Nora.
“Bring her home,” she whispered.
Nora fitted the stone into the back of the pocket watch. Sebastian placed his hand over hers. Their glowing eyes brightened as they turned the silver crown together.
The ballroom filled with blue-white light.
The fracture collapsed inward, the chandeliers steadied, and silence fell.
When Nora opened her eyes, she was lying on the floor beside Sebastian. The watch had stopped glowing.
Across the room, a woman in a faded blue dress stood barefoot beneath the chandeliers.
May you like
Evelyn Hale had finally returned.
But Vivienne was nowhere to be seen.
