The Thorne Heiress Unveiling Shadow novel Chapter 20

On the night of the Foundation Ball, a quiet, nervous energy filled the grand entrance hall of Thorne Crest. Arthur and Chase stood at the bottom of the sweeping grand staircase, dressed in immaculate tuxedos, looking more like movie stars than businessmen. Lillian, in a graceful, emerald green gown, paced back and forth, smoothing down invisible wrinkles on her dress.

"Are you sure we shouldn't have insisted on Lucinda?" she whispered to Arthur. "What if 'handling it' means she's chosen something... simple? The press will be ruthless. They feast on newcomers."

"Lillian, my love," Arthur said, taking her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Have a little faith in our daughter. I have a feeling she knows exactly what she's doing."

Chase nodded in agreement, though he felt a flicker of the same anxiety. He wanted this night to be perfect for Evelyn, a true welcome, not another trial by fire.

Just then, they heard the soft click of a door opening on the second-floor landing.

A hush fell over the hall.

When Evelyn appeared at the top of the staircase, they were left utterly breathless.

The word "gown" seemed too simple, too terrestrial for what she was wearing.

Chase was the first to find his voice, a low whistle escaping his lips. "Ev... you look..." He struggled for a word magnificent enough. "Wow. Just... wow."

"That dress," Lillian said, her voice filled with awe as Evelyn reached the bottom of the stairs. "It's a work of art. Is it a new designer? I've never seen anything like it."

Evelyn smiled, a small, mysterious curve of her lips. She adjusted a perfectly tailored sleeve, the movement causing a cascade of soft light to ripple across her arm. "An old friend," she said simply.

The 'old friend' was, in fact, herself. The gown was a bespoke piece from her own secret, ultra-exclusive couture brand, "Ethereal"—a brand so exclusive that its clients were limited to a handful of royal families and discreet billionaires. She had personally designed it weeks ago, long before she would be attending a ball, sketching it on a tablet during a long flight. She had designed it for the night she would reintroduce herself to the world. That night had finally come. Her family simply saw a beautiful girl in a stunning dress. They didn't see the warrior stepping onto the battlefield in her chosen armor.