Chapter 1
Seph
The ballroom gleamed under the crystal chandeliers, their light bouncing off the polished marble floors. My family’s estate, always a fortress of tradition and elegance, felt more like a gilded cage tonight.
Guests swirled around in tailored suits and shimmering gowns, laughter punctuating the air like confetti. NHL executives rubbed elbows with NHL players, their faces flush with excitement—or maybe it was just the champagne. I leaned against a wall, cradling a glass of sparkling water that felt far too mundane for this spectacle.
“Where is the bride?” one of my father’s associates remarked to another. "I haven't seen her yet."
"You know how it is," another murmured. "She's going to make an entrance."
"I don't doubt it," a third chimed in. "She's stunning."
“Absolutely flawless,” another replied, eyes searching the crowd for my sister.
Flawless. That word echoed in my mind like a taunt. I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling small beneath the weight of everyone’s expectations. My sister had always been the golden child—the obedient one who could do no wrong in our father’s eyes. And here I was, just Seph. Sheltered and protected like some fragile ornament nobody dared to touch.
Incapable.
I scanned the crowd, my gaze darting between faces I barely recognized. Where was Callista? Mom had insisted we get ready together, but my sister had brushed her off like an unwanted fly. I didn’t take it personally; we hadn’t shared that bond in years. But still, the emptiness settled in my chest.
She should’ve been here, reveling in the attention, but instead, she chose solitude. The truth gnawed at me—jealousy, sharp and bitter. I didn’t want to be part of this masquerade either.
My eyes landed on him—Hades Sinclair. He stood near the grand staircase, a statue carved from shadow and muscle. Dark hair framed his chiseled jawline, and his piercing blue eyes scanned the room with an intensity that could make anyone feel small. He wore a tailored suit that hugged every contour of his body, radiating confidence like an aura.
The devil in a suit. My family worshipped him like some kind of god, but I saw through the façade. Behind that charming smile lurked a ruthless man who burned everything he touched—friendships, dreams, families. Power-hungry and controlling, he toyed with lives as if they were mere chess pieces on a board.
And Callista? She walked willingly into his fire.
I caught a glimpse of her in my mind’s eye: head held high, laughter spilling from her lips as she basked in his attention. How could she not see it? Hades’s charm could easily mask the coldness beneath. The way he smirked at her made bile rise in my throat.
“I'm happy to see him settling down finally,” someone whispered nearby. “They really are a perfect couple.”
Perfect? I stifled a scoff. Callista had always been drawn to the allure of danger—chasing after flames without realizing they could consume her whole.
With every laugh that erupted from their corner of the room, my resolve hardened. She needed to see him for what he really was before it was too late.
I stood there, heart racing, lost in my thoughts when my mother’s presence sliced through the crowd like a hot knife through butter. Her hair gleamed under the lights, perfectly styled and held in place with an iron grip of hairspray. The pearls around her neck caught the glimmering chandeliers, framing her face in a halo of sophistication. She wore that expectant smile, the one that signaled trouble.
“Seph,” she said, her tone both light and firm. “Why are you sulking in the corner? This is a celebration! You should be mingling.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” I replied, forcing a smile that felt like plastic on my face.
“Fine isn’t good enough. You’re missing out.” She looped her arm through mine and pulled me toward the thrumming heart of the ballroom. “You need to meet people. Expand your horizons!”
“Yeah, because I’m dying to meet more people,” I muttered under my breath.
“Don’t be rude.” She shot me a warning glance, eyes narrowed but softened by concern. “This could be your chance to network. Just be yourself.”
Be myself? My stomach twisted at the thought as she led me through clusters of laughter and swirling gowns.
Then we reached him—Hades stood at the center of attention like a sun surrounded by planets orbiting his gravitational pull. He leaned casually against a pillar, laughing effortlessly with a group of our family friends and media types who practically drooled over him.
My mother beamed up at Hades, practically glowing in his presence. She’d always had a soft spot for him, as if he were a rare gem rather than a predator disguised in tailored suits.
“Your look magnificent, Hades,” she gushed, brushing her fingers along the lapel of his jacket. “I couldn’t have imagined a better groom for my daughter.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Moore,” he replied, his voice smooth like silk. “But let’s be honest, it’s all Callista. She’s the one who orchestrated everything beautifully. She must have gotten it from you.” He flashed that charming smile that made hearts flutter and sent shivers down spines.
