The next morning, Emily found herself at the one place that felt like home.
The orphanage.
Ever since her father's death, the orphanage had become a second home. She had fought to save it when the government tried to demolish it,raising petitions, knocking on doors, and with her father's connections, they'd won. Ever since, Emily had volunteered here every week. The children loved her, and the feeling was mutual.
She was tying a ribbon on a little girl's braid when a boy ran up to her breathlessly.
"A man is waiting for you," he said.
Those words sent a chill down her spine. Emily's heart skipped.
Was it him?
That strange man from last night,the one who called her little lamp?
She wasn't sure if she wanted it to be him or not.
"Where is he?" she asked softly.
The boy pointed toward the far edge of the playground.
A tall man stood leaning against a sleek black sports car, arms folded. He wore a leather jacket and polished shoes, his black shades hiding his eyes. It wasn't the man from last night. Emily's shoulders slumped a little in either relief or disappointment, she wasn't sure.
It was Alan.
She walked over, her expression cooling. "What are you doing here?" she asked flatly.
Alan grinned, removing his sunglasses. His blue eyes sparkled in the morning light, his chestnut hair tousled in a way that screamed effortlessly handsome.
"Is that how you greet your boyfriend?" he teased.
"We're not dating," Emily rolled her eyes.
Alan was her childhood friend,and the heartbreak she hadn't seen coming. She'd confessed her feelings to him after high school. He rejected her. They stayed friends... until his girlfriend cheated on him, and he came back to Emily for comfort.
A rebound.
She had said yes to him, foolishly. Hoping love might finally be hers. But it had been messy. Alan never truly made time for her. Their short relationship had been full of tension and misunderstandings, and after they broke up, he ran back to his ex.
"How's Sarah?" Emily asked, her voice clipped.
Alan hesitated, then gave a casual shrug. "She's fine. Still chasing dreams. Focused on making it big."
"Everyone is," Emily muttered.
Sarah owned one of Atlanta's top fashion brands. She and Emily had once been friends, but their friendship withered in the shadows of jealousy, silence, and Alan.
"So... Chucks, how's the new shelter project coming along?" Alan asked, calling her by her old nickname.
Emily blinked. "How do you know about that?"
He grinned. "My stepdad's the mayor. Of course I know."
Of course. Alan's stepfather was the mayor of Atlanta and had already approved the permit for the shelter's construction. He liked Emily and had always treated her with kindness. She knew he still thought of her as the girl who once broke Alan's heart.
"He kept going on about how I shouldn't have let you go," Alan added, chuckling. "Told me I should keep visiting to make things right."
"Well, he definitely misses me more than you do," Emily joked as they walked through the orphanage garden.
Alan laughed. It was familiar, but the warmth wasn't the same anymore.
"So," he said after a pause. "I heard you're going to the Winter Ball?"
Emily raised a brow. "Yeah. Are you?"
"I don't really have a choice," he sighed. "Mayor's stepson perks and problems, I guess."
The Winter Ball.
A mysterious event held once a year by an anonymous host. No one knew who organized it, but the city's elite were always invited. Everyone arrived in masks.
Strict rules.
No photos.
No removing masks.
Anyone who broke the rules was permanently banned.
It was glamorous, dramatic, and exclusive.
Alan continued, uninterested. "The mayor's still obsessed with figuring out who's behind it."
"He'll figure it out," Emily said gently. "Eventually."
Alan scoffed. "He wants me in politics. But I'd rather make movies. Run my own film studio."
"I know," Emily nodded. "But you'll get there. He loves you. He just doesn't understand your world yet."
"I hope you're right," Alan murmured.
⸻
The day of the Winter Ball finally arrived.
Emily stood in front of the mirror, holding the invitation in her hand. She had never been invited before. Maybe it was because of the new shelter project. Maybe someone had noticed her.
After her father's death, she and her mother still had wealth but not the power that once protected them. Still, it never bothered Emily. She had no desire to be powerful,only useful.
She was nervous, but curious. The Winter Ball was always shrouded in mystery.
Riley had gone several times before. So had Alan.
But this was Emily's first time.
And unfortunately, she was going with Gemma.
⸻
That afternoon, Emily, Riley, and Gemma went shopping together.
Gemma twirled in a shimmering gold dress, grinning. "I'm going to have so much fun."
"You better behave," Riley warned, raising a brow. "There are rules, you know. This isn't a high school dance. You don't want to get kicked out."
"I've talked to her," Emily said with a sigh. "She promised."
Riley rolled her eyes. "That's what scares me."
When night fell, the girls dressed carefully, helping each other zip gowns, adjust heels, and secure their elegant masks.
Emily wore a midnight-blue gown, simple yet captivating. Her mask was a delicate silver piece that hugged her face like frost. Gemma chose a shimmering gold mask to match her dress, and Riley opted for an emerald velvet look that made her dark curls pop.
As they stepped into the car, Emily's stomach fluttered.
Tonight was more than just a party. It was a door, one she was finally allowed to open.
And something told her that once she stepped through it, there would be no going back.