ARIELLE
"Now," my father said after a long, weighted pause, his voice low but carrying that familiar edge of authority. "Let's move on to another unpleasant matter."
I straightened instinctively, bracing myself as a knot of tension coiled in my stomach. I already knew what he was about to bring up, yet the sudden shift in his tone made my heart pound uneasily.
"I heard there was... a scandal involving you and your dress at the Gala," he continued, his brows knitting together in stern disapproval. "Would you care to explain what exactly happened?"
His gaze pinned me in place, and for a few seconds, I said nothing. I needed time to think — to weigh my words carefully.
