The annual charity ball was Ashwick Academy’s most prestigious social event, drawing elite families from across the globe to the academy’s transformed ballroom. I stood in front of my dorm room mirror, adjusting the necklace that Roni had insisted would be “perfect for making a statement.”
The diamond necklace was a masterpiece of craftsmanship—delicate platinum chains supporting stones that caught the light like captured stars. Each diamond was flawless, cut with precision that suggested the work of master jewelers. The piece had belonged to my great-grandmother, one of the few items from my family’s collection that had never been publicly photographed or catalogued.
“You look incredible,” Roni said, putting the finishing touches on her own makeup. “That necklace is absolutely stunning.
