1 Scarlett #2
It’s beautiful, elegant and proper, exactly the kind of girl Clara wants the world to believe I am.
Harper’s dress looked like sin wrapped in black sequins.
The strapless Dolce and Gabbana cocktail dress clung to her body like it had been poured onto her rather than stitched together, every inch shimmering beneath the light with dangerous intent.
Tiny black beads and sequins caught against her skin like scattered stars, making it impossible not to stare.
The sweetheart neckline dipped low enough that every male would be tempted, while the corseted structure beneath it held her together with sharp, deliberate perfection.
The hem was scandalously short, dripping into sheer beaded detailing along one thigh that moved every time she stepped, teasing glimpses of skin like a promise she had no intention of keeping.
Paired with impossibly high black heels, the entire look screamed Harper; reckless confidence, sharp edges, and the kind of beauty that made people nervous.
She didn’t wear the dress delicately. She wore it like a weapon.
Like she knew every eye in the room would follow her the second she walked in and dared anyone to look away.
This is why Celeste and Clara hated her, it wasn’t just because her family didn’t come from generational wealth(let’s be honest, neither did my father) but her looks attracted every eye in the room the minute she walked in.
“I can’t wait until this school year is over so we can finally get the hell out of this town,” Harper says as she finishes applying her makeup in the mirror across from me. “You’d think growing up in Raven Hills—the richest suburb outside of Pittsburgh—we wouldn’t be so desperate to escape it.”
“That’s because people don’t see what really goes on here,” I sigh.
“They don’t see the shady business deals, the fake smiles, or the way our school feels like a real-life version of Mean Girls gone completely wrong. If people actually knew how bad the bullying was at Raven Hills Academy, they wouldn’t dream of moving here.”
Harper nods knowingly, and I look away toward the window.
I wish things were even half as normal as they were when our mothers grew up here.
Back then, Raven Hills wasn’t completely consumed by wealth and appearances.
There used to be a smaller middle-class neighborhood nearby called Crestwood.
Families actually knew each other. Kids played outside instead of competing over who had the newest designer bag or the biggest trust fund.
Then investors started buying up the properties one by one, raising rent to evict the current occupants, then flipping them into luxury homes and trendy businesses.
What was once a quiet little town slowly transformed into a playground for the rich, a place obsessed with status, money, and nightlife.
Now, it barely feels real anymore.
There is a knock at the door and my dad walks in. I don’t know why he knocks when he does this, it really irritates me.
“Hey girls, you both look…well…um beautiful. The guest are starting to arrive and Scarlett I think you should be down there to greet them. This is your party after all. Please remember to smile, and please be on your best behavior tonight. I have some really big clients coming tonight.”
Dad says as he turns and walks out the door.
My dad Thomas “Reed” Vale carries himself like a man who spent his entire life trying to prove he belonged in rooms never meant for him.
At fifty-two, he’s still undeniably handsome in the polished, intimidating way wealthy men often are.
Tall with broad shoulders and a lean build maintained by expensive trainers and early morning workouts, Dad looks every bit the powerful businessman Raven Hills expects him to be.
His dark brown hair is lightly streaked with silver at the temples, giving him the distinguished appearance people seem to admire.
Most days, he’s dressed in tailored designer suits, luxury watches peeking from beneath perfectly pressed sleeves, every detail carefully curated to project power, control, and success.
My dad wasn’t always this way. After Mom died, something in him changed completely.
The warmth he once carried disappeared beneath expensive suits, endless business meetings, and an almost desperate need to protect the Vale reputation at all costs.
Somewhere along the way, appearances became more important than reality.
More important than me.
Now, he’s the kind of man who notices stock market shifts before he notices the bruises or cuts on my arms. The kind of father who convinces himself silence is easier than admitting something ugly might be happening inside his perfect home.
Harper and I make our way down to the outside entertainment area. It is decorated to the max. My Dad, Clara and Celeste stand near the stage greeting the guests as the arrive through the back gates.
“I really don’t want to be here” I say as I turn and try to go back in the house. Harper grabs my shoulders and turns me around walking with me.
“I know Scar, trust me, I don’t want to be here anymore than you do. Let’s get through this night. Then we have three months of school left and we are free! Hell after tonight come live with me. You know my mom and dad would let you in a heartbeat.”
Harper says as she grabs a champagne glass off a server who is walking by.
She down in in one go and places it back on his tray with a little smile and a wave.
“I better get this over with. Don’t get into too much trouble will you while I’m playing the perfect family.” I laugh as I walk towards my family.
“OH Scarlett! Don’t you just look wonderful in that dress. I knew it was perfect for you the moment I saw it. Thomas doesn’t she look absolutely beautiful.” Clara exclaims, while Celeste snears at me from behind her.
Clara Vale looked like the kind of woman who belonged on the cover of a luxury magazine rather than standing in the middle of a crowded party pretending to play the role of devoted wife and mother.
Every inch of her was calculated perfection.
Her dark chestnut hair fell in glossy waves over one shoulder, styled so flawlessly it didn’t move even when she did.
Diamond earrings worth more than most people’s cars sparkled beneath the soft golden lights while her makeup remained elegant and understated in the carefully expensive way only wealthy women seemed to master.
Tonight, she wore a custom champagne-colored Versace gown that clung to her body like liquid gold.
The silk fabric hugged her slim figure before cascading into a dramatic floor-length skirt that moved effortlessly with every step.
A dangerously high slit exposed long toned legs, while the structured corset bodice cinched tightly at her waist, emphasizing the graceful elegance she worked so hard to maintain.
Thin crystal straps rested delicately against sun-kissed skin, and the deep neckline was tasteful enough for Raven Hills society while still commanding attention from every person in the room.
Behind her stood Celeste, she had the same glossy chestnut hair that cascaded down her back in soft, perfectly styled waves.
The same sharp cheekbones, flawless skin, and striking blue eyes but hers could appear warm and inviting one second before turning ice cold the next.
Standing beside each other, they looked less like mother and daughter and more like sisters.
Tonight, Celeste wore a short black Versace dress that looked like it had been designed specifically to command attention.
The expensive fabric wrapped tightly around her body, sculpting every curve with effortless precision.
Thin crystal straps rested against her shoulders while the structured corset-style bodice accentuated her tiny waist before the skirt ended dangerously high on her thighs.
Every movement made the dress shimmer beneath the warm lighting, the subtle crystals woven throughout the material catching the light like tiny flashes of diamonds.
Her long legs were highlighted by towering designer heels that clicked sharply against the marble floors as she walked through the party with practiced confidence.
A diamond tennis bracelet circled her wrist while matching earrings sparkled against the soft glow of her skin.
“Yes, darling. You did a wonderful job picking out that dress. Scarlett looks absolutely stunning.”
My father smiles proudly before turning toward me and gesturing to the couple standing beside him.
“Honey, I’d like you to meet Victor and Elise Beaumont. Victor is one of my newest clients. Their family just moved here from Newport and built a house off Rosewood Lane.”
He motions toward the tall dark-haired boy standing nearby.
“Their son Brady attends Raven Hills Academy. He’s a junior this year, I believe.”
Dad quickly turns his attention back to Victor, already slipping into business mode while the Beaumont’s smile politely at me.
Their son barely acknowledges my existence before drifting toward Celeste and her group like he already belongs there.
Of course he does. I’ve seen him around school before.
Football player. Rich. Popular. Exactly the type of guy Celeste and her friends collect like trophies.
I stand there with a fake smile plastered across my face as more guests arrive, each one ushered inside by staff while my father introduces me to more wealthy clients than I could possibly care to remember.
By the time the last guest finally arrives, I’m more than ready to abandon my “perfect daughter” duties and escape in search of Harper.
“Scar, one thing I’ll say about your dad—he definitely knows how to throw a party,” Harper says as I find her seated near the outdoor bar. “This food is divine, and so is the staff.”
The same waiter from earlier passes by, and Harper smoothly grabs two more champagne flutes from his tray before handing one to me.
“Well, he’s always known how to impress the right people,” I mutter, taking the glass from her. “Do you think it would be considered rude if I disappeared now?”