Chapter 53 Extra Special? Roman “Oh, and Savannah—” Chloe’s voice rose above the chatter, bright, mocking, fake-sweet with poison underneath. “Come up here. You should be right beside me for this.” She gestured. The crowd shifted like a wave, all eyes snapping to Savannah. I didn’t miss the way a few lips curled into knowing smirks, or the sharp gleam in their eyes as if they’d been waiting all night for a show. Everyone knew there was history here—Chloe was counting on it. Savannah didn’t move at first. Her jaw tightened, her knuckles brushing the fabric of her dress like she needed to feel something solid beneath her fingertips. Chloe stood there, all sugar and venom, smiling patiently into the mic like a predator. My gut clenched. Whatever she was about to say, it wasn’t going to be good. Finally, Savannah moved. Her back was straight, her chin tilted high as though she’d rather walk through fire than give Chloe the satisfaction of seeing her flinch. That’s my girl.Chloe slid an arm around her sister when she reached the stage, pulling her in close. Almost as if she wanted to make her stay put for whatever she was about to announce. “Smile,” Chloe whispered just loud enough for the first row to hear. Then she gave Savannah a wicked side-eye before turning back to the crowd. She cleared her throat into the mic, her smile stretching wide enough to split her face. Then she turned to her fiancé who looked out of place. Tie discarded, posture slumped, clutching his sixtieth glass of wine like it was his last lifeline. She blew him a kiss. He didn’t catch it. Didn’t even blow one back. Instead, he raised his glass lazily, a hollow toast in her direction. “Good evening, everyone,” Chloe began, her tone too practiced, too sharp. “Thank you so much for being here tonight. Your support means the world to us.” The audience cheered, lifting glasses. Some even whistled. “And since we’re already celebrating, I thought—why not make it extra special?” Her grin deepened. She leaned forward, milking the pause, letting the anticipation ripple through the room. I saw her mother lean in to whisper something into her father's ears. His eyes immediately snapped to the stage. I kept my face blank, but inside, I was steel-wired tension. My eyes never left Savannah. “I have a little announcement,” Chloe continued, her voice pitching higher. “To everyone here… and especially to my fiancé.” The room hushed, the silence thick, expectant. I could physically see it swell. “I’m pregnant.” The words dropped like a grenade. For a heartbeat, silence reigned—thick, suspended, suffocating. Then the applause erupted, sharp and explosive. Laughter, squeals, clinking glasses. The air buzzed like static. But I only saw two things. First, Dean. He froze where he sat, his knuckles whitening around his champagne flute, jaw tight, eyes vacant. He wasn’t celebrating. He wasn’t even present. He looked like a man gut-punched. Second, Savannah. She was white as a ghost, so still she might’ve been carved from ice. Her eyes darted to Dean’s. They locked eyes, a single glance stretched into a silent exchange. Something unspoken passed between them. Something sharp enough to slice through me.What the hell is going on? My fists clenched at my sides. I was one second away from storming up to that stage, throwing Savannah over my shoulder, and getting her the hell out when Chloe leaned back into the mic. “Oh, and one more thing,” she said sweetly. “Savannah, we want you to be our child’s godmother. Will you grant our request?” The crowd gasped, then erupted again, the cruelty in the room thick as perfume. Savannah’s throat bobbed. She managed the smallest nod. But Chloe wasn’t finished. She always needed the final twist of the knife. With a grin too wide, she shoved the mic into Savannah’s hands like it was on fire. The audience quieted, waiting for Savannah to speak. She tapped the mic once, then cleared her throat. Her hand didn’t tremble, though I knew she was barely holding herself together. “Hello,” she began, her voice steady but low. “I’d like to say… congratulations on the baby. I wish you both a happy married life. Thank you.” It was short. Simple. Dignified. And far more gracious than Chloe deserved.The crowd applauded politely, but Chloe squealed theatrically, hugging her stiff sister tight. Savannah leaned in just slightly, lips moving. She whispered something into Chloe’s ear. Whatever it was, Chloe’s smile faltered for the barest second. I didn’t care what Savannah had said, I cared that she was moving, finally breaking away. Instinct had me pushing forward through the crowd before my brain even caught up. “Hey,” I murmured when I reached her, the noise of clapping still swelling behind us. “You okay?” Her arms folded across herself like she was trying to hold in her own shivers. “Yeah… yeah, I’m fine.” The lie rolled off her tongue with ease. I stripped off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders, ignoring the sneaky glances from the crowd. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Come on. Let’s go.” We didn’t spare another word for anyone as I steered her toward the exit, my hand firm at her back. Halfway there, instinct made me look back. My gaze collided with Chloe’s. She stood on stage, surrounded by her family, her smile plastered on. But her eyes were locked on us. On Savannah under my jacket. On the way I was leading her out. It wasn’t jealousy. It was something colder. A warning. A threat? Dean still hadn’t moved. He was frozen, his champagne glass untouched, eyes glazed. I clenched my jaw and turned away, guiding Savannah through the doors. Outside, the night air hit cool and sharp. I opened the car door for her, steadying her as she slid inside. She sank into the seat, the weight of the night crashing down on her shoulders. “Thank you,” she said again, voice quiet, small. I shut the door, circling around back to the driver’s side. My knuckles still ached from how tightly I’d been clenching them. As I slid in beside her, I couldn’t shake the image of Dean’s face, Savannah’s pale shock, and Chloe’s venomous smile. Something was unraveling here. Something bigger than a cruel announcement or a staged humiliation. There's something else. And I was going to find out what it was—before it swallowed Savannah whole.