#Chapter 126: My Fair Lady

Iris “Announcing… Lady Iris Willford!” the attendant calls out. “The long-lost Willford heir has returned!” The room goes utterly silent as I step through the doorway. Hundreds of eyes turn to stare at me all at once, and I feel my throat tighten. Fuck. This is even more intense than I imagined. My mother gives my arm a reassuring squeeze before stepping away, leaving me alone in the spotlight. The silence stretches on, uncomfortably long, and all I can hear is the thundering of my own heartbeat in my ears. I trained for this moment, of course. We practiced my entrance over and over and over again until I could do it in my sleep, and yet… I can’t move. Just when I think I might actually pass out, Caleb comes to stand beside me. He gently takes my hand and places it on his arm. “Breathe,” he whispers. “I’m right here, little sister.” I nod slightly, take a deep breath, and take my first step with him by my side. The crowd begins to murmur, then