Evelyn stared down at the shredded white silk lying on the floor. Black ink dripped slowly off the torn edges. Outside the locked door, the heavy muffled sound of music and cheering guests echoed from the grand ballroom below. She had less than eight minutes before the host called her name for the main red carpet entrance.

Nora and Chloe wanted to see her fall on her face. They wanted her to run out of the building crying, looking like a weak, helpless girl in front of every news reporter in the city.

Evelyn closed her eyes and took three slow, deep breaths. The panic in her chest washed away,...