One after another, every active-duty officer in attendance rose to their feet.
Colonels.
Captains.
Commanders.
Decorated veterans.
Each lifted a hand to their brow in perfect synchronization.
No one had ordered them to.
They simply recognized a superior officer.
The synchronized salute swept across the ballroom like falling dominoes until nearly every uniformed guest stood at attention.
A gasp escaped someone near the back.
"My God..."
Arthur stared.
No...
No, this couldn't be right.
His daughter?
Commander?
Impossible.
Emily laughed nervously.
"This... this is ridiculous."
No one joined her.
Not even Vivian.
Daniel Brooks, standing near the stage, felt the blood drain from his face.
He had spent the evening silently agreeing with everyone else's assumptions.
He had watched Celeste endure humiliation without saying a word.
He had mistaken silence for weakness.
Now every military officer in the room was saluting her.
His heartbeat quickened.
Who exactly have we been judging?