I had barely stepped into the main banquet hall when I heard it. The unmistakable sound of malicious gossip.
"Can you believe she's living with him already? How desperate." Victoria Mercer's voice carried just enough to reach my ears as I stood alone near the entrance.
Arthur had gone upstairs to change his wine-stained shirt after shielding me from a clumsy servant. His absence left me vulnerable, and Victoria wasted no time pouncing.
"I always knew she was after money," she continued to her circle of former classmates. "Remember how she used to follow Caleb around? And now she's Arthur Sterling's little mistress."
I kept my face carefully blank. These petty jabs were nothing compared to what I'd endured growing up.
The women fell silent when they noticed me looking their way. Victoria's smile turned sickeningly sweet.
"Elara! We were just talking about you." She moved toward me, her designer dress swishing. "I was telling everyone how... resourceful you are."
