Nte was momentarily stunned by what she''d just heard.


    An abortion?


    Sure, she''d seen plenty of actresses in show business quietly end pregnancies- it was practically an open secret by now. But somehow, the very idea of abortion seemedpletely out of ce in Isadora''s world.


    Isadora was so pure, so untainted.


    "Isadora... are you serious?"


    A flicker of hesitation passed through Isadora''s eyes. After a moment, she


    nodded, barely perceptibly.


    Nte felt a surge of panic and anger.


    "Isadora, this isn''t something to take lightly. It could hurt your body-and... it''s a life, too."


    Isadora''s expression turned sorrowful.


    Of course she knew it was a life.


    But it was also a mistake.


    "Nte, what am I supposed to do? Keep the baby so I can raise a child alone? Let them grow up as someone''s secret?"


    "We both know what it''s like to grow up in a loveless home. Why would I make a child go through that again?"


    Nte opened her mouth to protest, but the words caught in her throat.


    ***


    Charity G Ballroom.


    Two attendants, each holding a ck velvet box cradling a diamond ne, walked gracefully toward the table where the "Prince" sat.


    The men at the table chuckled, while the women shot Laverne looks of envy and thinly veiled jealousy.


    "The Prince really is generous-spending a fortune just for ady''s smile."


    "Ms. Laverne, you are so lucky. The most expensive diamond ne here tonight is all yours."


    Laverne basked in the ttery, her heart soaring. She managed a bashful smile. "You''re all such charmers."


    Victor reached out with elegant, long fingers and casually lifted the diamond ne from its box. His gaze was unreadable as he nced at the ne, then he tapped his fingertips lightly on the table-slow, deliberate.


    Everyone assumed the Prince was about to ce the ne around Laverne''s neck himself.


    Laverne certainly thought so. As Victor picked up the ne, she let down her guard, turned slightly, and bared her slender, porcin neck, waiting for this man to fasten the jewels himself.


    Victor''s eyes lifted just a fraction, his gaze deep and dark. Under the glittering lights, no one could quite read his expression.


    With each tap of his fingers, Laverne''s heart raced, and she couldn''t suppress the smile tugging at her lips.


    But the next second, with a soft click, Victor tossed the ne back into the velvet box, utterly nonchnt.


    "Put it away," he said.


    Then Victor stood, moving with an easy indifference. He nced briefly at the host of the g, his low voice almost careless: "Alec, something''se up. I''ll donate another five million tonight—make it an even ten million, all for the charity fund."


    With that, he strode away.


    The room went silent.


    Laverne blinked, stunned, her body going rigid with shock. Her face, unable to mask her disappointment, froze.


    Almost against her will, she sprang to her feet, blurting out, "Prince, weren''t you giving me the ne?"


    Victor stopped, ncing back at her with a faint, almost amused smile. "Did I ever say I was giving it to you?"


    He hadn''t said that—not exactly. But hadn''t he just asked if she liked it?


    Had she misunderstood?


    How could that be!


    "You asked if I liked it, I thought... I thought—”


    "Liking something and getting it are two different things. If you don''t get it, maybe you should ask your English teacher for a lesson."


    With that, Victor lost all patience for the conversation and simply walked away.


    Everyone stared at the scene, taken aback by the sudden turn.


    But no one was truly surprised. The Prince was always reckless, always ying by his own rules, never caring what anyone thought and by now, everyone had gotten used to it.