With that, Jodie turned and walked away.


    This wasn''t like Jodie at all. She had always hated Grace-so why pull her punches now, when she had the perfect chance?


    A flicker of unease rose in Grace''s chest. Then, Daphne''s voice rang out, sharp and mocking.


    "I still don''t get how someone like you has the nerve to show up here."


    Jodie might have stepped aside, but Daphne wasn''t going to. She marched up, arm swinging as Grace''s hand shot out and caught her wrist.


    Daphne''s temper red-only then did she realize how strong Grace really was. She couldn''t even break free.


    "Let go of me, Grace! Or I swear I''ll call my brother!"


    Surprisingly, Grace did let go, but Daphne had pulled so hard that she stumbled back andnded t on the floor.


    She was wearing a gown with a wide hem, so the fall was anything but subtle.


    Her cheeks burned with shame as she wobbled to her feet, ring at Grace while people nearby whispered behind their hands.


    She feltpletely humiliated.


    Her eyes searched the crowd, and suddenly welled up with tears.


    "Simon... why didn''t you do anything?"


    Grace turned to look, and there stood Simon.


    He was dressed in a palevender suit, looking every bit like a showy peacock, and right beside him stood Julian.


    Simon''s expression darkened as he prepared to give Grace a lesson, but Julian tugged on his sleeve.


    Amused, Julian said lightly, "What''s the point of meddling in women''s drama?"


    Simon


    Owed his eyes. There was


    Deneath Julian''s


    had a way of staying


    clean even when things got messy.


    With a frown, he shot Daphne a curt reply. "Sort it out yourself."


    ét


    Daphne wasn''t Simon''s biological sister-just a distant branch of the Yule family. Acting close with him wasjust her way of trying to lose the gap.


    She had been sucking it up to Simon just to keep herself known in the social circle.


    But at an event this big, Simon hadn''t lifted a finger to help her.


    From the upper floor, Jodie watched with a satisfied smile tugging at her lips. She hadn''t changed her dress yet, but seeing the resentment on Daphne''s face was enough to make her day.


    She leaned toward a waiter and whispered something.


    Grace, ignoring it all, turned to head for her mark.


    But the moment had passed, and whoever he was had already slipped away.


    She circled the venue for nearly 40 minutes, but the person was nowhere to be found.


    Finally pausing, she caught sight of a server walking by and took a ss of fruit wine from the tray.


    She took a few slow sips, eyes still sweeping the room.


    A sudden prickle ran down her spine-someone was watching her.


    She looked up and locked eyes with Ethan, who was on the second floor.


    People always said he never showed up to these things, yet there he was.


    They were too far apart for words, so she lifted her ss in a silent toast, drained it, and turned back to the crowd.


    She hade to strike a deal tonight, and her night wasn''t over yet.


    However, barely ten minutester, a flush of heat hit her hard, so intense it made her want to rip off her clothes.