?Chapter 1576:


    Yet she recognized the true challengey ahead—cultivating a handful of steadfast friendships.


    She couldn’t risking across as aloof like Brenna, who scarcely had any close friends.


    The following day, she went to work as usual. Once her shift ended in the afternoon, she made a beeline for Keira’s house, arriving without any gifts this time.


    She had been gearing up to confront her mother about sneaking into the banquet.


    The second she stepped inside, there was Keira sprawled on the couch, grinning as she watched TV.


    Sandra was still angry, a bit shaken too. She had explicitly told Keira not to go, but Keira had ignored her words and found a way to slip in. Still fuming, she sat down beside her.


    Keira, cheerful as ever, handed her some fruit. “Here, taste these—they’re very sweet. You picked them up yesterday, and I’ve already eaten half the bag.”


    Sandra shot her a re and ignored the fruit. “I told you not to go! Why did you sneak in like that? What if the Harpers had caught you? I would have been the one left embarrassed!”


    But Keira just waved her words off. “Rx, they didn’t catch me, did they? Your mom is no amateur. You’re blowing this out of proportion. I only wanted to see you at the banquet—what is so terrible about that? Even if they had seen me, what could they have done to me? I’m your mother. You think they would just kick me out?”


    She was almost proud of what she had done.


    Sandra’s temper spiked. “You’re reckless, Mom! The rich are obsessed with keeping up appearances. You lucked out this time, but if you had been caught, do you really think the Harpers would’ve smiled and introduced you around?”


    Keira scoffed. “And why on earth not?”


    Sandra let out an exasperated sigh. “You don’t understand the situation at all!”


    Trying to smooth things over, Keira softened her tone. “Alright, alright, don’t get mad. What’s done is done. I won’t do anything like that again, promise. Anyway, I noticed the Harper family raked in piles of giftsst night. Did they give you any? Those were meant for you, you know. Don’t wait around—if they don’t offer, ask! Otherwise, they’ll peg you as a pushover.”


    Sandra didn’t see it that way. She knew the guests showed up for the Harpers, not for her.


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    She understood all too well how little weight her name carried.


    “They’re just the usual party tokens, Mom. Nothing useful. Stop thinking about them.”


    She knew exactly what Keira was after—the gifts. Rich people’s presents were often pricey, and even if they weren’t practical, they could be sold for cash.


    Keira bristled. “I am saying this for your own good! Go ask where they stashed the gifts. If there is anything worth having, snag it—and if something suits me, bring it to me.”


    Her demand came out blunt as a hammer, and Sandra’s patience finally snapped. Her mother was always egging her on to wring something out of the Harper family—gifts, money, favors. It was getting irritating.


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