Jasper snapped, "Ste, you really have no shame. Rachel ys the violin, so you y the violin. Rachel wears a white dress, and you wear a white dress too! Stop embarrassing yourself here! No matter how much you try to mimic Rachel, you''ll always be a second-rate copycat!"


    Ste didn''t even blink. "Funny, I didn''t realize violins and white dresses came with ''Property of Rachel Pearce'' tags." Her smile turned razor-thin. "Or is mediocrity the only look you''re allowed to copy?"


    Jasper''s voice was dripping with sarcasm. "It''s pretty clear to everyone here what you''re up to, trying to mimic Rachel at an event like this. Ever heard the saying ''a cheap imitation''? No matter how much you try to act like the real thing, you''re still just a knock-off."


    Neville chuckled, "Folks, if your eyesight''s that bad, maybe it''s time for some sses? Anyone can see which one of thesedies is the real deal and which one''s the fake."


    Jasper''s face flushed, about to retort when Neville''s amused voice cut him off again.


    "If you''re so sure, why don''t we ask some bystanders?"


    Jasper was at a loss for words. As much as he disliked Ste, he couldn''t deny that she had a certain allure that Rachel simply couldn''t match. Her features were not only strikingly beautiful, but her bone structure was stunning too. Even without makeup, Ste had an edge.


    Eventually, Jasper managed to sputter, "Looks can only get you so far when you''ve got such a nasty heart."


    Neville shrugged with a smile, "I don''t know about hearts, but being better looking than Ms. Pearce is enough for most."


    Jasper red, "You..."


    Just then, a cheerful voice rang out from a little distance away. "Star, Marvin, there you are!"


    Abby bounded over to the group. "This preschool is huge! It took me forever to find you guys."


    Abby hade to cheer on Marvin. She''d been crashing at Ste''s ce so oftentely that she''d gotten to know Marvin pretty well.


    Seeing Abby, Marvin beamed, "Abby, you made it!"


    Abby waved her camera. "I''m here to capture the historic moment of you guys taking first ce."


    "Great!" Marvin pped his hands, "Make sure you get a good shot of Ste!" Abby teased, "And if Ste looks good, what if you look bad?"


    Marvin grinned, "I''m a boy, I''m here to make her look even better. The prettier Ste looks, the more credit I get."


    Abby couldn''t help butugh, "No wonder Star is so fond of you. You''re quite the charmer. She''s right to adore you."


    She shot a sideways nce, "Unlike some people who, no matter how well you treat them, always side with outsiders."


    Marvin blinked, puzzled, "Aunt Abby, why is that?"


    Abby sighed theatrically, "Maybe they just like it when people aren''t nice to them...


    or perhaps they have some peculiar affection for self-inflicted misery."


    Right then, Jasper couldn''t resist a jab himself.


    "Oh, please! First ce? More like a historicst ce! Did I hear that right? A homemaker who spends all her time with groceries is actually daring topete with our Rachel and aiming for first ce? How delusional!"


    Abby, who had been ignoring Jasper, turned to him with an incredulous look. "Are you out of your mind? Do you even know who Star used to be?"