Wendy frowned, her tone direct. "Impossible. That''s when my best friend''s concert


    is scheduled. I already promised her I''d appear as her guest performer."


    Wendy''s older brother, Neal Burke, was known for being forceful.


    "If it''s Katrina, just cancel on her," he said bluntly. "But if it''s Lauretta..."


    He hesitated, realizing this wasn''t so easily handled.


    “Prioritize Lauretta. But their concerts probably won''t be on the same day. Just do Haynes a favor-make an appearance at his girlfriend''s event, y a song, and that''s more than enough."


    Wendy let out a cold, almost amusedugh. "Tell Haynes this for me: Trying to snatch his ex-wife''s guest performer for the sake of his new fling, using threats no less-isn''t that just disgusting?"


    Neal looked taken aback. "Ex-wife? New fling?"


    Wendy''s voice was like ice.


    "Haynes''s ex-wife is my best friend. Back then, she gave up her career for him, stayed home, raised their kids. And what did Haynes do? He found someone else on the side. Now she''s divorced him, finally ready to rebuild her life, and she''s invited me to perform at hereback concert. And now you want me to betray her for her ex-husband''s new girlfriend?"


    Neal was silent for a long moment.


    He was a man who put interests above all else, but even he couldn''t say anything to defend this.


    If it were just a stranger asking for a favor, maybe Wendy could have turned Ste down. But asking her to help the woman who ruined her friend''s marriage... even Neal couldn''t push that far. Besides, Wendy and Ms. Lauretta Chapman were close, and thanks to that connection, the Burke and Chapman families had worked together for years, reaping plenty of benefits. There was no need for Neal to risk angering Wendy over this.


    With that in mind, Neal softened his approach. "Wendy, this is really putting me in a tough spot. How about... you ask Lauretta for help? If she speaks up, I doubt Haynes would make trouble for the Burke family."


    The Burkes always put their own interests first. When Wendy wanted to pursue music, none of them supported her; they thought she was rebelling and even cut off her allowance. Only Neal had quietly helped her behind the scenes, which was why Wendy was willing to say so much to him now.


    Now that Neal was running the Burke Group, Wendy didn''t want to make things harder for her brother than necessary.


    She sighed. "Alright, I''ll ask Lauretta."


    At Ste''s studio, the friends gathered and wasted no timeying out Haynes''s n: he wanted one of them to perform as a guest at his girlfriend''s concert.


    After hearing the story, the three women exchanged looks.


    Katrina smirked. "Star, you''re like a golden goose-your ex just keeps plucking


    you for all you''re worth. Pretty soon there''ll be nothing left to take.”


    Wendy shook her head in disbelief "What are


    Odds? Of all the people


    in the world, his new girlfriend just had toe to us? And of course, she runs right into Star."


    Lauretta shrugged. "Honestly, it makes sense. The three of us are well-known,e from prominent families, and all grew up in Novaris. Plus, we were college ssmates with Rachel. It''s a lot easier for them to approach us than to look for


    someone abroad. Besides..."


    Abby asked, "Besides what?"


    Lauretta looked thoughtful. "If Star weren''t involved, would either of you have turned down the invitation?"


    Katrina and Wendy fell silent.


    They''d grown up with privilege and all its responsibilities; refusing a request like


    this would be unthinkable-unless it involved Ste.


    All three turned to Ste. "Star, what do you want to do about this?"


    They''d been friends for years, so Ste didn''t bother with pretense.


    She said simply, "I cut ties with them a long time ago. I don''t want them taking anything else from me."