"Mom?"


    The soft, hesitant call snapped Ste back to reality. She turned and saw Keen- dressed like a little gentleman, every detail immacte. It had been some time since she''dst seen him.


    Once, she''d treasured Keen more than her own life; the slightest hint of trouble would leave her anxious and fretting for hours. She''d even convinced herself, more than once, that losing him would be unthinkable-something she simply wouldn''t survive.


    But reality had proven otherwise. Ste knew now: she must never lose herself for anyone, not even her own child.


    She nodded gently in reply to Keen''s greeting, but a faint question lingered in her mind.


    Why had Mr. Burton invited them as well? Was he trying to mend the rift between her and Keen, bringing him—and, by extension, the whole O''Brien family-along to smooth things over?


    Her thoughts were interrupted as themotion drew the attention of the event manager. A middle-aged man strode over, his tone sharp: "What''s all this noise about? Is something wrong here?"


    Jasper pointed at Ste. "Sir, this woman doesn''t have an invitation. She slipped into the party. This is Mr. Burton''s birthday celebration, and we can''t have unidentified guests ruining it!"


    The manager''s expression darkened. The Burtons were meticulous about their invitations—each one ounted for, no exceptions. To prevent unwanted guests, everyone had to show proof at the door. Without it, not even the Queen herself would have been let in.


    So how had this woman gotten past security?


    He stepped in front of Ste. "Miss, may I see your invitation, please?"


    Ste''s brow furrowed slightly. "I''m sorry, I''m here to perform. I''m not a guest, so I don''t have an invitation."


    Earlier, the venue manager had let her in. She hadn''t met this man before-odds were, he was an in-house butler, brought in by the Burtons specifically for the event.


    No sooner had she finished


    speaking than a delicate, mockingugh drifted over. Rachel''s eyes sparkled with feigned surprise, her lips curled into a sly smile. "Ms Cameron, if you don''t have an invitation, just admit it. Why bother spinning a story?"


    She paused, then added with syrupy concern, "If you like, I could put in a word with Haynie—let''s say you came with us, all right?"


    Jasper scoffed. "Rachel, you''re too soft! After what she did-pushing you into theke, nearly killing. you-and you''d still vouch for her? I say no way. People like her shouldn''t be here. Sir, get her out. Now!"


    The manager, seeing Ste unable to produce an invitation and noting the group''s open hostility, lost all patience. He signaled to the security guards behind him. "Escort thisdy out, please."


    Rachel watched, her eyes glinting with schadenfreude. If Ste was thrown out in front of everyone, her reputation would be in tatters.


    By now, more and more guests had turned to watch the scene unfolding.


    Ste stood facing the guards, now nking her on both sides. She addressed the manager again, her voice steady. "Sir, I''ll say it one more time-I''m here to perform."


    He shot back, "Then where''s your staff badge?"


    Ste''s frustration mounted. She hadn''t expected a simple charity performance to be this much trouble. She hadn''t asked Mr. Burton for an invitation, nor had she brought any kind of staff ID.


    Jasper sneered. "Can''t produce it, can you? Liar!"