At this point, she seemed to recall something and curled her lip in disdain.


    "Just now, I saw Aurora walk in... She''s over there, chatting it up with all those movers and shakers. Honestly, for someone with her background, she sure loves the spotlight."


    She gave a little snort. "Let''s see how proud she is when the truth about her parentagees out."


    Wendy, always calmer than Katrina, spoke softly, "Quinn, don''t say things like that."


    Katrina looked unimpressed. "I''m just telling it like it is."


    As close friends, they all knew about Ste''s situation with the Williams family.


    For some reason, though Katrina had only met Aurora a handful of times, she seemed to dislike her intensely.


    Of course, as Ste''s friends, their loyalties naturallyy with her, which made it easy for them to harbor a prejudice against Aurora.


    After all, they''d watched Ste struggle on her own for years, ignored by her in-ws, and in the end, divorced. The Williams family hadn''t offered Ste the support she deserved, yet now they were putting a girl like Aurora on a pedestal for the world to see.


    Wasn''t that a p in the face for Ste?


    As they chatted, Florrie and Aurora made their way over.


    Spotting the group a short distance away, Florrie raised her brows in surprise. "Wait, Ste knows Lauretta?"


    She didn''t recognize Katrina or Wendy, but Lauretta was practically a household name in their social circle. There were few who didn''t know her.


    A shadow flickered in Aurora''s eyes.


    She recalled something Jonathan had mentioned to her once: “Aurora, did you know Ste went to Neo-Vespera University? Last time I had dinner with Miss Chapman, she asked about Ste. Turns out, they used to be close friends." Jonathan''s engagement to Miss Chapman was practically a done deal now. Ste, meanwhile, was now Mr. Burton''s protégé, had grown up alongside Antoney-future heir to the Watson family—and had a best friend like Lauretta.


    She even seemed to get along well with Neville.


    Oh, and her ex-husband? Haynes.


    Aurora realized she might need to reassess Ste altogether.


    Just then, Aurora''s phone rang.


    She pulled it out, surprised to see the caller ID.


    Sherman.


    It struck her that she hadn''t seen Sherman at all since arriving.


    In the past, if Sherman knew she was here, he''d have found her already.


    She answered, "Sherman-"


    She barely got his name out before his weak, ragged voice crackled through the line.


    "Aurora, Ste hit me I''m locked in a storage room. Get help, quick, get me out of here..."


    Aurora''s eyes widened in shock.


    She quickly replied, "Okay, I''ll send someone for you right away."


    Lauretta and the others only chatted with Ste for a few moments before excusing themselves.


    Tonight''s g was all about


    Ste-Mr. Burton clearly intended to showcase her, and a stream of people were eager to make her acquaintance.


    Her friends didn''t want to take up too much of her time.


    Florrie watched as Aurora prepared to leave again, inwardly amazed. Aurora


    really was always on the move.


    She was just about to make her way over to Ste when a tall figure beat her to it, stepping in front of Ste.


    Florrie''s face fell immediately.


    The first time she''d tried to talk to Ste, Mr. Burton had been at her side. When he finally stepped away, Ste was swept up in conversation with Lauretta and the others. Now that they''d left, someone else had jumped in.  s?novel


    Ste had just said goodbye to Lauretta


    I her friends and was et


    o look for Neville whene


    e blocked her path


    She looked up into a handsome, impassive face.


    "Haynes?" Ste raised her eyebrows as she met his gaze. "Is there something you want?"