"Our family-the Williamses-is hardly some struggling household. We can easily


    afford to give her a little allowance and spending money.


    The very next day after she came back to the Williams family, we handed her a


    bank card. While the amount isn''t enormous, it''s a hundred thousand dors


    every month.


    That money is just for her personal spending. As for clothes, makeup, jewelry,


    handbags, even her car-those are all provided by the Williams family.


    If she ever needed arge sum for something special and her allowance wasn''t


    enough, all she had to do was let us know.


    We have never restricted her finances. Even after she ran away from home, we


    didn''t freeze her card.


    And now you''re telling me she fainted from exhaustion because she was working


    a part-time job..."


    Jonathan let out a coldugh. "A hundred grand a month just for pocket money-


    hell, that would be enough even for Aurora.


    Are you sure she could possibly spend that much?


    And this story about us not giving her any living expenses-did Ste tell you


    that?"


    Lauretta bristled at Jonathan''s tone, as if he thought Ste was just ying the


    victim.


    Her expression cooled. "Mr. Williams, can you really be sure Ste even spent the


    allowance you gave her?"


    A hint of mocking disdain flickered across Jonathan''s face.


    "So you''re trying to tell me that Ste is so proud she''d rather work herself to


    exhaustion than touch a single cent from the Williams family?


    Please. Are you sure it''s pride, and not just an inability to handle hardship?"


    Lauretta opened her mouth to respond, but fell silent.


    She realized that no matter what she said, Jonathan would always assume the


    worst of Ste.


    She''d said Ste fainted from overworking, but instead of asking if Ste was all


    right, Jonathan only harped on how generous the family was, as if Ste was just


    refusing to ept their kindness.


    There was no way to have a real conversation with him.


    She had once admired Jonathan, even felt proud to have married him.


    But now, all Lauretta felt toward the man in front of her was a deep, bitter


    disappointment.


    She had begun to regret marrying him at all.


    Jonathan noticed the


    disappointment in Lauretta''s eyes.


    He frowned, about to say something,


    but Lauretta had already schooled


    her features intoposure.


    She said coolly, "The party is about to begin. If there''s nothing else, Mr. Williams,


    I''ll excuse myself."


    Without waiting for his response, Lauretta turned and walked away.


    ...


    Back in the ballroom, the crowd had grown evenrger.


    To Lauretta''s surprise, not only was Neville here, but Haynes and Antoney had


    also arrived.


    She guessed Star must have sent them invitations.


    Lauretta, along with Wendy and


    Katrina, had spent a few months at


    Neo Vespera and met Haynes and


    Neville a few times.


    They already knew Antoney from their university days; the group had been rather


    close back then.


    At the moment, Katrina and Wendy were chatting with Antoney.


    Lauretta approached them with a friendly smile. "What are you all talking about?"


    Katrina and Wendy turned to her, both looking uneasy.


    "Lauretta, are you finished with your conversation?"


    Lauretta nced at their faces, then


    at the groups of guests all


    murmuring among themselves. She


    understood immediately.


    She gave her friends a reassuring look. "Don''t worry. Star can handle herself in a


    crowd like this."


    ...


    Elsewhere in the room, Simone was sticking close to Aurora, her face stiff from


    forced politeness as they mingled.


    Though she was always at Aurora''s side, Simone was hardly just a sidekick.


    Her beauty and presence were on par with Aurora''s.


    Which was, in fact, one of the reasons she''d always had the confidence to be


    Aurora''s best friend."