By now, Nita had already pulled Effie out of the pool.


    Effie was drenched from head to toe, so Nita quickly slipped off her own zer and wrapped it around her. Luckily, she''d worn a tailored suit for the business meeting earlier, so she still had her shirt underneath. The suit''s unique design made it perfectly eptable for an evening event like this.


    Meanwhile, Mitchell held Suzan protectively in his arms, his brow furrowed as he shot a reproachful look at Effie. "Effie, how could you do that to Suzan? What if something had happened?"


    Effie''s anger only burned hotter at his words.


    She fixed Mitchell with a cold, mocking stare. "Are you blind, Mitchell? She''s the one who dragged me into the pool, but now you''re ming me?"


    A ripple of whispers spread through the guests nearby. Some looked at Effie with disapproval, assuming her actions were fueled by jealousy.


    Suzan caught the attention, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes before she quickly reced it with a trembling, pitiful expression. She sniffled, her voice soft and broken: "Mitchell, please don''t me my sister. It''s my fault, I shouldn''t have upset her..."


    Of course, she''d done it on purpose. In front of everyone, she wanted to see Effie humiliated.


    Nita heard this and nearly exploded. She jabbed a finger at Suzan, her voice sharp with outrage. "Suzan, cut the act! You''re the one who dragged Effie into the water, and now you''re ying the victim? Shameless!"


    Suzan shrank back from Nita''s fury, clinging tightly to Mitchell''s sleeve, her voice trembling. "I didn''t... I really didn''t... How can you say that about me?"


    Mitchell''s expression grew darker.


    He shielded Suzan behind him, his tone icy as he addressed Nita. "Miss Nita, please watch your words. Suzan can''t handle you frightening her like this."


    "Ugh, what a pair!" Nita fumed, stamping her foot.


    Mitchell was about to say more, but Suzan tugged his arm.


    "Let it go, Mitchell," she murmured, voice thick with tears. "I''m fine. I guess my sister just really hates me..."


    Her eyes shimmered with tears, her whole demeanor radiating wounded innocence.


    Before anyone could react, Effie suddenly grabbed a ss of red wine from a nearby table and threw it straight at Suzan.


    Suzan froze, the cold wine dripping down her face, her words dying in her throat as shock overtook her.


    The rich scent of wine trickled down her cheeks.


    Damn that Effie. How dare she?


    Effie''s gaze was icy, every wordced with biting sarcasm. "If you''re going to be used of something you didn''t do, you might as well actually do it. Now the wine''s on you—this time, I own it."


    With that, Effie took Nita''s hand and strode away.


    The crowd''s eyes on Suzan shifted, their judgment clear in their faces.


    One woman calm and unbothered; the other, scrambling to maintain her act. It didn''t take much to tell who was really at fault.


    "Mitchell..." Suzan''s voice quivered as she looked up at him, feigning weakness. "I''m so cold, and my head''s spinning."


    Suzan could''ve screamed with hatred for Effie. If not for her, she''d never have been made a spectacle of.


    Mitchell watched Effie''s retreating figure, a strange irritation gnawing at him.


    He nced down at Suzan in his arms and murmured, "Let me take you to the hospital, okay?"


    Suzan nodded weakly, still ying the part. "Okay."


    Effie''s clothes were cold and clinging to her, but inside, she felt an unexpected calm.


    Stepping out of the ballroom, she drew a deep breath, feeling the weight inside her chest finally lift. She looked up the night sky was spattered with stars.


    "Effie."


    A low, maic voice sounded behind her.