Jack felt the blood rushing to his head, ready to let loose a storm of expletives.
His shoulders were tense, fists clenched by his sides, when Florence stepped between him and the inevitable
disaster.
"Jack, enough!" she said, her voice cutting through his fury
"ra''s your aunt. You''re going to show her a bit of respect. She came all the way from Vermont, and this birthday bash could help her make some connections. Let her head out with Charles and Sophia."
Jack''s re shifted from Florence to ra. "Oh, I heard it loud and clear, Mom. Helping dear old Auntie ra rub shoulders with Miss Kane-great n. Let me know when can book my slot to kiss her ring."
ra raised her chin and smirked. "See that? I''ll be on the fast track to the high life once I befriend Miss Kane. Maybe I''ll toss a few crumbs your way too!"
That was the match on Jack''s fuse.
He mmed his open palm down on the edge of an antique vase, rattling it violently. "Do us all a favor, ra, and don''t make promises you can''t keep," he growled.
"Jack, watch your tone," Florence snapped.
"My tone was fine before your precious sister showed up," he spat, then stomped off, mming the door so hard the walls vibrated.
Ever since ra''s arrival, the spotlight had swung from him to her.
Meanwhile, Charles had arranged a limousine to pick up Sophia and ra.
Outside, the car was sleek and polished under the porch lights.
A private hangar awaited them, where a gleaming jet stood ready to whisk them away.
They sank into the limo''s leather seats, the city lights spinning past tinted windows.
Charles cleared his throat. "Sophia, right, I almost forgot." He reached into his zer and pulled out an ornate jewelry box. "I thought you might like this for the party tonight."
ra''s eyes glittered with curiosity.
Sophia opened the box to reveal a delicate diamond ne-somehow both understated and dazzling.
"Oh... it''s lovely," Sophia said softly, though her difort was obvious. "But I already have something from my grandfather. I don''t want to impose-this is too expensive. I can''t ept."
Charles tried to maintain a casual smile. “Don''t worry about it. I just thought-"
"It''s stunning!" ra''s squeal cut him off. She snatched the box in a sh, practically shoving it under Charles''s nose. “I''ve neverid eyes on something so exquisite. You said it cost what, a fortune?"
He shrugged, clearly embarrassed by the attention. "A little over a million dors."
"A million?" ra echoed, her voice rising a few octaves. She gazed at Sophia with a mix of jealous and awe. "Why would you turn down something so precious? Charles, put it on me just so I can see how it looks!"
Without waiting for his response, she held out the ne Her eyes shone with expectation.
Charles''s movements were hesitant.
He pressed his lips together, trying not to offend either woman. But ra''s eagerness left no room for refusal.
He leaned forward and sped it around her neck.
She batted hershes. "Well, Charles, how does it look?"
He shifted ufortably, hands settling in hisp. "It looks... it''s nice on you, ra, but-
"Of course it''s nice," ra interrupted, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"I''m just borrowing it, after all. Right, Sophia?" She shed an overly sweet smile. "Don''t worry Charles. Sophia can take it back from me after the party if she wants. Isn''t that right, Sophia?"
Sophia''s jaw tightened. She wasn''t worried about the ne itself-she hated how ra could twist a simple offer into something cringingly grand.
"Aunt ra, you should give it back now," she said, voice low. "It belongs to Charles."
ra rolled her eyes. "Rx, dear niece. It''s just for one night. Don''t be so small- minded."
Sophia tried again, forcing calm. "It''s not about being petty. I just-"
ra waved a hand dismissively. "We''re all family. And Charles here is so generous. Why would I waste a chance to wear something so magnificent?"
Her eyes shifted to Charles, brazenly flickering with flirtation. "Surely you wouldn''t leave a woman ne- less, especially on a big night. Andter, you can help me take it off, I''d be very... appreciative."
Sophia felt a surge of protective anger mp her heart. She knew ra''s game: promise to return somethingter," only to magically forget.
But more than that, she resented how ra stepped all over people''s boundaries as if it were her birthright.
"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret."
So, she opted for silence.
Charles nced at Sophia, his gaze apologetic, then returned to ra with a polite nod.
It was clear he wanted no argument.
They boarded Charles''s jet, a pristine white aircraft that rose above the city lights.
ra immediately scooted closer to Charles, filling the flight with herughter, coy touches, and endless attempts at flirting.
She was practically clinging to him like an ivy, eager for his wealth and status to rub off on her.
Sophia tried to look out the window and ignore the nauseating disy.
No wonder Jack''s furious, she thought. ra''s a walking gold mine of trouble.
After two hours in the air, theynded in Vermont.
By the time they arrived at Kane''s Hotel, it waste evening, the grand foyer illuminated by chandelier light. A
ck limousine pulled up to the entrance, where cameras shed from all angles.
Charles stepped out first-tall, suave, an air of celebrity around him.
Sophia followed in a sleek ck dress, her hair tumbling in soft waves. She wore only a simple heirloom bracelet, letting her natural poise speak for itself.
Then came ra, done up like a jeweled Christmas tree, hair in a carefully styled chignon to spotlight the million-dor ne.
She stepped onto the red carpet with a smirk, expecting the world to gasp in awe.
"Charles, marry me!" someone screamed from the crowd.
"Wow, check out thatdy in the ck dress-she''s gorgeous," another voice called.
"Isn''t that the famous Sophia? She''s stunning in person!"
ra waited for her barrage ofpliments, but the photographers kept yelling for Sophia.
The crowd angled around ra, begging for Sophia and Charles to pose together. One journalist even asked ra to move aside so he could get a better shot of Sophia.
The sting was immediate, a p of reality across ra''s vanity.
Her cheeks med. She had spent hours perfecting every detail, from her glittering hairpins to her designer heels, yet no one seemed to care.
The million-dor ne sparkled, but next to Sophia''s effortless grace, ra looked like she was trying too hard-and failing miserably.
She forced a tight smile and tossed her head, swearing under her breath. These idiots have no taste, she thought angrily.
Sophia''s just some secondhand wife-how is she overshadowing me? Charles offered his arm to Sophia, guiding her through the throng of well-wishers.
ra trailed behind, practically trembling with rage. She''d imagined arriving arm- in-arm with Charles, stealing the limelight, taking proud ownership of that diamond ne.
But in reality, she was just the inconvenient third wheel.
Sophia nced back only once, catching the resentment on ra''s face. Their
eyes met in a moment of silent tension, and ra''s lips drew into a tight sneer. She held her head high, refusing to break her gaze. I''lle out on top. Just watch, her expression promised.