Jade’s POV:


    Catherine’s hand froze mid–air at Henry Astor’smanding voice. If Henry had been even two secondster, I’d have definitely broken something on this Catherine’s body. Not that I’d have shown it–in these social settings, appearances were everything–but my patience had limits.


    Catherine lowered her arm slowly, her face flushing with anger and embarrassment. Before she could respond, Chase and Eleanor Astor pushed through the crowd toward me.


    “Everything alright here?” Chase asked, positioning himself slightly between Catherine and me. His normally yful demeanor had hardened into something more protective.


    Eleanor, elegant in a midnight blue evening gown, gave me a quick once–over. “You’re not hurt, are you?” Her voice carried genuine concern.


    “I’m fine,” I said, my voice neutral. “Just a misunderstanding about the proper handling of champagne.”


    Henry turned to Catherine, his gray eyes cold. “Youngdy, I saw exactly what happened. You attempted to pour your


    drink on this gril, and when she defended herself, you got what you deserved.”


    Catherine’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. I could almost see the steaming from her ears. Being publicly reprimanded, likely for the first time in her privileged life, was clearly an unfamiliar sensation.


    “The Sullivan sisters,” Chase muttered under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear. “One more unpleasant than


    the other.”


    From the corner of my eye, I caught Aurelia lurking at the edge of the crowd, her expression darkening at Chase’sment. She hadn’t participated in her sister’s little stunt, but she was clearly annoyed at being lumped together


    with Catherine.


    Themotion had drawn more attention. A distinguished man in his fifties pushed through the crowd, his


    expression a careful mask of controlled anger.


    “What’s going on here?” he demanded, his eyes darting between Catherine and me.


    Chase straightened. ‘Dominic Sullivan,” he whispered to me before addressing the man directly. “Mr. Sullivan, your precious daughter just tried to pour champagne on a guest. When that failed, she tried to p her. ssy, right?”


    Dominic Sullivan’s carefully controlled expression slipped for a moment, revealing genuine fury. “Catherine,” he said tightly, is this true?”


    Catherine looked away, her silence confirming everything.


    “Mr. Sullivan,” Henry interjected smoothly, “I witnessed the entire incident. Your daughter attempted to pour her


    ??))


    58


    drink on Miss Morgan. When Miss Morgan deflected it, causing the champagne to ssh on Catherine instead, your daughter became violent.”


    Dominic’s jaw clenched. “Catherine, apologize immediately.”


    “But Dad-


    “Now.” His tone left no room for argument.


    The tension was interrupted by Philip Thornton’s arrival with Edward in tow. The university president took in the


    scene with a quick nce.


    “Is there a problem with my special guest?” Philip asked, his tone light but his eyes sharp.


    The whispers around us intensified.


    “Special guest?”


    “Who is this girl?”


    “What connection does she have to President Thornton?”


    Dominic Sullivan’s turned. “No problem at all, Philip. My daughter was just about to apologize for her behavior.”


    Catherine looked like she’d rather swallow ss, but with her father’s stern gaze on her and Philip Thornton’s unexpected endorsement of me, she had no choice.


    “I apologize for my behavior,” she said stiffly, each word clearly painful.


    I gave her a slight nod, neither epting nor rejecting her forced apology. Catherine’s eyes filled with tears of humiliation, and she turned and fled from the room.


    Dominic Sullivan watched his daughter go, then turned to Philip. “I apologize for the disruption to your celebration, Philip. Perhaps it would be best if we take our leave.”


    As they prepared to leave, another man approached, his eyes fixed on my face with an unsettling intensity. He stopped abruptly, as if seeing a ghost.


    He murmured something, barely audible.


    I met his gaze steadily, wondering what he thought he saw. His expression shifted through confusion, shock, and something like fear before Aurelia grabbed his arm.


    “Dad, we’re going home,” she insisted, pulling him away from me.


    “But the birthday celebration hasn’t even started,” her father protested, looking confused. “Why is everyone gathered


    17:13 Wed, Sep 24 <b>G</b>…


    here? Did they cut the cake already?”


    :


    Aurelia practically dragged him toward the exit, casting onest venomous nce over her shoulder at me.


    With the drama subsiding, Edward approached me, concern written across his features. “Are you okay? That was ridiculous behavior.”


    <b>58 </b>


    Before I could answer, Chase stepped between us. “She’s fine,” he said curtly. “Doesn’t need your concern.”


    Edward’s eyebrows shot up. “I was just asking if she’s alright.”


    I studied Chase’s face, noting the tension in his jaw. This wasn’t about me at all. Chase had been trying to meet Max for weeks, and Edward had beaten him to it. This was male territorial nonsense.


    “What was that all about?” Henry asked Philip, gesturing toward the departing Sullivan family.


    Philip sighed. “Just some unfortunate behavior. Miss Morgan here saved my life, you know.”


    Henry’s eyebrows rose. “Saved your life? How?”


    “Remember my cardiac episode downtownst month? I was having a heart attack–the real deal. I copsed on the


    sidewalk, and Miss Morgan happened to be passing by. She performed emergency CPR and knew exactly which


    medication I needed from my pocket. The doctors said if she hadn’t been there, I would have died right there on the


    pavement.”


    As Philip finished his exnation, the crowd parted to make way for an elderly man with a dignified bearing. Guests nodded respectfully as he passed, several trying to catch his attention.


    “Walter! Good to see you,” someone called out.


    “Dr. Morrison, how are you?” another guest greeted him.


    Walter Morrison, the medical luminary, ignored them all and walked directly toward me, a warm smile on his face.


    “Miss Morgan,” he said, taking my hand in both of his. “What a pleasure to see you again. Philip told me you might


    be here.”


    The whispers around us grew louder.


    “Morrison knows her too?”


    “How does she know all these people?”


    As members of the Thornton family and Sheldon family crowded around, all wanting to thank me for saving Philip<b>, </b>I felt my temples beginning to throb. The constant attention, the scrutiny, the questions it was bing overwhelming.


    …


    17:13 Wed, Sep 24 <b>G </b>..


    Badass in Disguise