The Grant family's lavish birthday bash for their adopted daughter, complete with a Michelin-starred chef flown in from Paris, sent ripples through their elite social circle.
For years, the Grants had coasted on their ties to the Lynd family, throwing their weight around with such arrogance that their reputation was in tatters. Yet here they were, pulling out all the stops for some adopted girl. Ironic, really.
Vesper took a slow sip of coffee, her face a mask of calm as her fiery best friend Paige Austen tore into the Grants' latest act of betrayal.
Every last one of them adored Luna. This was not just about some gaudy party. Later, even significant portions of the Grant Group would land in that girl's lap. You would think she had personally resurrected the Grant ancestors from their graves.
"Miss Lynd, Miss Ashford is here with an invitation." The butler announced.
The timing of her arrival was impeccable.
Before Vesper could decline, Luna materialized in the doorway. Vesper's eyebrow twitched.
"If Miss Ashford cannot be bothered with our family's rules, fine. But even stray dogs know to scratch at the door before barging in."
Luna's eyes instantly welled up, her lips trembling like a kicked puppy. "I am so sorry. I did not realize. Vesper, my birthday is in two days. You will come, won't you?" She thrust out the invitation with faux timidity, her doe eyes glistening. She almost sold it.
Almost.
"Do you actually want me there?" Vesper's smile was razor-thin.
Luna's face went rigid. The room braced for Vesper's trademark fury, but her icy calm was far more unnerving.
"Of course." Luna's laugh sounded like shattering glass. "Our families are close. I would love for you to come."
'Spare me the act.'
Paige snarled, already grabbing Luna's arm. "My girl has got better things to do than attend your third-rate circus. Scram, before I toss you out myself."
Three minutes later, Ethan exploded into the room, his jaw clenched tight enough to c***k walnuts. "Vesper. What the hell was that? Humiliating Luna like that. Real classy."
"Telling her to get out of my house counts as humiliation?" Vesper tilted her head. "Let's recap. Did I hunt her down, or did she waltz into my home playing the victim? Should I bake her a cake too?"
'Was he genuinely this dense, or did he assume she was? Does he think I need to draw him a map?'
Paige snorted from where she stood. "Ethan, what is wrong with you? Did your family's garden run out of flowers? Where did you find this two-faced sweetheart? She makes me sick."
Ethan's fists clenched, his eyes burning with rage as he snapped, "The Grant family's business is none of your concern."
Turning to Vesper, he spoke through gritted teeth. "Vesper, Luna is younger than you. You ought to cut her some slack."
"She is fragile, and your actions hurt her deeply. I have told you she means everything to me. I expected you to care for her too, for my sake."
"Get some apology gifts ready. If you make a public apology to Luna, I might still let you come to her party."
"But do not let this happen again."
With that, Ethan stormed out, leaving Paige staring open-mouthed and Vesper completely unbothered.
"Vesper, did this i***t get hit by a truck? He actually wants you to apologize to that fake little saint. Is he completely deranged?"
Vesper could not help but laugh at her friend's furious expression. "Who knows? Maybe he really has lost it."
An apology. Seriously. In her past life, she had put up with way crazier stuff than this.
Aksara