Zoey sighed, shaking her head. “Just…be careful.”
With Lirian by my side, I entered the venue that evening, every step measured and deliberate.
I had dressed to make an impression—a sleek, midnight-blue gown with a high slit and intricate beadwork that caught the light with every movement.
If Linda thought I’d arrive looking like prey, she was sorely mistaken.
The moment I stepped through the grand double doors, the chatter in the room came to a screeching halt.
Conversations dropped off mid-sentence as every pair of eyes turned toward me.
The air was thick with whispers:
”That’s her—can you believe she had the nerve to show up?”
”I heard she bullied Linda relentlessly. What kind of person does that?”
I kept my expression neutral, my chin held high. The venue was a masterpiece of opulence, with crystal chandeliers casting a golden glow over the lavishly decorated space.
Gold-and-white floral arrangements adorned every table, and a towering champagne pyramid sparkled near the center of the room.
Jason Levier, standing near the edge of the crowd, caught my eye. His veiled female companion nodded subtly in my direction, a gesture I returned with equal subtlety.
He remained an enigma, but tonight, he was the least of my concerns.
Linda stood at the heart of it all, radiant in a white cocktail dress that hugged her petite frame.
Her golden curls framed a face painted with expertly crafted innocence.
As I settled into a chair near the back, she turned to the cameras, gracefully thanking her fans for their support.
When the reporter approached her, microphone in hand, Linda’s expression darkened, and I knew what was coming.
“I grew up in an orphanage,” she began, her voice trembling just enough to tug at heartstrings.
“The head of the orphanage was cruel. He starved us, beat us. When I finally got the chance to go to school, I thought things would get better.”
She paused, her eyes glistening with tears.
“But that’s where the bullying started. I remember one moment clearly—I’d saved for years to buy a piano for a school performance. Music was my only escape, my only dream. But then…”
Her voice broke.
“Sophia ruined it all. She smashed my piano, laughed at me, and told me I was wasting my time.”
Gasps echoed throughout the room. Fans in the crowd erupted in anger, their cries of outrage filling the space.
“She’s despicable!”
“How could anyone be so cruel?”
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