Rewrite Her Thrilling Life (Lillian and Sebastian) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Orphan

Whispers had quickly rippled through the crowd: Ethan had arrived accompanied by a female escort. For years, Ethan had been Solara’s most sought-after bachelor—the man every woman in high society dreamed of marrying. Known for his solitary appearances at events, the mere fact that he had brought someone along sent shockwaves through the elite social circles.

Naturally, Olivia and Mia couldn’t resist the urge to witness this unexpected development firsthand. Their curiosity propelled them forward, eager to see who had captured Ethan’s attention. Yet, when they finally laid eyes on the woman by his side, their anticipation turned to disappointment. She was just an ordinary nobody.

Ethan, uninterested in entertaining their scrutiny, remained silent and detached. Olivia, ever the polished socialite, seized the moment to approach with a practiced smile, lifting two glasses of wine. She handed one to the woman and introduced herself smoothly. “I’m Olivia. And you are?”

Lillian found the encounter quietly amusing. Accepting the glass with calm confidence, she replied plainly, “Lillian Harrington.”

Olivia’s smile tightened slightly. “Harrington? I don’t believe I’ve heard that name among Solara’s elite families. Perhaps I’m mistaken. Which distinguished family do you hail from?”

Meeting Olivia’s gaze with steady eyes and a hint of dry humor, Lillian responded, “I don’t come from any family—I’m an orphan.”

The blunt honesty stunned everyone nearby. Even Ethan, who had never pried into her background, felt an unexpected wave of sympathy stirring within him.

Olivia, caught off guard by the revelation, faltered for a moment before forcing another polite smile. “Oh… I didn’t expect that. My apologies, Miss Harrington. But don’t worry—if you ever need assistance navigating Solara’s social scene, you can always count on me.”

There was an unmistakable condescension beneath her words. Olivia had anticipated a wealthy heiress, but instead found herself confronting a woman with no pedigree, no lineage—just an orphan.

Mia, playing her part with saccharine sweetness, chimed in, “Exactly! We’d be delighted to help you settle in. It’s always wonderful when women support one another.”

Lillian’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile as she replied evenly, “No need. As the saying goes, those who walk different paths shouldn’t force a connection. You’re both upper-class socialites, and I’m simply an orphan.”

A brief silence settled over the group.

Olivia’s face darkened, though she fought to maintain her composure. Ungrateful brat, she thought bitterly.

Mia, however, continued her performance flawlessly, eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Miss Harrington, we meant well. Why embarrass us like this? It’s not as if we chose to be born into prestigious families. We just wanted to befriend you.”

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