s rallied around Chaya, desperate to elevate her status an

r you," a socialite cooed, practically dragging C

arried over the ambient music. "He even picked out the cake himself. Ouch!" The man yelped as his companion stomped on his foot

n the far corner, her legs elegantly crossed, her attent

ve. "Douglass, you haven't seen Evangelina in three years. Why don

acket. He pulled out a sleek, black velvet box and handed it to Chaya. His expr

lid open, revealing a breathtaking pink diamond hair clip that caught t

otheby's auction?" a woman gasped, clutching he

r cheeks flushing a pretty shade of crimson. "Do

nded softly, though his t

ed, her eyes shining with unshed t

that required months on a waitlist. It was a lavish display of wealth and affection, but everyone in the room knew the truth. With the current state of the Campos family's declining influence, no

light buzz and looked down at a secure message from Richard, the veter

Take the night off. We ha

he same birth week, a cruel twist of fate that ensured Evangelina's special day was always swallowed whole by Chaya's gran

ick, simple re

g for permission, he lowered his large frame onto the adjacent armchair. The sheer physical presenc

unreadable gray, swept over her plain attire, searching for

e?" he finally asked, his voice a low, grav

ly conversational, as if speaking to a distant acquaintance.

imperceptibly. "Still p

phone and slipping it into her purse.

aming, no crying, no accusations of infidelity or murder. Just a

ened again, and a massive, five-tiered pink raspberry cake was

wing with triumph. She looked across the room and waved