r cramped attic room ceiling, a stark contrast to the

er own legacy. Her father's ambitious former Chief of Staff, Governor Thompson, who had married

h their household revolved. Her biological father, a low-level campaig

ca a lifetime of privilege. Sarah' s mother'

a major political donor? Shifted to Jessica. Even the "Senator Miller Legacy

t a cold knot tighten in her stomach, not from fear, bu

from the stage, Jessica preening beside him in a gown that probably cost more than S

inaugural Senator Miller Legacy Scholarship to a young woman who em

floated towards the podium,

the stage, her worn dress a stark contra

was clear, not loud, but it cut t

her chest as if mortally wounde

. "I... I don' t understand. Father?" She turned to Go

hardened. "Sarah, this i

r gaze fixed on Jessica. "It' s the Senator Miller L

preme Court Justice and one of Jessica' s loyalists, h

, son of a university re

h with a mixture of pity and distaste. "Sarah, please. You' re e

he scholarship, you only had to say. I would have gladly stepped aside." She made a show of re

ed with a martyrdom that

pped closer, right up to the podium. "I want what is mine by right. This sc

heck from Jessica' s grasp. It was a bold

enuine rage flashing in her eyes before being quickly masked by renewed victimhood. "Father, look at

. "Security! Get

arah' s arm. "Yeah, she ne

ye. "Touch me, and you' ll regret it. You think yo

flicker of uncer

s just trying to cause a scene! Father will deal with her!" She

s that your ultimate threat, Jessica? After all

tighter. This was