The murmurs around us swelled like an oncoming tide.
Accusations filled the air, painting me as the most shameless, filthy woman in the room—worse than when I had been cast out of the Jones family.
Sophia’s furious scream tore through the hall. She stormed forward in her high heels and kicked me hard in the knee.
Before I could react, two people grabbed my arms, holding me in place.
Sophia seized my chin, her nails digging into my skin.
"Why do you always act so high and mighty? It makes me want to grind you into the dirt!"
She lifted a wine glass and smirked. "This drink is spiked. Tonight, I’ll make sure Elijah is completely disgusted by you."
As I stared at her, realization dawned on me—both Emily and I had walked right into her trap.
"The trick doesn’t need to be new," she sneered. "As long as it works."
"Yvonne, you’re not as smart as he claims you are." Sophia taunted.
I struggled desperately as my phone rang in my pocket—the one I used exclusively to stay in touch with my mother’s caretaker at the hospital.