Chloe Hughes seized Sabrina’s arm the moment she approached.
“Sabrina, perfect timing! Go on, tell them. That’s your sister up there, the one in the counterfeit dress, right?”
Sabrina offered a long-suffering sigh.
“Yes, that’s her. My sister has… simpler tastes, from her time in the countryside. She doesn’t believe in spending excessively on clothes. I apologize for the spectacle.”
Chloe nudged her conspiratorially.
“But you said you had a photo! The one of Amelia drowning in all those fake logos. Show them!”
Sabrina feigned hesitation.
“I really shouldn’t…”
“Why not?” Chloe pressed, snatching the phone from Sabrina’s grasp.
She knew the passcode.
“If she’s bold enough to wear it, she shouldn’t mind people seeing.” The thrill of Amelia’s impending humiliation was too enticing.
Sabrina put up a token resistance, exactly as planned.
She had positioned the photo perfectly for this moment.
Their coordination was seamless.
Chloe zoomed in on the image triumphantly.
“Look at this!
This ‘design’?
A complete fabrication.
I’ve seen more convincing replicas sold on street corners.”
“She’s just trying to be frugal,” Sabrina said, biting her lip in a show of sisterly concern.
“I’ve offered to buy her genuine pieces, but she refuses my help.”
Chloe clicked her tongue sarcastically. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“And your father allows her to represent the Johnson family like this?”
“She sneaked out tonight,” Sabrina explained with a helpless shrug.
“There was nothing Father could do.”
“Your family really drew the short straw with that one,” one of the women murmured sympathetically.
“If she’s a country girl, maybe she should have stayed in the country. She’d be more suited to feeding pigs,” another sneered.
“She doesn’t belong here. We should do something about it, don’t you think?”
…
As the music concluded, polite applause filled the hall.
Damien Taylor, still holding Amelia’s hand, led her down from the stage.
As a second song began, other guests began to pair off and move onto the dance floor.
Amelia let out a soft, inward sigh of relief.
Thank goodness.
I didn’t embarrass him.
Mission accomplished.
Damien reluctantly released her hand.
“You danced beautifully.” He hadn’t wanted to let go; she had withdrawn first.
She offered a faint smile.
“As did you. If you’ll excuse me, I need to visit the ladies’ room.”
After splashing water on her face, Amelia turned to leave—and nearly collided with Sabrina.
“Why did you never tell us you could dance like that? Ethan and I were worried sick for you!”
Amelia blinked innocently.
“Oh? I suppose the topic never came up. It must have slipped my mind.”
Sabrina did a slow, deliberate twirl.
“What do you think? Ethan picked this outfit for me.”
Amelia smiled sweetly, taking Sabrina’s hands.
“I’m so sorry, it completely slipped my mind!
Mr. Taylor whisked me away for a last-minute rehearsal.
I didn’t have a chance to send Ethan to help you.
You’re not angry with me, are you?”
“Of course not,” Sabrina replied, her voice honey-sweet though her eyes glinted coldly.
“Come on, sis, let’s go back.”
As they neared the entrance to the main hall, Ethan Collins stormed toward them, his face a mask of fury.
“Amelia!
With me.
Now.
I told you to go home, but you had to stay and create a scandal!”
“I said I would leave after the banquet,” she replied calmly, though the fury on his face set off alarm bells.
“A scandal?” Sabrina echoed, feigning confusion.
Ethan glared at Amelia.
“That photo of you—dressed head to toe in obvious counterfeits—it’s being projected on the main screen for everyone to see. Do you still think this isn’t a disaster?”