Ava, for the first time in her life, was speechless. The confidence she had worn like armor was crumbling beneath the weight of Anna's words.
"You have no idea what it takes to get where I am," Anna said, her voice dropping again to that dangerous, almost chilling calm. "You have no idea the sacrifices, the work, the battles I've fought to build this. And you certainly have no right to stand there and question my integrity when you've done nothing but claw your way through others to feel better about yourself."
Ava's face paled, her usual smugness evaporating. She had underestimated Anna, and now she was feeling the full force of what that mistake would cost her.
