As the dinner ended, Mila found herself alone in the dimly lit corridor, the echoes of conversation still lingering in the air. She adjusted the folds of her gown, her thoughts drifting back to the exchange with her father and stepsister.
Lost in contemplation, she almost didn't notice Lorene approaching her with a self-satisfied smirk adorning her features. Mila's gaze flickered up, meeting Lorene's with a calm, collected demeanor.
"Well, it seems fate has favored me this time," Lorene remarked, her tone dripping with smug satisfaction. "It looks like I'll be the one representing our family after all."
Mila regarded her stepsister with a knowing look, her expression unreadable. Despite Lorene's attempts to provoke a reaction, she remained composed, refusing to let her stepsister's taunts get under her skin.
