Stella's POV
Sam remained calm, though I noticed her shoulders tense slightly. These women were deliberately trying to destroy her confidence, reminding her of the social status she'd lost when her family's fortune changed.
"If that's your logic," I calmly interjected, "then I suppose Adam shouldn't have married me either." All heads turned toward me as I joined their circle. "Victor and Nathan are cousins, just as Adam and Brian are uncle and nephew. I'm no longer the Winston heiress, yet here I am—Mrs. Lancaster. Strange how these things work out, isn't it?"
The women shifted uncomfortably, none willing to directly challenge Adam Lancaster's wife.
Ava, however, seemed emboldened by her companions. "Don't compare yourself to Sam, Stella," she said with a brittle smile. "You were just lucky. Some of us know the truth—you simply benefited from Lucy's engagement arrangement."
"She definitely won't have that kind of luck!" a cheerful voice interrupted.
We all turned to see Lisa bouncing toward us in a bright pink dress that stood out among the more subdued colors favored by the other socialites. Behind her walked Emma and Robert Davis, their entrance causing another wave of whispers throughout the ballroom.
"Stella!" Lisa exclaimed, hugging me excitedly. "Emma, Robert, look who I found!"
"Lisa, you made it!" I returned her hug, genuinely happy to see her. "Emma, Mr. Davis, good evening."
Emma's cool gaze swept over the socialites, who visibly shrank under her scrutiny. "Since when is it appropriate to discuss other people's marriages at social gatherings?" she asked, her voice soft but carrying undeniable authority. "Did your families neglect to teach you basic etiquette, or are you simply too immature to understand the sanctity of marriage law?"
The women mumbled apologies and quickly dispersed, leaving only Ava standing there. She gave Emma a stiff nod before retreating, her expression a mixture of hatred and fear.
"Stella..." Emma began, her usually distant manner softening slightly. "You don't mind me calling you that, do you?"
"Of course not," I assured her, surprised by her concern. "Please call me whatever you're comfortable with."
Emma nodded, then frowned with concern at my high heels. "Aren't those heels too high? Adam should be more considerate—you'll exhaust yourself."
I blinked, startled by this unexpected maternal observation, especially from a woman I barely knew. "It's fine, actually. I just changed into them before entering—Adam keeps flat shoes in the car for me."
"How thoughtful," Emma replied, something unreadable flickering across her face.
Robert cleared his throat. "Mrs. Lancaster, since Lisa is so fond of you, please look after her tonight. And Sam," he added, turning to her with unexpected warmth, "if you encounter any difficulties tonight, don't hesitate to seek us out. We'd be delighted to help in any way."
As the Davis siblings moved away to greet other guests, Sam raised an eyebrow at me. "Since when are the Davis siblings so interested in us? They've been practically hermits in high society for years, and now they're suddenly our protectors?"
"I have no idea," I admitted, watching their retreating figures with growing curiosity. "But I intend to find out."
\---
Sam, Lisa, and I retreated to a quieter corner of the ballroom, exchanging observations about the attendees, when suddenly a loud crash came from the direction of the VIP lounge.
Sam's expression immediately changed, her eyes darting toward the sound. "What was that?"
Lisa shrugged. "Probably some drunk guest knocking over furniture. Happens at every party!"
But Sam's attention remained fixed on the lounge, her delicate eyebrows furrowed with concern. Following her gaze, I noticed two Moore family members engaged in hushed conversation nearby.
"Victor's lost his mind," one was saying to the other. "He suddenly canceled major collaborations between the Gray and Moore families, and completely severed all business ties with Martin Enterprises. Years of profitable partnerships, gone overnight!"
"I heard it's because of a woman," his companion replied. "Old Mr. Moore wouldn't be this furious otherwise."
Sam's lips parted slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering in surprise. "He didn't mention any of this to me," she whispered.
"Sam," I began gently, "could this be related to what happened on the island? With Ava?"
Before she could respond, Lisa suddenly tugged at my sleeve. "Stella, look!" she hissed, pointing toward the entrance.
I turned to see Brian Lancaster entering with his parents, Thomas and Chloe. Adam's expression hardened imperceptibly at the sight of his half-brother and family, though he maintained his outward composure.
"Pretend you haven't noticed them," I suggested to Lisa, but she was already enthusiastically waving at someone across the room.
Brian's eyes found me immediately, his gaze traveling over my dress with poorly concealed regret. I felt Adam move closer to me, a subtle reminder of his presence that I found oddly comforting.
I watched as Chloe leaned toward Brian, gesturing discreetly in our direction. "See her?" she was saying.
"Stella," Brian responded automatically, his voice just audible from where we stood.
Chloe looked exasperated. "Not her! The girl beside her—that's Lisa, the one being groomed by Emma and Robert Davis. She's practically family to them."
Brian's attention shifted to Lisa, his expression changing from dismissive to calculating as he evaluated her appearance. Lisa, oblivious to his scrutiny, continued chatting animatedly with Sam about the elaborate flower arrangements.
"I should check on Victor," Sam said suddenly, her concern apparently overriding her reluctance to seek him out. "Excuse me for a moment."
As she departed, I noticed Adam watching the Lancaster family with thinly veiled disdain. "Your nephew looks like he's plotting something," I observed quietly.
"Brian always thinks he's plotting something," Adam replied dismissively. "He lacks both the intelligence and discipline to be truly dangerous."
Perhaps. But Chloe seems to be orchestrating whatever is happening, and she's never struck me as lacking either quality.
\---
Brian's POV
"Lisa?" I repeated, studying the young woman more carefully. She was undeniably attractive—slender yet curvy in all the right places, with a vibrant energy that made her stand out amid the more reserved socialites. "She seems... enthusiastic."
"After careful consideration, your father and I believe she's your best option right now," my mother continued, her voice low and urgent. "The Davis family has maintained a discreet but powerful position in society. Their alliance would be invaluable."
I frowned, confused by this sudden matchmaking. "Mother, you can't be serious. Isn't Lisa dating Robert Davis?"
"We've made inquiries," she informed me, her lips curving into a satisfied smile. "Lisa and Robert aren't romantically involved. The girl is simple-minded and easily manipulated. Even if she marries someone else, the Davis siblings will continue supporting her interests."
I began to understand my mother's calculation. "You believe I could use her to gain Davis family backing against Adam."
"Precisely," she confirmed. "With the Davis family's support, you might finally stand a chance against your uncle."
I considered this, watching Lisa laugh with genuine delight at something Stella had said. There was something refreshingly authentic about her in this room full of calculated facades.
"She knows I was engaged to Stella," I pointed out. "She's bound to be wary of me."
My mother's expression hardened with determination. "Certain physical... arrangements often accelerate relationship commitments. Once the deed is done, the rest becomes much simpler to manage."
My mother's suggestion—essentially to seduce and compromise an innocent girl for family advantage—gave me a momentary pang of conscience. But as I watched Adam place his hand possessively on Stella's waist, that familiar bitterness surged through me.
Why should Adam have everything?
Lisa was certainly attractive enough. Perhaps this arrangement wouldn't be such a hardship after all.