Chapter 8 - The ConfrontationVanessa cornered Mary near the edge of the illuminated infinity pool. Her wealthy socialite friends stood a few paces back, giggling quietly behind their silk fans and champagne glasses.
"Mary," Vanessa said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness that quickly hardened into ice. "I see you chose to wear... that. Did you find it on the clearance rack?"
Mary blinked, caught off guard. "I... I thought it was appropriate for the evening, Vanessa. It’s clean and comfortable."
"Comfortable," Vanessa sneered, stepping closer, blocking Mary from the view of the main house. "This is a gathering of the elite, Mary. Your presence here is an eyesore. Look at you—with your cheap dress and your fake pearls. You don't belong here. You’re dragging Ethan down, reminding everyone of the gutter he came from."
Mary stepped back, her heart sinking. "Ethan invited me. He wanted me here."
"Ethan invited you out of pity!" Vanessa hissed, her face contorting with elitist rage. "He’s a billionaire now. He doesn't need a reminder of his pathetic, impoverished childhood lurking around his guests. You are an embarrassment to this family. If you had any dignity left, you would leave right now and never come back."
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"I will not let you insult my son's home, or the life we built," Mary said softly but firmly, standing her ground.
Vanessa’s eyes flashed with venom. "Your son’s home? This is my home."
