Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Nola had long grown accustomed to the way people talked in these gatherings, never taking comments personally. With a smile that could disarm even the most cynical, she said, "Being idle at home all day, might as well kill some time with a little party. With the whole tea

culture craze going on, I thought why not have a tea-themed gathering?"

"Dear Silver, you rarely join these kinds of get-togethers. Your presence today is quite the honor. Please, come inside—"

Nola's words were as sweet as honey, her sincerity making it hard even for Silver, who usually didn't see eye to eye with her, to find fault.

Shortly after, Beverley arrived with Millie in tow.

A new face always sparked curiosity among the ladies-

"Beverley, who's this?"

"Where did this young lady come from? She looks so fresh-faced!"

Beverley, having prepared her introduction in advance, cheerfully said, "This is a friend's daughter, Millie. She's studying at Grandstone Institute."

Millie promptly greeted everyone with a warm smile.

"Ah, still a student? No wonder she looks so young and radiant."

"Indeed, and a student at Grandstone Institute, no less. It's not easy for girls to get into Grandstone these days, you know."

and engineering programs, typically attracted more male than

pursued STEM fields meant it was

kind of

Millie, they were oblivious to the backhanded nature

knowing looks, their faces smiling but

the derision

it's from a Celine collection three years ago, right? Totally out of style. Where did she even

occasion?

show, like mother-in-law,

they were fooling

about the Sherwood family's son getting a

Beverley had the nerve to bring her out in the open,

but a feeble attempt

material, too good not to share! They could hardly wait to recount the story to their relatives over dinner, relishing in the juicy

audience's anticipation of a spectacle,

this world of glitz for the first time, was on cloud

is quite

if it isn't Mrs. Reynolds?" Beverley said, making her way to Silver's

the

enemy is my friend,'

suits you so