The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

The moment Vester entered, every pair of eyes in the hall turned to him.

Whispers rippled through the crowd, no one bothering to lower their voices.

"Isn't that the third son?"

"Third son? Please, he's just the bastard's kid. Everyone knows Mr. Archer can't stand him."

"If it weren't for that mistress of his dying and leaving him without a guardian, there's no way Mr. Archer would've brought him back into the family. A bastard born to a mistress-what a disgrace for the Archers."

"And on top of that, the guy's crippled. A total waste. Mr. Archer treats him like a stray pet-barely worth the trouble to feed."

"I heard his mother was the one who crippled him. Do you know why? She broke his legs just so Mr. Archer might pity her enough to see her one last time. Pathetic, isn't it?"

"Honestly, what's he even doing here tonight? Just an embarrassment."

Mr. Archer's face was practically green.

be the subject of praise in these circles—young, brilliant, a

he brought Vester home, the only thing people remembered was his affair and this disabled

could he not resent

he'd spent a lifetime building, branding him with a stain he could

nothing was wrong, his expression calm, as though he couldn't hear a word of the venom around

face was ice-cold, his jaw tight with contempt. "What's that cripple doing here? On a night

Shooting Vester a look of pure disgust, she muttered, "Should've had

seemed oblivious to the hatred in his brother and sister's eyes. He nodded politely to the

glint in his eyes made

"What are you doing

one could see-a provocative smile flickered across his lips. "Sorry, I'm afraid I can't do

so hard he was close to shattering his own teeth. "Filthy brat. You're

in Vester's blue eyes,

at his