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

thing people remembered was his affair and this disabled

could he not

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

rolled in as if nothing was wrong, his expression calm, as though he couldn't

contempt. "What's that cripple doing here? On a night this important, he just has to show up and embarrass

muttered, "Should've had someone run

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

glint in his eyes made it clear he felt anything

ground out the words through clenched teeth. "What are you doing here? Get out. This is no place for

remained unruffled, and-where no one could see-a provocative smile flickered across his lips. "Sorry, I'm

own teeth. "Filthy brat. You're just as low as your whore of a

flash of something feral flickered in Vester's blue eyes, but it vanished in

up at his