They laughed again, the sound echoing through the room, especially Matthews, who stood opposite me. He threw his head back, laughing so hard that I could see every one of his molars.

Gabriel’s face, however, looked like a ghost, pale and tense. He averted his gaze, his eyes darting away like he was running from something.

What was he so afraid of?

Was he worried I'd dredge up that night in the capital?

I wasn’t that petty.

Amara’s fingers tapped the table, silencing the laughter almost instantly. She pointed at me, her voice thick with mockery.

“Cassia, stay here. I’ll talk to Assistant Westley later. I’m sure he can move you up to a supervisor position. Shouldn’t be a problem.”

When I didn’t respond, she gave a chuckle.

“You probably don’t even know who Assistant Westley is, do you? He’s the owner’s assistant here. Someone like you, just a lowly server, would never get the chance to meet him.”

“Even if you had the chance to meet him, do you really think someone as high-profile as Assistant Westley, someone even Amara’s father treats with the utmost respect, would bother with someone like you?”

“Oh, maybe,” she continued, her voice dripping with mockery, “but Cassia is pretty enough. Perhaps Assistant Westley would take her in as his mistress.”

The words had barely left her lips when Nyla let out a laugh full of scorn.

“So what if he did? Even as a mistress, she’d still be no better than a dog, at best, just a pet.”

For a moment, I wondered if I’d somehow wronged their ancestors; had I stolen their family's honor in some past life? Was all this necessary?

But the truth was, I couldn’t be bothered. I didn’t have the time or the energy to argue with them. Besides, the last thing I wanted was for them to find out who I really was. If they did, I’d soon be drowning in sycophants, all trying to suck up to me like parasites. What a bother.

“Enjoy yourselves, everyone. I really have to go now, or I’ll lose my job,” I said, forcing a smile as I turned to leave.

Just then, Matthews shoved me suddenly, his hand pushing against my shoulder with a little more force than necessary.

“Cassia, are you refusing to accept a little face-saving gesture?”

“When Amara shows you respect, you kneel and accept it, hands outstretched,” Matthews jabbed, pointing his finger straight at me.

I met his gaze with calm defiance before nodding. “Alright, I’ll accept it. I won’t leave.”

“That’s better,” Matthews said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction as he patted my cheek.

It was his right hand. The one that had never lifted a finger for anyone else except to mock them.

Amara pointed to the corner where a decorative oak barrel sat. “There are no more chairs. You can sit on that.”

Laughter erupted again, raw and unrestrained.

I didn’t respond, only shook my head and chuckled softly. How utterly childish.

Without another word, I walked over and lowered myself onto the barrel.

Suddenly, Gabriel stood up, his voice sharp. “Alright, that’s enough. Everyone, stop messing around. Cassia, just leave already.”

Amara shot him a cold, calculating glance. “What’s this? Are you feeling sorry for her?”

“No,” Gabriel snapped, his voice thick with disdain, “I just don’t want to see her.”

I couldn’t help but notice the tightness in his voice. It was clear he was terrified. Terrified that I might expose the past, the thing that could destroy everything he had with Amara.

“You don’t have to look at her,” Amara said, her smile as cold as ice. She sat down and then turned her gaze on me. “But I, on the other hand, quite enjoy watching Cassia. It’s like… watching a monkey perform. Haven’t seen one in ages.”

Matthews chuckled darkly. “Cassia, why don’t you quit here and go work at Amara’s company as a cleaner? Maybe seeing you would cheer her up, and she might toss you a banana or two for your trouble.”

Laughter erupted around me.

I remained unbothered. “Being a cleaner isn’t for me. When I have the money, I’ll just buy Amara’s company. I want to be the boss.”

The room fell silent before the laughter roared even louder.

Gabriel didn’t join in. His eyes turned a shade of red as he stared at me, almost pleading, as if silently begging me to leave.

Amara’s laughter faded before she spoke, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Cassia, if you really manage to get rich, I’ll definitely sell you the company. But by the time you have the money, my company will be worth even more.”

I didn’t dignify her words with a response.

Matthews played along eagerly, his voice dripping with mock enthusiasm. “Amara, what’s this about? Does the company have a new, big project lined up?”

“Exactly.”

“I’ve heard whispers that the owner of The Secret Hour Club is a brilliant young talent, brought back at great expense by Bellemont’s top figure.”

“They say this person doesn’t get involved unless it’s a project worth over ten billion.”

“Bellemont’s business scene has been struggling recently, with half of the new development zone sitting empty. But rumor has it, this person is here specifically to tackle that.”

“My dad has ties to the top figure in Bellemont,” Amara said with a smug grin, basking in the attention. “If we can secure a slice of this project, we’ll be swimming in profits again.”

With that, Amara turned back to me, his eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction. “Cassia, I still remember how you almost wet yourself when you saw my family’s Bentley all those years ago. I still have it, you know. Can you drive now? If so, come work as my driver. I’ll let you take it for a spin.”

“I’ve only ever driven domestic cars,” I said with a calm shrug.

Laughter erupted once again, their voices filling the air.

Were their jokes truly that funny? Even when I had attended a stand-up comedy show at Mystique Lounge in the capital, the laughs hadn’t come this easily.

The longer I remained calm, the more their frustration grew. It was like punching cotton, with no resistance and no satisfaction. They started to get annoyed, especially Amara, who clearly enjoyed keeping me as her personal punching bag.

She pointed at a bottle of liquor on the table with a smug smile. “Cassia, have you ever tasted Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc? It’s quite pricey. Here’s your chance to try it. If you finish the whole bottle, I’ll let you go.”

I didn’t drink; alcohol had a nasty way of messing with the mind.

“I don’t drink,” I replied, shaking my head.

The antics continued, and I couldn’t take it anymore. It was time to lay my cards on the table. “Amara, I’m the owner of The Secret Hour Club. The billion-dollar project you’re so eager to talk about? That’s mine.”

I spoke with a calm, unwavering seriousness.

Instead of believing, I was met with mocking expressions, like they were watching some kind of circus act.

And, predictably, they burst into laughter once again.

Matthews pointed at me with a smirk. "Cassia, you’ve really got guts. Did you major in boasting at Ivory Heights?"

"I’m dying over here! Why don’t you just claim to be Kaia Morgan while you’re at it?" Nyla joined in, her laughter ringing out like a bell.

I sighed, glancing at them with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Is there something wrong with your perception? Have you ever seen an Ivory Heights grad working as a server?"

They paused, but the disdain still lingered in their eyes.

Amara sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. "Does it matter? Whether you’re a server or not, you’re still a pauper compared to me."

She stood, pointed at the bottle of liquor, and smirked. "Drink it, or I’ll smash it over your head. Your choice."

"If I drink it, can I leave?" I asked, my voice calm but laced with sarcasm.

Before I could say more, Gabriel suddenly stood up. He grabbed the bottle, inhaled deeply, and then, without a hint of hesitation, said, "I’ll drink it for her, and then she can go."

Why was he helping me?

Was he afraid that if I stayed, I’d lose my patience and bring up that night?

I stared at him, my heart tangled with emotions I couldn't quite keep in check.

Just then, the door to Amber Crescent Pavilion creaked open.

Westley and Jaxon walked in, one after the other, making a subtle but noticeable entrance.

Jaxon, a familiar face in the local news, drew immediate recognition from the room.

Westley, my assistant, had also been in the public eye enough to be somewhat known.

As soon as Amara spotted them, her eyes lit up with a sudden eagerness. She practically flew across the room, her smile oozing sweetness as she bowed. "Uncle Jaxon, Assistant Westley, what brings you here today?"

The others quickly followed suit, rising from their seats in unison.

I, however, remained firmly planted on the oak barrel, unbothered.

Amara’s sharp gaze flicked to me, and she scolded, her voice thick with anger, "Cassia, get up! Don’t you see who’s here?"