Rose’s POV
The air in the ballroom felt suffocating, but I couldn’t leave. I wanted to—I needed to—but walking away from this event meant walking away from my paycheck. And I couldn’t afford that luxury. Not with the rent overdue and Margaret’s debts looming over us.
So, I stayed, forcing a smile as I weaved through the crowd with a tray of champagne glasses. My hands trembled slightly, but I willed them steady.
Avoid him. Keep moving. Don’t make eye contact.
That was my mantra as I maneuvered between clusters of guests, all blissfully unaware of the chaos spinning in my mind. Every time I caught a glimpse of Jack’s tall frame across the room, my heart seized. He looked so effortlessly in control, like he belonged here. Unlike me, balancing a tray and hiding behind a uniform that wasn’
