Vera answered without much enthusiasm, "Can’t really recall the name, but I think Cassandra called her something like... Ms. Hooper or something."
Ms. Hooper? Mara’s expression immediately went pale. Could it be that same woman her mom forced out of the Hawthorne family? Or was it just a coincidence?
"What’s wrong?" Vera caught the change on her face and asked again.
"Nothing." Mara waved it off. "You enjoy yourself. I’ve got to check on a few other guests."
With that, she picked up a glass of fruit wine, her slender figure weaving gracefully through the shimmering crowd in the banquet hall.
Several sharp-suited businessmen and freshly minted elites had their eyes on her as she walked by, a few bold ones even trying to strike up a conversation.
Once she figured the timi
