It took Laura an unknown amount of time to recover from the shock. Around her, the chatter of the elite ladies buzzed incessantly.
"Oh my goodness, the Belbin family produced a genius!"
"Theodora is Floria! Now it all makes sense why Laura was always the first to get Floria's designs. Honestly, I always thought Laura had no sense of style. Floria's brilliance was wasted on her!"
"Damn it, I should've guessed! Who else but Theodora would bother with Laura? It's hilarious that Laura actually threw Theodora out of her family!"
"Look at Laura's face. She must regret it to the core. Calling her a nouveau riche is spot on. She tossed away a diamond to pick up a rock!"
"Ugh, I can't believe I said those things earlier. What if Floria heard? It's all Laura's fault for misleading us!"
"And sh
