The cold air brushed against Lucy’s bare shoulders as she followed Julia and Jessica up the front steps. The tall doors of the mansion swung open, and warm light spilled over the marble floor inside. The faint scent of polished wood and expensive wine lingered in the air, a sharp contrast to the heavy perfume Jessica carried with her.
Julia kicked off her heels with a groan the moment they crossed the threshold. “Finally. I thought that party would never end,” she muttered, stretching her arms above her head. Her red dress shimmered under the golden chandelier light.
Jessica trailed behind, her lips pressed tight, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as if each step carried her annoyance. “It was a lovely gala,” she said stiffly, her voice sweet but her eyes flat. “Some of us act
