章 213: A Shift in the Spotlight      

[SOPHIE]

Sophie's carefully woven lies felt like they were unravelling thread by thread.

How much longer could she keep up this charade? The weight of it pressed down on her shoulders, but retreating now wasn't an option. She couldn't afford to let the cracks show. Not yet.

"Uh, I'll ask Cole," Sophie said hesitantly, her lips twitching into a weak smile. "But don't get your hopes up, okay? His parents are the ones handling the invitations—particularly his mom. You know how she is. She still favors Eve over me, so . . . I don't exactly have much influence there."

The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but they bought her a moment's reprieve. The group exchanged glances, their excitement dimmed but not extinguished.

Sophie's heart pounded as she plastered on a smile, all the while wondering just how much longer she could walk this tightrope without falling.