Amelia Sterling sat rigidly.

People surrounded her, their voices a low, comforting hum.

Their words did nothing to ease the tension in her perfectly made-up face.

It remained a mask of cold displeasure.

"Who is this woman?" she demanded, her voice icy and detached.

Abigail Thornton hesitated.

She bit her lip, her eyes darting around the room seeking support that wasn't there.

Finally, she spoke, her tone uncertain. "I haven't actually seen her. It's all just gossip. People are probably exaggerating."

The lounge door swung open before she could say more.

"Who dared upset my sister?" Jonathan Sterling's voice was light, almost teasing.

But his smile vanished the moment his eyes landed on Amelia's distressed expression.

His demeanor shifted instantly.

His face hardened as he strode toward her. "Amelia, what's wrong?"

The sight of him broke the dam.

Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over. "Jonathan!"

He didn't hesitate.

He pulled her into a tight, comforting embrace.

He gently patted her shoulder while his sharp gaze swept over Amelia's friends.

"Someone explain. Now." His voice was a command.

His eyes briefly caught on a faint mark on Abigail's shoulder.

His voice softened slightly. "Did Amelia hurt you? I apologize. You should get that looked at."

Abigail felt a flicker of warmth at his concern, easing her earlier resentment. "It's nothing, Mr. Sterling. I was out of line when I spoke to Amelia."

Jonathan's attention returned to his sobbing sister.

He sighed, then noticed the spilled water on the floor. "This is a hazard. Someone clean this up before Amelia slips."

As if summoned, Miriam Croft entered and began tidying the mess.

"Amelia, stop crying. You'll ruin your makeup." Jonathan handed her a tissue, gently dabbing at her tears. "Just tell me what happened to upset you so much."

Miriam, silently wiping the floor, spoke up softly. "Miss Sterling, whatever it is, just tell Mr. Sterling. He'll handle it for you."

Amelia sniffled, looking at her brother with profound grievance. "Abigail said there's a woman at the birthday party tonight who looks just like you. People are whispering that she's Father's illegitimate daughter!"

The glass Miriam had just picked up slipped from her grasp.

It shattered on the floor with a sharp, startling crack.

The sound cut through the room, drawing every eye.

Amelia jumped, her irritation flaring. "Be more careful! Weren't you trained properly for this job?"

Miriam quickly masked the flicker of guilt in her eyes and bowed her head. "My deepest apologies, Miss Sterling. It won't happen again."

Amelia's words echoed in Miriam's mind.

Her thoughts immediately flew to Evelyn.

From the first moment Miriam saw Evelyn, she had noticed the resemblance to Mr. Sterling.

Later, when she met Jonathan, the similarities between him and Evelyn became impossible to ignore.

One thing was certain.

If Mr. Sterling ever crossed paths with Evelyn, questions would be asked.

And when that happened, Amelia would be in serious trouble.

Jonathan's reaction was minimal, his expression unreadable.

His tone, however, remained calm. "It's alright, Amelia. It was just an accident."