Carol listened to Jonathan defend Miriam.

She remembered what Miriam had told her earlier.

So, Miriam was indeed acting on his orders.

Arguing with a mere servant was pointless.

"You always take her side! You haven't even tried to comfort me! How can you ignore these vicious rumors? I refuse to believe Father has an illegitimate child!" Amelia huffed, crossing her arms tightly.

Jonathan gently patted her head. His voice was calm. "I don't believe it either. Don't let idle gossip upset you. People love to create drama."

His expression then turned serious. "Anyone who continues to spread these lies will be removed from the party and banned from all future Sterling events."

Amelia relaxed slightly. "That's more like it!" She tossed her hair, though annoyance still flickered in her eyes. "Everyone here is an acquaintance. If there truly was a woman who resembled you, I would have noticed."

Nearby, Miriam tensed, silently continuing her cleanup.

If Amelia ever discovered the truth—that Evelyn was the real Sterling daughter—she would never accept it.

Jonathan chuckled softly but didn't argue. His sister was notoriously bad with faces.

She would never admit it, and he saw no reason to embarrass her.

He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "It's meaningless chatter. Don't let it spoil your evening. Your makeup needs attention; go get it fixed."

Amelia finally let the matter rest.

Her parents shared a devoted marriage. The idea of an illegitimate child was absurd. Feeling somewhat pacified, she sat before the vanity, allowing the artist to retouch her face.

Jonathan lingered for a moment before turning to leave.

At the doorway, he paused. He glanced back. "Miriam, come with me."

Miriam froze. Why was he singling her out?

Amelia, however, completely misinterpreted the situation. To her, it seemed Jonathan was sending Miriam to monitor Evelyn.

Smirking, she waved a dismissive hand. "Go on. There's nothing more for you to do here."

She shot Miriam a pointed look, a silent command to find her charge.

Understanding the unspoken order, Miriam forced a polite smile and followed Jonathan out.

He led her down a quiet corridor, stopping in a secluded alcove.

Miriam's heartbeat accelerated. Something felt wrong.

Jonathan turned to her, his gaze intense. "Did you see the woman at the party tonight? The one who bears a resemblance to me?"

Miriam's face paled instantly.

What did he mean by that?

Why ask her this privately?

Had he already figured it out?

Panic surged through her veins. For a moment, the surrounding sounds faded into a dull roar.

Time was running out.

If Amelia lost her standing in the Sterling family, what would become of Miriam's own future?

Marrying A Secret Zillionaire Happy Ever After