ora

's face was glowing with vicious satisfaction. Ma

r's tray. The small, clear clink of glass on sil

eyes. It wasn't directed at Isabelle o

lear and pleasant. "What a wond

nse creativity turned. It was Eva Chen, one of the hottest up-and-comi

uine smile when she saw me. "Aurora? I did

nt a ripple of confusion through my

just discussing our mutual admiration for the brand 'Astra.' But we've run into a little confusion about what constitutes

rd to a neutral, uni

es took in Madison's dress, then mine, and she understood the situ

r voice polite but firm. "May

ped, could on

he seams, the drape, the way the light hit the cheap fabric. Then, she reached out a

grade blend, at that. The stitching is factory-standard, uneven in place

e turned the

ged. Her expression shifted to one of reverence,

elicacy that was almost worshipful,

ouble-faced silk charmeuse from Lake Como. Only a handful

ld... I've only seen it in the original 'Astra' design sketches. The technique is so c

ss the stunned faces of the guests. H

tion on it," she declared. "Miss Sinclair i

ffect, letting t

a genuine, one-of-a-kind pie

lroom e

le who had been sneering at me moments before were now sta

g. To wear a fake and then use it to accuse the wear

social

t, but Isabelle had already taken a half-step back, her expression a mixture of panic an

my expression serene. I hadn't ra

correctly, was the most