“Ha ha,” Gemma said sarcastically, glaring at Gray. “I thought you weren’t coming tonight?”

Gray shrugged. “Plans changed.”

Grayson took a seat at the table just as I spotted someone. She had changed out of her glittery white tulle dress into jeans and a sweater more expensive than anything I owned.

Charlotte.

Everyone had changed. Only Grayson was still in his suit pants and dress shirt. Because unlike them, he’d traded a valet for me.

Charlotte was laughing with her friends, totally oblivious to me. I knew I should either stay put or follow Gray…but I crossed the short distance to her. Sweat beaded my neck, like tiny pinpricks.

Aundi and Pipa stopped talking once I reached them, glares furrowed on me. Charlotte stopped talking a second after them, slowly turning around at their glares, confusion marring her smile.

It must have been my imagination. The room didn’t go quiet. The music didn’t get lower.

They waited for me to talk first. I wasn’t someone who could just come up to someone like them.

But I could fix it, right here. Grayson was being so fucking stupid. I just had to tell her everything. Every little piece of what happened. Then she could take him back, and pull me out of this hell I couldn’t stop myself from diving deeper into, the place that was starting to whisper more. The place that wanted to take instead of give back what I’d stolen.

“It was my fault,” I said. “I told him the lemon cakes were your favorite. He was trying to do something nice for you. I had no idea you were allergic.”

A moment passed.

Lottie’s pretty, perfectly plucked brows caved. “Who are you?”

“Snitch,” Grayson called out behind me. “Come.”

Still, I stared into Lottie’s wide brown eyes. Tell her what happened last night. I’m the one who stole your moment.

“Snitch.”

Venom threaded his impassive tone, so subtle it barely stung.

I dropped my shoulders, going to Grayson.

He had a lollipop between his lips, and his blue eyes were harder than granite.

“Is she your buy-in?” Gemma asked. “I could use a new maid. I just had to let one go. So unfocused.”

My head shot up, eyes wide on her. I must have misheard, because they wouldn’t bet with people.

So casually Gemma asked it, too, like I wasn’t a person. That maid she had to let go? The unfocused one? She was fifty with fucking cancer.

He shook his hand in the air, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

For a brief moment I thought the most I was going to be punished for my mistake was being made to feel like dirt.

How naïve.

When you look at a Crowne, they ruin your life.

When you cross a Crowne…they make sure you wish you’d never been born.