?Chapter 111:

“Mrs. Higgins, Jasmine’s cking again,” one of the workers whispered loud enough for me to hear.

Sophia’s sympathetic nce only made me feel smaller, like I couldn’t stand up for myself.

I knew Isabelle was behind it. Hell, she was behind all of it, orchestrating my downfall like some twisted puppet master.

The only time my mind wasn’t spinning was when I was asleep or when I was with Sophia. But the question I couldn’t shake kept gnawing at me: Why was Ryder ignoring me? Didn’t he care what I was going through? Someone had to have told him.

Back at my apartment, the silence pressed down on me. I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched.

I sat at my desk, gripping a pencil, trying to focus on cataloging new paintings. But the sketch in front of me blurred as the stress twisted my thoughts into knots. Business was slow, and with Sophia busy elsewhere, I was left alone with my racing mind.

I heard the shuffle of feet behind me and looked up to see Rachel standing there, oozing smugness. I hated her, but I tried to keep my face neutral.

She “identally” bumped into my desk, sending my papers flying. Some of the paintings tumbled to the floor, but luckily, they were in frames and didn’t break.

“Oh, sorry,” she said, her tone dripping with fake sweetness.

I clenched my jaw, biting back a snappy response.

Her sneer deepened as she looked at me. “Be careful, Jasmine. Wouldn’t want the pack to lose anything valuable because of your… carelessness.”

Her eyes flicked to the paintings that had miraculously survived her little stunt.

“Just one of these could probably buy your entire pack,” she said with a smirk. “And let’s be real, you’re not exactly… valuable.”

Her words hit hard, and I felt my patience start to slip. Who the hell was she to talk to me like that?

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Rachel raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “Oh? What are you going to do about it?”

I met her gaze, refusing to back down. “I’m going to make sure everyone knows what’s really going on around here.”

Her expression faltered for a second, but she quickly covered it with another sneer.

“This wasn’t an ident, and you know it,” I said, my voice steady and sharp.

Rachel rolled her eyes, popping her gum like she couldn’t be bothered. “You don’t belong here,” she said, taking a step closer. “And you never will.”

I took a step closer too, my voice low but firm. “Maybe I don’t belong, but I’m not going anywhere.”

Her smile wavered, and for a second, I thought she might back down. But then she stepped forward again, her voice full of venom. “You just wait until Ryder gets back. You’ll see what happens then.”

I let out a dry, mockingugh. “Oh, I’m counting on it,” I said, my gaze never leaving hers. “And when he does, I’ll make sure you get exactly what’sing to you.”

Her face flushed with anger, but she took a step back, her retreat obvious. So much for being tough.

Just then, Sophia appeared at my side, her presence instantly calming. “Everything okay here?” she asked, her eyes locked on Rachel.

Rachel forced a smile, her tone oozing sarcasm. “Just having a friendly chat.”

Sophia didn’t move. “Jasmine?”

“I’m fine,” I said, keeping my voice steady.

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