Chapter 906

On the floor, she could feel the sting in her knees and the throbbing in her chin. Her hair had come loose, and her makeup was probably ruined. She was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear right then and there.

“Ouch.”

She tried to get up, but the gown twisted around her legs and her heels only made things worse.

Leonard, who had been trailing behind her, looked genuinely startled by what had happened. Panic washed over his face as he rushed forward and knelt beside her.

“Briley! Are you okay?” His voice trembled with worry. His hands moved carefully, as if she might break.

The pain was sharp enough to make Briley’s eyes sting. She tried to push herself up, fury rising fast. Leonard leaned in to help, but she shoved him aside without hesitation.

Then she turned toward Nathan, her glare burning with indignation. That bastard. How dare he humiliate her like this? She wasn’t about to let it slide.

Nathan looked like he’d only just noticed her fall. His expression carried just enough surprise to seem believable. He rushed over, stopping just short of touching her, his voice oozing with staged concern.

“Oh no! Miss Wall, are you hurt? This is awful—the hall’s way too cramped for someone of your status. And this floor, it’s too slippery, letting someone like you fall like that. It’s shameful, really. We’re completely at fault.”

The words sounded kind, but each one dripped with mockery disguised as apology, emphasizing she was too grand for a place like this, so out of touch that she would trip and fall.

But Briley didn’t catch the sarcasm at all. She only heard the flattery, mistaking it for Nathan’s way of saying the Higgins family’s venue wasn’t good enough for her.

? → a?ν

Some of her anger melted away, replaced by the sting of humiliation. She gave a sharp snort and started tugging her dress back into place, her voice cold.

“Glad that you know.”

Without checking if she was even bleeding, she pushed herself up. She didn’t want help. She just wanted out.

She shot a glare at the people still whispering and giggling, raised her chin, and walked off toward the main table. Leonard followed behind. Watching her stiff, hurried steps, he let out a sigh.

She was truly clueless. Nathan’s sarcasm had been loud enough to echo—yet she hadn’t caught a thing.

Sadie had asked him to keep watch on Briley, but now it seemed she had given her too much credit. With that kind of mind, how could Briley ever stir up real trouble? She was beyond help.

Upstairs, on the second floor, a server guided Sadie to a quiet lounge dressed in soft lighting and muted colors. The server stepped aside and opened the door with a courteous nod.

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