Chapter 6: Sharp Tongues and Hidden Pain

The Governor’s Mansion, main wing.

After paying respects to the first lady, she eyed my emerald green dress and shot out, “Green, huh? Guess someone’s desperate to get noticed. Too bad money can’t buy taste.”

The laughter that followed was sharp, echoing off the high ceilings. Even the staff in the hallway paused to eavesdrop. I tried to steady my breath, pretending the words didn’t sting, but my hand shook as I clutched my purse.

In this whole house, I was the only one who’d spent a single night with the governor. Usually, I didn’t care about the cold jokes—sometimes the peace was better. But now, looking at her in that green dress, my calm cracked wide open.

When Will said I looked good in green, was he really thinking of me? Or was he picturing the first lady, someone he could never have? Probably the latter. If he loved her and just pretended with me… that kind of scheming guy might really ruin my family for her one day. I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. The taste was sharp, metallic—a reminder I was still here, still fighting.

She saw and snorted. “You’d better get close to the governor, or if something happens to your family, you’ll have nobody to plead for you. Tragic.” Her words made my brow twitch. A chill crept through me, like a cold draft under a locked door.

I remembered Dad’s warning: "In this world, reputation is everything—never let them see you sweat."