Elaine Thomas sat on the balcony of her luxury suite, the cold breeze teasing the silk scarf draped over her shoulders. Her delicate china cup trembled slightly as she stirred, though her hand appeared steady. The tea remained untouched—just a prop, much like her smile had been the night before.
She gazed out over the manicured resort grounds, but her mind wasn’t on the view. It was replaying Mark’s words.
His tone.
The way he had stood between her and that woman—as if she were the outsider. As if Jessica’s place in his life had somehow eclipsed her own.
Elaine’s lips tightened. Unthinkable.
That girl didn’t belong here. Not in Mark’s world. Not in their world.
She wasn’t just different—she was wrong. Ethnically, culturally, socially. Jessica didn’t come from anything. No pedigree,
