Natalie Pierce did not bother to waste another second. She turned on her heel and walked away, her steps steady but carrying the unmistakable tension of someone forcing herself not to look back.
Her departure only made the scene uglier.
Seeing Natalie’s disheveled state, Tracy Jean, Sadie Sink, and several others burst into unrestrained laughter. The sound rang sharp and cruel, echoing through the spacious lobby like a deliberate insult. It wasn’t just mockery—it was the kind of laughter meant to publicly strip someone of dignity, to remind them of their supposed fall from grace.
Daryl Momsen curled his lips into a lazy, mocking smile. His gaze lingered on Natalie’s retreating figure as if watching an amusing performance.
“Ms. Pierce,” he drawled, his tone light and teasing, “you reall
