The press called it The Fall of a Socialite.
Sophie Laurent was disowned by the Whitmore estate, stripped of all public board affiliations, and cut from every social registry in the city. Overnight, her name became poison. Even the tabloids that once worshipped her turned against her.
Mia should have felt victorious.
Instead, she felt… watched.
The morning after the fundraiser, Lucas took a call on the terrace. When he returned to the bedroom, his expression had changed.
“What is it?” Mia asked, sitting up in bed.
“Roman’s stepping down officially. The Whitmore seat on Kane’s board will be temporarily vacant until his successor is named.”
“That’s good, right?”
Lucas hesitated. “Depends on who they choose.”
That afternoon, the answer came.
At a hastily arranged emergency board mee
