Chapter 2

"You really can't judge a book by its cover. Even Lady Catherine praised her as 'the jewel of the state.' Turns out she's just another whore."

That peach-pink color burned my eyes.

The filth poured over me, just like last time.

I steadied myself and looked at Sebastian. I laughed.

"Sebastian, you can stuff your face, but you can't run your mouth. Whose lingerie are you holding? And why are you pinning it on me?"

"You and I have spoken maybe ten sentences total. Where's this 'couldn't help ourselves' coming from?"

"Besides, my family doesn't play. When I step out, I'm got assistants, security, the whole entourage. When exactly would I have had the chance to be alone with you, let alone get 'physical'?"

"You're the heir to the Ashford family, Sebastian, but my family isn't nobody. You don't get to trash our name and think we'll just take it."

My words landed. People started thinking.

Yeah. Who was the Hale family? Old money. Top-tier elite. Untouchable.

A family that powerful had standards—iron-clad rules. There's no way the Hale heiress would pull something like this.

Sebastian's face darkened. He gripped the bralette tighter.

Olivia piped up beside me, playing the loyal best friend. "But Natalie, haven't you always had a thing for Sebastian?"

"At the Poetry Society Gala, you called him 'brilliant.' Everyone knows you're into him."

"And that fabric—it's custom designer. Only you have it."

Her words dripped with insinuation. If only I had that fabric, the bralette had to be mine.

I smiled lightly. "You're right, Olivia. But you said you loved the color. So for your birthday, I custom-made you a bralette from the same fabric. Remember?"

"I'm not the only one in this city with that material. You have one too."

Olivia's face went white. Her voice sharpened.

"Natalie, what are you saying? A lady's reputation isn't something you can just throw around. You're basically accusing me of hooking up with Sebastian."

"Sebastian and I don't even know each other. How could it be mine?"

I stepped closer. "Exactly. A lady's reputation is everything. But you didn't even look before screaming that it was mine."

"People who know you might say you're just impulsive. People who don't? They'll think you and Sebastian have something going on and you're trying to destroy me."

Olivia's tears fell.

"Natalie, I know I'm just an orphan. The board only let me into this school out of pity for my late father. Everyone knows my family's broke. That bralette you gave me—the fabric was so expensive, I never even wore it. How could it end up with some guy?"

A girl from the stands couldn't hold back. "Natalie, you're being cruel. Olivia's your best friend and you're twisting this on her?"

I looked at her. "I'm being cruel? If she said that bralette was yours, would you smile and take it?"

The girl went quiet, then snapped, "But Olivia said that fabric was custom for you. If it's not yours, whose is it?"

I scanned the crowd's suspicious stares and smiled. "I used that fabric to make a dress. With the leftover material, I made two bralettes. I gave one to Olivia. The other one's at my house."

"The one Sebastian's holding? Definitely not the one at my place. I can prove it. Can you, Olivia?"

Olivia paled. She couldn't speak.

Sebastian rushed to smooth things over.

"Okay, Natalie, I know this is my fault. I shouldn't have carried this around. I'm sorry."