Chapter 22 - The Ghost of High SocietyWhile Margaret faced the brutal reality of the public welfare system, Clare Hale was fighting her own miserable battle for survival in a completely different city.
Having fled Boston to avoid federal subpoenas, Clare had relocated to a cramped, roach-infested studio apartment in Queens, New York. Her bank accounts were frozen, her credit was destroyed, and her face had been splashed across enough financial blogs that no reputable design firm would hire her.
To survive, the former high-society socialite was working the graveyard shift as a cocktail waitress at a seedy midtown lounge.
One rainy Friday night, Clare was wiping down a sticky bar counter when the lounge’s television flashed to a live broadcast of the Forbes Women in Tech Gala.
Clare froze, her rag suspended in mid-air.
Walking down the red carpet, illuminated by hundreds of flashing camera bulbs, was Emma Carter. She wore a breathtaking, custom-tailored emerald gown. Beside her, holding her hand with quiet, protective pride, was Marcus Vance—Boston’s most ruthless corporate attorney, now Emma’s co-director and partner.
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Clare stared at the screen, her heart twisting with a toxic, suffocating jealousy. That was supposed to be her life. She had positioned herself next to Ethan because she thought he was the king. She had played the game perfectly.
But as she looked down at her stained apron and rough, unmanicured hands, Clare finally realized the ultimate truth: she hadn't stolen a king; she had stolen a parasite. And in doing so, she had handed Emma the kingdom.
