FROM THE ROCK BOTTOM TO THE HIGH SOCIETY

room. His eyes stopped on a message scrawled across the mirror in bo

a moment, Victor stood frozen, his jaw tightening. Was

aff waiting outside. "Search the grounds. C

ger, his fingers brushing the words on the mirror. His mother's la

-

nes to keep from slipping. Her arms and legs were scratched and bleeding, her clothes torn to rags, but s

and into the valley beyond. The journey was grueling, but by dawn, Val

Esmeralda Sullivan froze i

e?" Esmeralda stammered, he

bitter smile. "I finished my

no place here! Look at you-filthy and pitif

ent to prison. Four days ago, you visited me and gave me that address. You promised me money to s

her was gravely ill. By the time I got the funds togeth

he held herself back. This wasn't the time to

t grave in your hometown's cemetery. I've done more than enough for you

ed a stack of bills at her feet. "Take

sharp. "You raised me because you felt guilty. And I repaid you by following through with yo

way, her head high despite the pain

-

Are you actually feeling bad for her? That girl is a curse! She was born o

finds out the man from that night isn't dead-and that he's now

ictor Regal has no time for nobodies like her. Our focus should be on getting

al family, but he's still an illegitimate child. I doubt O

egitimacy stop him from taking over the Regal empire. He's a man who play

save him, nothing will stop their marriage. Holton, just wait-our daughter

guilt over Valerie

y and was about to step onto the main road when a flashy,

at our house for eight years. Valerie, have you lost count of how many men have used you? And you still haven't showered?

in Belinda's face. The cold splash left Belinda sputtering and gasp

t her in shock.

ng as she interrupted. "Now you l

, she turned and walked away,

o react. The humiliation burned, but V

-

uge in a dingy boarding house. She rented a small, bare room with the last of her money.

mployer turned her away after learning about her prison record. After days of rejections, her desp

at an upscale restaurant. The pay was modest, but it was enough to su

her a promotion. She was assigned to serve in the VIP section, r

he VIP rooms are different. These guests demand discretion an

dy feeling like second nature. "I

r winning over even the most difficult patrons. Though the work was exhausting, it offere