Chapter 177 Savor Her Revenge

Horatio and Natalie's dance replayed in Clarissa's head over and over, gnawing at her nerves like torture. She was on the verge of breaking. That desperate ache of longing without ever having was like a swarm of ants under her skin, eating her alive. "Clarissa, what are you doing here all alone? Are you not joining the dance?" A wealthy socialite who usually fawned over her strolled over, her voice laced with barely disguised glee. Clarissa had always carried herself with pride, basking in the flattery of others. But now that she had stumbled, people couldn't wait to kick her while she was down, hungry to watch her fall. Clarissa snapped out of her daze, forcing down the ache and fury boiling in her chest. With a stiff smile, she replied, "I'm a little tired and thought I'd rest for a bit." She couldn't let them see her weakness. She hadn't lost yet. "Of course. Mr. Hurrell and Ms. Lunsford's dance was mesmerizing just now. We were all so caught up in it that we nearly forgot to d