Chapter 31

"Speaking of which, I’ve really got to thank my dad and Lillian for picking out this dress—it fits like it was custom-made just for me," Cassandra said, lowering her eyes ever so slightly, a cool gleam flashing beneath her lashes. With a tilt of her lips, she smiled confidently. Lillian's face stiffened for a second before she quickly recovered. She clenched her teeth inside: Damn it. She specifically chose this forest green dress because it’s notoriously hard to pull off. She thought Cassandra would embarrass herself in it, but things clearly didn’t go as planned. "No need to thank me. But it’s rare for your father to bring you out to a proper event like this—just don’t make him lose face, alright?" Lillian replied with a stiff smile that seemed kind but was sharp underneath. 6:30 p.m. Cassandra walked into the banquet hall alongside her father, Lillian, and Vera. Thanks to the lingering buzz around the "270-million ring scandal," several socialites immediately recognized Cassandra. H