I Don't Want to Go

"That's right, Damien is going to take me to the banquet tonight." Sophia Greenwood raised her head and said proudly. What seemed like a boast was actually a diminishment of her own value. If it were something truly boast-worthy, she would be like Emma Hart, for whom accompanying Damien Sterling was a routine matter, not a rare opportunity that warranted such excitement.

Emma responded coolly, "Oh, I'm aware. It's just that I'm too tired to attend tonight, I simply can't be bothered. Otherwise, I doubt it would be your turn, would it?" Emma deliberately provoked her with these words.

As Emma finished, she watched the change in Sophia's expression, her face turning a shade paler. The jubilation previously evident when holding the invitation faded, "What do you mean by that?"