She believed that when Melinda found out Bianca hadn’t brought a gift, she would surely be disappointed, making Ashley appear more favorable to her.

Ashley’s smile, filled with anticipation and pride, lit up her face as she imagined the events to come. Suddenly, the doors of the Reed family villa swung open, and two sharply dressed men entered.

They wore white gloves and carried a tray of aromatic wood covered by a red silk cloth.

Instantly, they captivated the attention of all the guests, ...