Chapter 136: Inward Scream

Charlotte I wanted to scream at her, to tell her that she was the real weakness, but I bit my tongue, knowing it would only escalate things further. Instead, I took a deep breath, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. Damien, seated beside me, reached under the table and placed a warm hand on my thigh. But frankly, it didn’t make me feel any better. “I appreciate your input, Kathy,” I said, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. “But I assure you, everything is under control.” The way she smiled at me made my skin crawl. It was the smile of someone who knew they had the upper hand, someone who was relishing the discomfort they were causing. And it was in that moment that I realized something: Kathy didn’t just want to see me fail; she wanted to see me broken. “Under control?” she echoed, her voice dripping with condescension. “Charlotte, the only thing you seem to have under control is your denial. If this Gala flops, it won’t just be your reputation on the line; i