SWNOVELS Chapter CHAPTER 12
Chapter 12
Laura commanded the room, her shining skin and striking features accentuated by a red gown that amplified her beauty. She was a vision, and every guy in the place was smitten.
“Who is she? She’s breathtaking!” one guy gushed.
“Forget it, man. She’s with Robert. He’s planning to pop the question tonight, another whispered.
“Look at that skin, those legs… I’m a goner,” a third sighed.
“Who said Olivia was the star of the Sharpe family? Next to Laura, she’s just a shadow, someone else noted.
“Shh! Keep it down. Mr. Sharpe won’t like that,” a voice warned.
David and Emma were witnessing Laura’s full glory for the first time. Her elegance was stunning, but with each compliment Laura received, Olivia seemed to fade into the background. It was tough seeing their adopted daughter overshadow their own flesh and blood. Their disappointment was palpable.
Elara, catching the men’s admiration, frowned. “She’s just showing off,” she muttered
Christopher gently tugged her arm, “Easy there. Her folks are right here.”
Elara’s sneer deepened. “Folks? Did you see how the Sharpes are ignoring her? Now that their real daughter’s back, they don’t care about the adopted one. I can’t believe my son wants to marry a nobody. It’s humiliating.”
Robert sipped his drink, his emotions in a whirl. The more he looked at Laura, the more he knew the proposal was on the mark. He thought to himself, ‘So what if she has fans? In the end, she’s mine.
Olivia’s eyes narrowed as she watched Robert, her anger simmering. All her hard work seemed to be going down the drain. “Robby…” she called out, but he didn’t even glance her way, his focus solely on Laura.
Laura was the center of attention, a shining star that outshined everyone else. Olivia, the rightful heiress of the Sharpe family, felt overshadowed and crushed. Clenching her glass tightly, she thought, “Laugh all you want. I’ll make sure you fall hard.”
As Laura saw Robert approaching with confidence, her emotions were a whirlwind. His face used to make her heart race; now, that excitement was replaced with a different kind of stirring-anger.
“Lau, you look stunning tonight,” Robert said, his voice deep and eyes filled with a new kind of admiration she hadn’t seen often.
Laura wondered if he looked at Olivia the same way in intimate moments. Remembering the pain he’d caused, the wounds that took so long to heal, she felt a twist in her stomach.
“Thanks,” Laura managed to say, masking her disgust.
Robert was taken aback. This wasn’t the Laura he knew. He thought, “Is this about that guy who gave her gifts? But Laura’s always been loyal to me. She loves me deeply.”
“Lau, that dress…” Robert started to ask, but Elara interrupted, strutting over with a condescending smirk. “You’re
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Chapter 12
just showing off. Wearing something like that is so inappropriate.”
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Laura had once admired Robert and tried to win Elara’s approval, even going so far as to dress down and follow her every command. But now, she wasn’t about to let Elara push her around.
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