Penny's POV
Before I could think twice, my legs were moving, carrying me away from the terrace and the shocked faces staring at me after Cassandra's calculated attack. The heavy silence she'd dropped like a bomb still echoed in my ears. I discovered a narrow stairway tucked along the mansion's side that descended into the gardens. A secluded spot where I could escape the crowd and their whispers. The marble step felt ice-cold beneath me, but it couldn't compete with the burning humiliation still scorching my cheeks.
I fought against the tears building behind my eyes. Cassandra wouldn't get that victory from me. My breath came shallow as I worked to control the shaking in my hands, the tight knot of embarrassment and rage twisting in my chest.
"Penny!"
Maya's voice rang through the corridor, laced with concern and determination. Her heels struck the marble in a rapid rhythm as she hunted for me.
"Penny, where did you go?"
