26

Upon rising from my chair, I felt inclined to explore the venue and potentially engage in socializing. I eventually found myself standing at the bar, contemplating which cocktail to select. Amidst my decision-making, a fragment of conversation caught my attention.

"Could it be Walter Arellano's daughter?" an unfamiliar voice speculated.

The words echoed through my mind and instantly halted my cocktail selection process.

"Oh my goodness! I overheard that her father supposedly traded her to the Jenkins family, but when the Jenkins faced financial ruin, they then sold her off to the Morettis. Such a desperate maneuver. But I suppose it's unsurprising, considering their company was on the verge of collapse," the speaker shared, bundled with a hint of remorse.

I kept my jaw tense, deliberately avoiding eye contact. I feigned indifference, refusing to acknowledge their attempts to grab my attention. They craved the opportunity to flaunt my father's misdeeds in my face, but I wouldn't grant