189. Secrets.

Sophia had been walking through the party floor like a lost puppy, looking for her mother, who was once the center of attention but was now missing in action. She looked for her at every poker table, arcade stand, and even the meals table, but she was nowhere to be found.

She also saw her father, who waved her over, and when she approached him, she inquired about her mother, to which her father assured her that she should be gossiping or at the Ladies, but in the meantime, he wanted to introduce her to some of his colleagues who might be useful in the coming years.

As she continued to speak with her mother, she noticed Nicole walk out of a room, followed by her mother's gloomy expression, and wondered what they had discussed.

She dashed over to meet her mother and asked what the problem was, but her mother said they would talk about it when they got home.

Sophia was persistent in finding out what happened, but her mother shunned her and told Sophia that they would discuss it at home.