The next few weeks at school felt strange.
Sara still smiled, still laughed with her friends, but a small unease clung to her chest like a shadow. She noticed the small things now — how Emily's eyes darted away when she spoke, how Hannah sometimes whispered with others before turning to her with a sugary grin.
One afternoon, as Sara walked down the hallway, she caught fragments of voices drifting from behind the lockers.
"…she thinks she's better than everyone, just because she's rich…"
"…well, of course she pays for everything. She has to, or why would anyone stick around?"
Sara froze. Her hand trembled as she clutched her books. The voices belonged to Emily and Hannah.
Her throat went dry. For a moment, she wanted to storm in and confront them, but her feet felt like stone. She stayed hidden, listening as the girls laughed softly, their words cutting sharper than knives.
When she finally stepped away, her chest felt hollow.
Later, at lunch, Emily draped her arm around Sara's shoulders as if nothing had happened. "Sara, darling, you'll come with us to the mall after class, right? There's this new boutique—"
Sara forced a smile. "Maybe… I'll see."
Mei Lin, who was sitting across from them, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Sara caught the look — sharp, knowing, almost pitying.
That evening, back at the Chen mansion, Sara found her stepmother in the living room, sipping tea. The woman looked up, her smile dazzling.
"Back from school, darling? You look tired."
Sara nodded, too drained to answer. She started toward the stairs, but Mrs. Chen's voice followed her.
"You know, friends can be tricky. Some stay because of love, others… because of convenience."
Sara froze, turning slowly. "What do you mean?"
Mrs. Chen chuckled softly, her eyes glinting in the dim light. "Nothing, child. Just something I've learned over the years. Choose your companions wisely."
Sara didn't reply, but her pulse quickened. Had her stepmother overheard something? Or was it just another one of her subtle games?
That night, lying in bed, Sara stared at the ceiling again. Her mind spun with whispers — Emily's mocking voice, Hannah's laughter, her stepmother's cryptic advice.
For the first time, she wondered if she was truly surrounded by friends… or enemies wearing smiles.
The shadows in her life were no longer just growing — they were beginning to whisper back.