Jessica’s palms were clammy.The longer she stood there, the more suffocating the laughter and whispers became. She could feel the eyes of half the ballroom fixed on her—former business partners, rivals, investors—all people who once spoke her name with respect.Now, those same eyes regarded her with poorly disguised ridicule.Her chest tightened. Why did he bring me here?She turned her gaze toward Brandon, hoping for some explanation. His face was unreadable.She wanted to ask what he was thinking, why they were here, and whether they even had passes to attend the Bell-Ringing Banquet—but her voice caught in her throat.The murmurs were growing louder.“There’s no way they were invited.”“She’s the bankrupt CEO, isn’t she? Jessica Marion. What a fall from grace.”“Look at her—she can’t even lift her head.”Jessica clenched her hands together, wishing she could vanish into the ground. Her throat ached from the humiliation pressing against it. Tugging lightly at Brandon’s sleeve, s