French Quarter Follies: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Cozy New Orleans Book 5) by Corrine Winters

Author:Corrine Winters [Winters, Corrine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-08-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Daisy's fingers flew across her laptop keyboard, her eyes glued to the screen as she delved into the digital footprint of Lilian Fritz. Article after article popped up, each one painting a picture of a life so different from her own that it might as well have been from another planet.

"Lilian Fritz Dazzles at Charity Gala," one headline proclaimed. Daisy clicked, finding herself staring at a photo of Lilian draped in diamonds and designer silk, her arm linked with some oil tycoon's son.

"Heiress Lilian Fritz's Summer in the Hamptons," another article boasted. This one detailed a whirlwind of yacht parties, polo matches, and champagne brunches that made Daisy's head spin.

As she scrolled, a pattern emerged. Lilian seemed to flit from one high-profile relationship to another, leaving a trail of broken engagements and society page gossip in her wake. There was the tech billionaire, the European prince, the star athlete - each one more wealthy and connected than the last.

Daisy's stomach clenched as she came across a photo of Lilian with William at some black-tie event. They made a striking pair, both exuding the easy confidence of those born into privilege. For a moment, Daisy could almost see why everyone had expected them to end up together.

"Find anything interesting?" Motley's voice startled her. The cat had silently padded up to perch on the arm of her chair.

"Just... a lot," Daisy sighed, gesturing at the screen. "Lilian's whole life seems to revolve around being seen with the right people at the right places. It's exhausting just reading about it."

Motley's tail swished as he peered at the laptop. "Ah yes, the time-honored tradition of the idle rich. Spending daddy's money and chasing the next big scandal."

Daisy's eyes flicked from one glittering image to another, each snapshot of Lilian's life a stark reminder of the vast chasm between their worlds. The society heiress lounged on yachts, clinked champagne flutes with royalty, and graced red carpets in couture gowns that probably cost more than Daisy's entire wardrobe.

With each article, each photo spread, Daisy felt herself shrinking. Her modest apartment suddenly seemed shabby, her beloved bakery quaint and provincial. She thought of her hands, often dusted with flour or sticky with sugar, and imagined them next to Lilian's perfectly manicured nails.

"What am I doing?" she muttered, pushing away from her laptop.

Motley's ears perked up. "Having a crisis of confidence, by the looks of it."

Daisy frowned, scrolling past another article about Lilian's latest shopping spree. "I don't understand how William ever saw himself with someone like her. They seem so different."

"Perhaps he didn't," Motley mused. "You said his parents were pushing for the match, didn't you? Not everyone has the luxury of choosing their own path."

Motley's tail twitched as he studied the screen, his green eyes narrowing. "You know, people like Lilian tend to be a special breed of awful."

Daisy turned to face him, brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Well, look at all this." He gestured with a paw at the laptop. "Every photo, every article - it's all about showing off.

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