Mia Knight

Jasmine, 10 Years Old, PT 1

Added 2025-08-16 15:00:13 +0000 UTC

Jasmine turned her head to the side and bit her lip to stop herself from laughing aloud as her friends bickered.

“Her dress is horrid,” Kira said in appalled tones. “It looks like she tried to sew it herself.”

“Kira!” Penelope gave her an admonishing nudge. “Please lower your voice!”

Kira turned on her friend with wide eyes. “But you agree, don’t you? It’s hideous!”

Penelope’s eyes darted around before she whispered, “Well, of course, but you shouldn’t say such things out loud!”

Kira’s relief was obvious. “As long as we agree. I wasn’t sure we could continue to be friends if you thought that was fashion.”

Penelope bumped her with her hip. “Oh, stop.”

Jasmine grinned as Kira continued her brutal critique of the fashion gracing the grand ballroom, and ignored Penelope’s attempts to hush her. Jasmine normally dreaded her father’s parties, terrified she would say or do something that would offend an esteemed guest. But with her friends at her side—Kira Usmanov and Penelope Davies, who were well-versed in high society, her stress had melted away and been replaced with sheer joy. It was always a treat when two or more of her friends attended an event, since they were scattered all over the globe.

They had color coordinated their dresses and, for the first time ever, wore heels. Kira’s were two inches. She strutted in them like a pro, while Jasmine and Penelope had been forced by their families to wear something more conservative and practical. Jasmine was secretly relieved, knowing she would fall flat on her face if she had tried to wear anything as daring as her friend.

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Sins. Please do not share or distribute.