You Ridiculed Me, Now You Regret It

Phoebe, heiress of Caelon's wealthiest family, lives quietly as a teacher in a mountain village. During a patriotic lesson a stark video of the Jovian invasion plays. Vivian Smith, her father's fiancée, watches with her son, who was born to a Jovian spy. The footage terrifies them and the boy breaks down crying. Consumed by panic, guilt and anger, Vivian lashes out and humiliates Phoebe. Her cruelty is quick and ruthless, born of fear rather than truth. Only after the outburst does Vivian learn Phoebe's true identity—she is Alfred Green's daughter. The revelation hits hard; regret arrives too late, leaving consequences that cannot be undone.