Aria's approach was unapologetic, a calculated ascent up the social ladder spurred by a strong desire to secure her future. She was shameless in her social climbing, using her charm, intelligence, and attractiveness to make friends with people who could provide her the opportunities she thought she deserved. Her conversations were regularly peppered with references to high-society products, events, and connections, demonstrating her involvement in their world. To some, her actions may have appeared purposeful, even opportunistic. But for Aria, these were survival skills, a way to alter the script of her life and construct her own story. She was determined to reinvent her fate, to shed her old skin and emerge as a strong and influential woman. *** The actual path to freedom appeared t