Chapter 27
“Check if you want! Amaris definitely stole the earrings, and she couldn’t pin them on someone else!” Danielle opened her bag confidently and dumped its contents onto the table.
Several packets of tissues tumbled out first, followed by a striking pair of vivid green emerald earrings–the exact ones displayed on the big screen
behind themt
The room fell into stunned silence, eyes wide with disbelief. Danielle herself froze, unable to comprehend what had
I swapped my bag with Amaris’s Danielle thought, panic rising. How did the earrings end up hack in mine?
“Danielle is the thief someone in the crowd exclaimed.
“Tsk, 1sk. She stole them herself and had the nerve to frame someone else. That’s low, another voice chimed in
Just H
happened.
Onstage. Mallory’s expression turned from sing satisfaction to outright horror. Her face alternated between pale and flushed as she took in the
What is Danielle doing? Didn’t she say the snap was done! Mallory muttered.
But there was no turning back now. Keeping up appearances, Mallory forced a look of disappointment into her face. “Tanielle, how could you! If you liked the earrings that much you could’ve just told me. I would’ve given them to you
“It wasn’t me I didn’t do it” Danielle snapped, spinning around to glare at Amaris. Her voice dripped with venom as she lunged at her. “You ser me up! You stuffed those earrings into my bag, you backwoods loser! You think someone like you deserves Mr. Hale?”
Before she could even lay a finger on Amaris, her wrist was caught in a firm grip. Amaris twisted it with precise case, her movements calm but undeniably sharp. Danielle yelped in pain her liees buckling beneath her as she cried out, “Ah! Stop! That hurts Let go, you little-
The onlookers stared, shocked. Amaris’s hand barely seemed to exert any forer, yet Danielle was already kneeling in agony.
“What’s going on?” Amaris asked coolly, her tone unbothered as her grip held firm.
The steady ache made Danielle’s thoughts scatter, and in her desperation, she blurted, “Finet Fine, I’ll tell you! It was Mallory-
“Enough” Mallory interrupted sharply, her voice tight with urgency. “This has gone far enough. The earrings are back where they belong, so let’s leave them at that. The auction must go on.”
Mallory’s panic was almost tangible, her fear of exposure evident as she cut Danielle off.
But Osric wasn’t about to let it slide. His voice rang out cold and commanding “Let her finish.”
Tears welled in Danielle’s eyes as the pain overwhelmed her. She had no choice, continuing. “It was Mallory! She told me to do it. She gave me the bag and told me Amaris would be carrying it today. She said all I had to do was switch them!”
The room erupted into whispers of shock and disapproval. The lengths Mallory had gone to in her scheme to frame Amaris were appalling.
And the jealousy driving Mallory’s actions left everyone unsettled.
Finally, Amaris released Danielle’s wrist, letting her collapse to the floor as she stood upright. Without a word, she pulled a tissue from the box on the table and wiped her fingers. Then, in one fluid motion, she handed the tissue to a nearby server and took her seat, exuding effortless grace and pone
Though Amaris said nothing, her composed demeanor spoke volumes.
Many who had dismissed Amaris as unremarkable earlier were now captivated by her cool, aloof elegance.
Mallory, on the other hand, stood frozen onstage, her face a picture of humiliation. “Danielle, how dare you accuse me of—”
I guess my grandmother was right to turn down the Everhart family’s proposal all those years ago, Ouric remarked dryly from the audience, his voice Lined with mockery
The comment fit Mallory like a physical blow. Her lips trembled as she fought back tears.
Katherine, who had been silently observing, finally rose from her seat. In mere moments, she had pieced everything together. Disdain was clear on her face as she walked to the stage, taking the jade earrings from Mallory’s hands.
“Well then, let’s proceed with the auction” Katherine’s tone was crisp as she addressed the crowd. “This pair of earrings, which certainly had an
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Chapter 27
eventful evening, will start one million dollars. Feel free to place your
