Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 477

"Mom," Sylvia whispered, signaling her to stop talking.

But Naomi couldn't swallow her anger. She'd finally earned her place in this family, only to be mocked and blamed by outsiders.

"These things-" she started.

"Mom!" Sylvia cut her off, her voice sharper this time.

Naomi caught Sylvia's warning glance and froze for a moment, then snatched the bracelet from her daughter's hand.

"This can't be right! No way!"

Kay glanced at Naomi coolly, then sat back with a casual grace, sipping from her

coffee mug.

"Naomi, it sounds like you're admitting the bracelet's a fake."

"Reese's father is stuck abroad-flight delayed by a snowstorm. That's why I'm here, standing in for her family at the engagement party," Kay said, her tone icy. "Now look what's happened. How am I supposed to explain this mess?"

"If we hadn't caught it ourselves, and these favors ended up with the guests-do you have any idea how humiliating that would be for both our families?"

"So I hope Mr. Rupert and Tristan will stand up for Reese here. She hasn't even married in yet, and you're already letting her get bullied."

Naomi's face went ghostly pale. She swayed on her feet.

forward, steadying her with an arm. "Take it easy," he

into him, nearly in tears. "Honey, I swear I didn't

you," Edwin said,

Edwin, you should be thinking about how you're going

frowned. "Kay, you're jumping to conclusions. Nothing's been investigated yet—you can't

heart skipped

looked up, noticing the tense,

on it, Tristan, fuming, hurled his teacup

How long are you going to cover for her? You want proof? I'll give you proof. Let's see

from the butler

picked them up and read-his face instantly

at the papers and shook her head furiously. "No, I don't

a

who'd helped move the gifts

just carried the boxes," one

chimed in. "On delivery day,

everything in before

into storage.

storeroom. There's

switched anything."

couple days, Mrs. Naomi told us where to go. If she and

anything, we weren't there