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.

with an arm. "Take it easy,"

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

believe you," Edwin

Edwin, you should be thinking about how

"Kay, you're jumping to conclusions. Nothing's been investigated yet—you can't just pin this on

heart skipped

up, noticing the tense,

she could dwell on it, Tristan, fuming,

long are you going to cover for her? You want proof? I'll

a few papers from the butler and slammed them down in front

and read-his face instantly went

glanced at the papers and shook her head furiously. "No, I

Naomi's bank statement. That morning, almost half a million dollars had been deposited-almost exactly the value of

the housekeepers who'd helped move the

one

another chimed in. "On delivery day, Mrs.

everything

storage.

code to the storeroom.

switched anything."

Naomi told us

weren't