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.

rushed forward, steadying her with an

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

you," Edwin

scoffed. "Well, how touching. Maybe, Mr. Edwin, you should be thinking

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

heart skipped

looked up, noticing the tense, complicated

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 what you

from the butler and slammed them down in

and

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

half a million dollars had been deposited-almost exactly

who'd helped move the gifts

just carried the boxes," one said. "Mrs.

delivery day,

checked everything in before

into storage. We don't

storeroom. There's no way we

switched anything."

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

weren't there