Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 17

Pearl was just basking in her own satisfaction when, out of nowhere, Isadora stepped forward.

Without warning, Isadora yanked the diamond necklace from around Pearl's neck, snapping the chain so abruptly that Pearl barely registered what had happened. All she felt was a sharp, burning pain-as if her neck had been torn right along with the necklace.

A thin red scratch was already blooming across her skin, blood beginning to bead along the line.

"Ah!" she cried, pain stinging her eyes with tears. Her whole neck felt like it was on fire.

The commotion drew the attention of everyone in the ballroom. Heads turned as curious onlookers made their way over, eager for gossip.

Eleanor rushed over, flustered and anxious. "What on earth is going on?"

you hear the way Isadora was speaking to you just now? I told her not to talk to you like that, and instead she just lost it—she ripped my necklace right off! She nearly broke my

scratch on Pearl's neck. She shot Isadora a furious glare. "Isadora, what do you think you're

everyone to see. The gems sparkled coldly beneath the lights, the sharp-edged star

taking back the necklace my grandmother left to me," Isadora said coolly. "Is that really worth all

busy tonight that she hadn't even noticed Pearl was wearing it. If she had, she never would

necklace had been a point of contention ever since Eleanor's mother-in-law passed away. Back then, she'd tried to gently persuade Pearl to return it, promising her a piece of jewelry of

daughter she'd raised and loved for twenty years, couldn't bring herself to

necklace was given to Pearl on her eighteenth birthday.

out a derisive laugh, the sound brittle and cold. "You really do dote on your fake daughter, don't you, Mom? Aren't you afraid Grandma will come back to haunt you

wave of whispers. Pearl's anger

Embarrassed and furious, she snapped, "Isadora, that's enough! If you hadn't come back to the Vaughan family, this necklace would have belonged to Pearl-end