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?"

was speaking to you just now? I told her not to talk to you like that, and instead she just

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

up for everyone to see. The gems

grandmother left to me," Isadora said coolly. "Is

Isadora's hand. She'd been so busy tonight that she hadn't even noticed Pearl was wearing it. If she had, she never would have let her

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 equal value in

and loved for twenty years, couldn't bring herself to insist. She'd figured she'd just buy Isadora another diamond necklace later-one for each daughter, to keep

"That necklace was given to Pearl on her eighteenth birthday. You weren't even back with the Vaughan family

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

crowd; the word "fake daughter" echoed in the air, sparking a fresh wave of whispers. Pearl's anger flared, overshadowing the pain in her

furious, she snapped, "Isadora, that's enough! If you hadn't come back to the Vaughan family, this