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?"

just now? I told her not to talk to you like that, and instead she just lost it—she ripped my necklace right

Pearl's neck. She shot Isadora a furious glare.

gaze without flinching. Calmly, she held the diamond necklace up for everyone to see. The gems sparkled coldly beneath the lights, the sharp-edged star pendant dazzling and

grandmother left to me," Isadora said

she hadn't even noticed Pearl was wearing it. If she had, she never

return it, promising her a piece of jewelry of equal value in exchange. But Pearl had burst into tears, asking if Eleanor didn't love her anymore. Ever since Isadora had come back

to insist. She'd figured she'd just

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

dote on your fake daughter, don't you, Mom? Aren't

a fresh wave of whispers. Pearl's anger flared, overshadowing the pain in

you hadn't come back to the Vaughan family, this necklace would have belonged