[
BONUS
Chapter
for reaching 600PS! Thank you all! ????]
=== ???? ===
"Before I do, maybe you should ask your
maid
where she got those jewels she's flaunting."
The crowd gasped, eyes darting to Sophie's neck, wrists, and ears where the sparkling jewelry suddenly seemed much heavier.
Sophia immediately jumped in, her voice high with fury. "She's not a
maid
!" she snapped.
While Sullivan's frown deepened, torn between outrage and confusion. He turned to Sophie, then back to Cole. "What are you implying, Cole? You gave those jewels to Sophie. She said so herself!"
Cole's eyes darkened, his voice as hard as his expression. "She's not only a thief, but she's a liar as well I see. Those Jewelries are my gift to Eve. They're not hers to take."
His gaze flicked toward me, softening for the briefest moment, before it hardened twice as much when it returned to Sophie. "But since a thief has already worn them, you can keep them. I don't want those tainted jewels anywhere near Eve."
My mouth dropped.
Everyone's mouth dropped.
A heavy silence fell over the room as the crowd processed his words. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Sophie looked as though the ground had dropped from beneath her feet, her trembling lips struggling to form a defense.
I had to hand it to her. A mother's love truly knew no bounds. Sophia's calm, pleading tone, paired with her impeccable reputation, instantly shifted the atmosphere. The guests, who moments ago were whispering in shock, now began to nod in agreement, their suspicions fading. Sophia had saved Sophie's reputation, at least for the moment.
I couldn't have cared less about those jewels, whether they were meant for me or Sophie. All I cared about was the searing pain in my side, a constant reminder of the gunshot wound. I needed to sit down. I needed my painkillers.
Cole, however, wasn't ready to let things go. His eyes flashed with that familiar stubbornness, and I knew he wasn't one to back down so easily.
Thankfully, Lina appeared just in time, cutting through the tension with her charm. "Brother, there you are," she said, gliding over gracefully. "I'm so sorry, everyone. My brother can be a bit dense and . . . a little rude."
A little rude was the understatement of the century.
"Anyway," she added with a dazzling smile, "please continue the party. And happy birthday, Sophie." Lina then turned her gaze to Cole, tugging on his arm. "Mother and Father are looking for you. Let's go."
I felt Cole's grip on my hand tighten—again.
Could he let go already?
When I glanced up at him, he was staring at me intently, as if he wanted to say something. I wasn't in the mood to hear whatever was swirling in his mind, not while Victor and him were still locked in this ridiculous tug-of-war over me.
"Brother, stop," Lina whispered urgently in Cole's ear, "you're stressing Eve out. Let her go."
"
Stress
?" Cole muttered, as if he had just woken from a trance. His fingers slowly released my hand.
Lina wasted no time, pulling him away. "Sorry for the trouble, Eve," she called out with a smile. "Let's hang out more in the future." And with that, she dragged Cole through the crowd, leaving me standing there, finally free.
I turned to Victor. "My hand, please."
Victor blinked, startled, and quickly released me. I noticed then how his face had flushed slightly, his eyes lingering on my face longer than it should have.
What's wrong with him?
I wondered briefly.
But I didn't have time to dwell on it. With both of them finally gone, I could take a breath, sit down, and finally take those painkillers.