Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Wayne lingered by the door, concern etched on his face. “Should I step in?” He was certain that Lenore’s friend wouldn’t steal anything.
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Silas watched Lenore closely, noticing the tension radiating from her. She was clearly on edge, struggling to keep her cool.
He shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Are you done?” At the same time, Lenore’s voice sliced throughthe noise, sharp and commanding. Despite her calm demeanor, a fierce defiance shone through, silencing the hallway
Janet, eyeing Lenore’s confident stance, recalled the gossip from Helen and the others at the mall. With a disdainful glance. she shot back. “Who do you think you are?”
Lenore’s smirk dared Esther to spill the truth. “Come on, spill it. Who am I?”
Esther’s face drained of color, her fists clenched as she choked out, “Being my sister doesn’t matter. You caused Mom’s death. and now you’re with the thief who took my necklace. How can you be so cold?”
A stunned silence fell over the room. No one could believe what they were hearing. Helen was the first to find her voice, her disbelief palpable. “Esther, did you just say Lenore is your sister?
Everyone turned, staring at Esther, waiting for an explanation.
Esther fidgeted, her fingers toying with her skirt’s hem as she reluctantly confirmed, “Yeah, she’s my sister.”
Yvonne’s eyes bulged in shock. “Why have you never mentioned her before?”
Esther’s face turned ashen, a flash of calculation crossing her face, her knuckles white from clutching her skirt. “She caused Mom’s death,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Dad sent her away and just brought her back. I thought she’d changed, but I was wrong-
Esther’s voice trembled as she glared at Lenore. “You saw our aunt give me that necklace the night before last. I know you’re jealous, but that doesn’t give you the right to have someone steal it from me.”
The mood in the room shifted instantly, Just a moment ago, Bonnie was the one being accused, but now it looked like Lenore was the jealous one pulling the strings.
The crowd’s eyes turned to
nore, their expressions a mix of disgust and disbelief.
“So this is what it’s about,” someone murmured.
“Does Culinary Ascent really accept just anyone these days?” another scoffed.
With the attention now on Lenore, Bonnie frowned and looked at Esther. “Esther, can you really say that with a clear conscience?”
Tears streamed down Esther’s face as she bit her lip. “I didn’t say anything wrong.”
Janet’s face twisted in disgust. “Why are we even talking to her? Just call the cops.”
“No!” Esther shouted, her hesitation evident as someone reached for their phone. “She’s still my sister. Even if she’s never liked me, I can’t just turn my back on her.”
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Chapter 30
Janet gave Esther a stern look and warned, “You’re too sweet for your own good. It’s bound to get you into hot water someday
“Enough!” Lenore cut in, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that made everyone shift uncomfortably. “Esther, is this about the necklace that’s worth 15 thousand?”
Esther was taken aback by her gaze, but with the crowd watching and Janet and Carlos supporting her, she hesitated before giving a slight nod, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes”
The corners of Lenore’s mouth turned up in a chilling smile. Nonchalantly, she dipped into her black backpack, produced a small, neatly wrapped box, and flipped it towards Esther. “See if this is what you’re missing.”
Esther’s hands fumbled, and the box slipped from her grasp, bouncing on the floor and spilling open to reveal a glint of silver.
“This is…” Helen, shocked, paused and bent down to retrieve the box. As she opened it, her eyes went wide at the sight of the necklace with a dolphin charm. “This is part of Dreaming Jewelry’s Ocean Series…
Dreaming was a luxury jewelry brand that was famous worldwide. Their most basic pieces were tagged at $15,000.
The Ocean Series, a recent sensation, featured mostly limited editions. This tiny dolphin, carved from solid aquamarine and no bigger than a thumb, was priced at over 150 thousand dollars in their boutiques.
You must be kidding, Yvonne muttered, her fingers already reaching for the necklace
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