Chapter 250

The murmurs of disapproval swirled around her like a toxic fog. Victoria leaned in close to Eleanor, whispering malicious words that curled her lips into a smirk.

After a moment, Victoria sauntered over. She sighed dramatically, eyeing Evelyn with thinly veiled contempt. "Miss Prescott, I'm shocked. You may share Evelyn's face, but I never expected you to inherit her sticky fingers too!"

Victoria's mocking tone dripped with disdain. "Mrs. Harrington, you're absolutely right. Someone did steal your bracelet at Blackwood Estate that night. But it wasn't this woman here. They're just doppelgängers."

"What? That's impossible! I'd recognize that face anywhere!" Mrs. Harrington jabbed a manicured finger at Evelyn's features.

"Darling, it's not her," Margaret Blackwood interjected, joining the fray with equal scorn. "Vivian, as the owner of Lady Belle, how could you sink so low? Stealing from clients? Have you lost your mind?"

"She doesn't just steal jewelry - she specializes in stealing fiancés too!" Eleanor added, her voice laced with venom as she glared at Evelyn.

The dinner party's atmosphere shifted palpably. Every gaze now pinned Evelyn with suspicion and revulsion.

Mrs. Harrington tightened her grip on Evelyn's wrist with renewed confidence. "So even if you're not the same person, you're still a thief! Disgusting! I'm calling the police!"

Her shrill voice cut through the room as she attempted to drag Evelyn away bodily.

The manager and head designer moved to intervene, but before they could, Evelyn stood firm. Not only did she refuse to budge, but with one sharp motion, she twisted free from the woman's grasp.

Mrs. Harrington stumbled backward, her heel catching on Victoria's designer shoe. Victoria shrieked in pain and shoved the older woman away furiously.

"You little—" Mrs. Harrington began to snarl.

"If you lay another finger on me," Evelyn's melodic voice sliced through the threat, "I promise the police will be arresting you, not me."

Despite the sea of accusing stares, Evelyn remained poised. Her chin lifted regally, those striking eyes cold as winter frost on her exquisite features. In that moment, she commanded the room like royalty.

"You claim I stole this?" Evelyn raised her left wrist, where the amethyst bracelet glimmered ethereally under the chandelier's glow.

Mrs. Harrington's face contorted with rage. "That's mine! That's a custom Lady Belle limited edition! I had it specially imported from Paris! There's only one in all of Willowbrook, and I wore it tonight specifically to show it off!"

Her boastful tone betrayed her true motives - this was never about theft, but vanity.

The bracelet was indeed extraordinary, its violet stones catching the light hypnotically. Many society women coveted such a piece but could never obtain it.

"No wonder Miss Prescott stole it," Victoria sneered, fanning the flames. "A one-of-a-kind piece like that would tempt anyone."

"Do you really want someone like her representing your brand?" Eleanor taunted, her gaze sweeping over the Lady Belle executives. "Keep her on, and soon all your precious jewels will carry the stench of scandal!"

"Absolutely," Margaret chimed in. "Remove her immediately, or I'll never set foot in your store again!"

Bolstered by her allies, Mrs. Harrington grew bolder. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself? Hand it over and come quietly!"

The manager and head designer exchanged glances before the latter spoke coldly: "Madam, you're partially correct. This is indeed a limited edition piece. But what you don't know is that this particular bracelet was never available for purchase."

She continued, her voice cutting through the tension: "This was designed by Lady Belle's lead designer, Vivian Prescott, as a birthday gift to herself. There exists only one in the world - the very one on her wrist right now. So tell me, why would she steal her own creation?"