Rachel''s words were smooth, but the implication was clear to everyone: she wanted Ste to back down.


    Neville quietly observed the scene unfolding before him, then nced down at Marvin.


    "Marvin, how does Star y the violin?" he asked.


    Marvin''s eyes lit up. "It''s so pretty, it made me think of a new word I learned!"


    Neville leaned in, intrigued. "Oh? What word?"


    Marvin sped his hands together, grinning. "Heavenly melody."


    "And how does itpare to Ms. Pearce?" Neville inquired further.


    "Ste''s definitely the best!" Marvin responded without hesitation. "That Ms. Pearce isn''t nearly as good; she''s got a mean streak."


    Marvin hadn''t actually heard Rachel y the violin, but being close with Ste, his loyalty was obvious.


    Neville picked up on Marvin''s bias and decided not to press the matter further.


    Nearby, Ste heard Rachel''sment and chuckled softly. "Sorry, I don''t joke with strangers."


    Rachel''s smile faded slightly.


    Before Rachel could respond, Jasper chimed in loudly.


    "Ste, you''re really pushing it. Rachel and Haynie have given you so many chances to back down gracefully, and you just keep pushing."


    He turned to Rachel, "Rachel, if she insists onpeting, then let her. Some people need to be taught a lesson to realize their limits."


    Rachel, having recently been bested by Ste a few times, was eager to turn the tables. She feigned hesitation. "Are you sure that''s a good idea?"


    Jasper let out a derisive snort. "What''s the issue? If she''s dumb enough to challenge you, she''s begging for humiliation."


    Rachel nced at Haynes, pretending to seek his advice. "Haynie, maybe you should talk some sense into Ms. Cameron?"


    Haynes furrowed his brow. Ste had been pushing her lucktely. He wanted her to learn a lesson, but as she was Keen''s mother, he didn''t want her to lose face in front of their child.


    With that in mind, Haynes said, "Ste, let''s not make this worse."


    Ste didn''t even spare him a nce. She turned to Rachel. "If we''re making this


    apetition, there should be stakes involved."


    Rachel smiled slightly. "Alright, Ms. Cameron, what do you have in mind?"


    Ste pointed to the ne around Rachel''s neck. "If you lose, you give me back my mother''s ne."


    Rachel''s face shifted as she instinctively touched the ne. She''d only recently learned that this ne had belonged to Nora, Ste''s mother. Despite their familial connection, Rachel found it hard to see Ste and Nora as anything but strangers.


    Originally, she had insisted on having the ne just to annoy Ste.


    Jasper smirked. "Wow, you''re trying to take back a gift Haynie gave Rachel? Sounds like a pitiful move to me."


    Abby retorted, "Oh, please, Mr. Sycophant. Didn''t you hear her say it''s her mother''s ne?"


    She shot Haynes a cold look. "Some people are truly disgusting, giving away someone''s mother''s keepsake as a gift. And some people have a twisted obsession with other people''s heirlooms. I used to wonder why, but now I get it— they want to take it to their grave."


    Jasper, infuriated, was about to rush forward, but Rachel held him back. Though Rachel was being called out, her expression was sour.


    "I can agree to Ms. Cameron''s terms," she said to Ste. "But since you mentioned stakes, I would like to ask for something from you as well."