"You know what, Rachel?"


    Rachel locked eyes with Ste, enunciating each word clearly. "If Ms. Cameron loses, you hand over the Nocturne Ste to me."


    Abby''s expression changed instantly.


    "Rachel, are you addicted to snatching things that aren''t yours?"


    The Nocturne Ste, like the ne Rachel wore, was a treasured keepsake from Ste''ste mother. But the Nocturne Ste was in a league of its own- priceless, both in value and sentiment.


    Rachel was ying her cards well.


    If she lost, the ne would merely return to its rightful owner. But if she won, she''d be getting something for nothing!


    Rachel ignored Abby, keeping her gaze fixed on Ste.


    "Ms. Cameron, do you dare?"


    "Of course," Ste said, subtly restraining a seething Abby. "With this many people watching, I suppose we don''t need anything official to hold us ountable, do we?"


    Jasper smirked. "Just don''t cry foul when you lose."


    Ste nced at the clock-no time for petty squabbles. She met Rachel''s gaze head-on. "Let''s let the scoreboard decide, shall we?"


    Deanna, watching the scene unfold, muttered under her breath, "Digging your own grave."


    Callie looked at Ste with a sympathetic gaze.


    Ste nodded, "It''s settled, then. Oh, and one more thing..."


    Before she could finish, Rachel interjected, "Ms. Cameron, you wouldn''t be thinking of backing out, would you?"


    The thought ofpeting had already sent Rachel into a silent celebration. She could humiliate Ste and im the Nocturne Ste all in one fell swoop. The prospect was exhrating!


    But Ste''s voice interrupted her mental victoryp.


    "Of course not," Ste replied, her eyes drifting to Rachel''s dress. "And Ms. Pearce, aren''t you going to change out of that dress you stained andpensate me?"


    Rachel hesitated, surprised by the return to the original issue. Was Ste trying to buy time?


    "Ms. Cameron," Rachel started, "we''re not the same size. This dress is custom- made for me. Even if I gave it to you, it wouldn''t fit, and besides, I''ve already worn it-"


    "Haynie mentioned that an assistant would bring you a new dress, likely even better and more beautiful than the one you''re wearing."


    "Why don''t you pick a new one from those options, Ms. Cameron?"


    Ste looked at Rachel. "So after all that, you still won''t change, huh?"


    Rachel frowned. "It''s not that I don''t want to, it''s just "


    "Alright, no need to continue," Ste cut her off. "It''s gettingte. Let''s not waste any more time on this."


    Turning to Abby, Marvin and Neville, Ste said, "Let''s head back."


    Abby, still simmering, understood the importance of wrapping things up.


    With a huff, she headed for the door.


    Rachel was feeling quite smug about having stained Ste''s dress without facing any consequences.


    But then, Ste suddenly grabbed a ss of juice from the table and flung it at Rachel''s face!


    "Ah!"


    Rachel gasped as the sticky juice sshed across her face, dripping down onto her pristine white dress, turning it a deep, vivid yellow. Bits of orange pulp and fibers clung to the fabric.