Vivian said all that, but her eyes were practically glowing with smugness-not a trace of sadness in sight.


    I honestly wanted to apud her. With acting skills like that, she could''ve been killing it in showbiz. But no, she had to waste it all being the third wheel.


    In just a few moments, a crowd had already gathered around us. Everyone was trading looks, clearly enjoying the drama.


    "Ms. Miller, you let go of the bags yourself. Ada never even touched them." Dorian stepped in front of me, shooting Vivian a sharp re.


    Vivian looked like she''d been waiting for him to say something.


    That smug little smile nearly broke through before Vivian quickly covered her mouth. "Of course you''d take Ada''s side. You''re... with her, aren''t you?"


    Vivian said it vaguely on purpose, and just like that, all the eyes around us turned suggestive.


    Even though the rumors between me and Dorian had already been cleared up, it seemed nobody here cared about the truth.


    Jude handed the jewelry box back to Vivian and scoffed. "Your testimony doesn''t count. Who knows if you two cooked this up together to frame her? You''re probably in on it!"


    I looked at Jude like he''d lost his mind. He clearly forgot everything Ewan said earlier today.


    If it weren''t for the Carson family, I wouldn''t even have shown up to this anniversary thing.


    Vivian stepped up and nced around with that pitiful look of hers. "There''s no way I''d break something this expensive on purpose. I can''t afford to pay


    for it.


    "Even if Jude gave it to me, I wasn''t going to keep it. It''s way too much."


    I nodded quietly. ''Yeah, you weren''t gonna keep it. You were gonna smash it and pin it on me.''


    "Jude, you seriously believe her over Ada?" Dorian''s voice suddenly got louder. "What the hell is wrong with you?"


    I tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Forget it. No matter what you say, he''s not gonna listen."


    There weren''t any cameras in that hallway. Vivian had blocked everyone''s view earlier too, so I knew no one could vouch for me.


    And the one person who could didn''t seem very credible right now.


    Still, Vivian wouldn''t let it go. "That bracelet''s worth a fortune. You think this can just be brushed off?"


    ''Of course, I realized, ''she''s trying to pin the me on me.''


    Then I gave her a smile. "Wasn''t that bracelet bought with shared marital funds? Why are you so worked up?"


    I actually wanted to suggest calling the cops, but I figured that''d just make things messier.


    Sure enough, the second I mentioned shared property, Vivian''s chest started heaving with rage.


    "What''s all this noise? Do you people not know what day it is?" Ewan walked up with his cane, then smacked it hard against Jude.


    It was clearly the first time Vivian had seen hiny. She swallowed her fear and rushed forward with a forced sweet smile, "Grandpa, I just="


    "Grandpa? Who are you calling grandpa? Who the hell are you calling him that?" Mireille''s sharp voice cut through the air, pushing Vivian back a step.


    Juno followed closely behind, smiling as she helped Ewan. "Miss, don''t call people that so casually. Our family doesn''t have a granddaughter like you.


    28%


    *15


    "The real daughter-inw is standing right there. And who exactly are you?"


    At that moment, Mireille and Juno werepletely on the same side.


    I thought, ''I don''t count-being sickly and probably infertile doesn''t pose any real threat.


    ''But a younger, healthier woman? That can mean a childpeting for the inheritance.''


    Ewan shot Jude a re. "Aren''t you supposed to be hosting?"


    As soon as Ewan spoke, the crowd dispersed and wandered back into the party hall.


    I kept doing my best impression of a perfect Carson wife.


    Luckily, the rest of the anniversary celebration passed without any more drama.


    But once we were back at the old house, Ewan lost it. "Jude,e here!" he barked.


    Jude did as he was told. And Ewan opened the jewelry box and scowled. "Didn''t you say this emerald was for Ada? Then why the hell was it on that woman''s wrist?


    "And that gown too? You think she''s worthy? Are you trying to humiliate me?


    "You went to the celebration with Ada, then gave the dress to that woman? What do you think the media will say tomorrow?"


    Jude stood there stiff as a board. He replied, "Grandpa, it was meant for Ada...”


    Jude nced at me, then added under his breath, "I''m sorry. I messed up."


    1 stared at him, suddenly realizing something was off. ''Vivian''s dress looks a bit too long on her and definitely doesn''t fit right.


    If it''s originally meant for me, that will actually make sense. So she''s just taken it?''


    I thought, ''Even if Jude''s a mess, there''s no way he''d risk thepany''s anniversary party like that.


    ''But if Vivian is bold enough to do it, it''s only because he let her.''


    I turned away from him and looked at Ewan. "Grandpa, this is something between


    me and Jude. Maybe let us handle it?"


    I had to speak up, otherwise Ewan might''ve pulled out the family''s disciplinary


    measures.


    I still remembered the first time Jude brought another woman home.


    I ran to Ewan in tears, and he beat Jude with a thick cane. Jude still had scars on his back.


    Ewan gave me a long, tired look, then waved us off.


    Neither of us said a word on the way back. When we got home, I didn''t even go inside-I stopped him at the door.


    "Jude, this is for you." I handed him the diamond ring I''d been clenching in my hand the whole way back.


    I added, "It''s not mine. I won''t take it. And I didn''t break that bracelet, so I''m not paying for it. That''s it."