Chapter 4

The next week I spent recovering at the hospital while going through the files Joshua had brought me on the Gilberts.

The Gilbert Group looked impressive from the outside, but it had been hollow for a long time.

In the few years since Bertram took over, his investments had lost a great deal of money, and he'd been keeping the company afloat by robbing one account to fill another.

The West End project was their last lifeline. If they failed to land it, the cash flow could snap at any moment.

Friday night, the Platinum Grand Hotel blazed with light.

Inside the ballroom, glasses clinked and drinks flowed.

Champagne in hand, I spotted Rose in the crowd almost at once.

She wore a white evening gown, holding a glass and chatting with a few of the wives. On her left wrist, that clear jade bangle stood out sharply.

Every so often she lifted her hand, showing off the bangle on purpose, soaking up the envious looks around her.

"Rose, that bangle of yours is gorgeous. That's top-grade jade, isn't it? Must have cost a fortune," one of the wives asked, smiling.

Rose pressed her lips into a smile and stroked the bangle with a coy little air. "It's a love token from Bertram. He said it's an antique passed down from way back. I don't really know how much it cost."

"He's so thoughtful. He knows I like this kind of thing, so he bid on it specially just for me."

Another wife said enviously, "Oh my, Mr. Gilbert really is good to you."

Rose answered, her whole face sweet, "Of course. Bertram says one day I'll be helping him run the Gilbert Group right alongside him!"

She was still talking when she caught sight of me standing in the doorway, and the smile froze on her face.

She'd probably assumed I was still lying in a hospital out in the suburbs. She never imagined I'd turn up at a top-tier gala like this.

Bertram saw me too, and his brow drew together at once.

He came striding over, his face ugly, and lowered his voice. "Vera, what are you doing here?"

"Who let you in? Get out, now. Don't stand here embarrassing yourself."

"Mr. Gilbert," I said coldly, "is this gala being thrown by your family? You're allowed to come but I'm not?"

His face darkened. "I'm warning you. Don't make a scene here."

"Everyone here tonight is somebody important. If you dare cause trouble, I'll make sure you regret it."

I gave a cold smile. "I'd love to see exactly how Mr. Gilbert plans to make me regret it."

Just then Rose came over too.

She put on a gentle face. "Sis, why are you here? Are you out of money?"

"If you're short on cash, all you have to do is say so. There's no need to come to a place like this. It would be awful if someone took you for a con artist."

I narrowed my eyes at her wrist and said, my voice cold, "That bangle on your wrist is quite pretty."

"Only, do you know there are two words carved on the inside of it? 'Autumn Clear.' That happens to be our adoptive mother's name."

"Mom gave me that bangle on her deathbed. And you're standing here saying Bertram bought it for you. Isn't that a little shameless?"

Rose went pale in an instant, and her hand slid instinctively behind her back. "What are you talking about?"

"This was a gift from Bertram. Why would someone else's name be carved on it?"

I said it clearly, for the room to hear. "Then why don't you take it off and check?"

"If there's nothing, I'll apologize on the spot. If there is, then in front of everyone you return the bangle to me and apologize. How about that?"

Hearing the commotion, people gathered around, watching us with curiosity.

Rose was flustered, clutching the bangle tightly, not daring to take it off.

Of course she knew there was writing on the inside. She'd just thought no one knew, and never dreamed I'd bring it up in front of a crowd.

Rose put on her frail, pitiful look. "Sis, why would you slander me like this?"

Bertram stepped in front of her at once and snapped at me, "Vera, haven't you made enough of a scene?"

I smiled coldly. "This bangle is my adoptive mother's keepsake. She handed it to me before she died. Rose stole what was mine. So who exactly is the one being shameful here?"

Rose panicked. "Who are you calling a thief?"

"This was a gift from Bertram. That makes it mine!"

I took out my phone, pulled up an image, and held it up for everyone to see. "This is a photo of me wearing the bangle on my wedding day. It was taken three years ago."

"You told Bertram he recently bid on this bangle and gave it to you. So tell me, how is it that the one I was wearing three years ago and the one on your wrist look exactly the same?"

The crowd immediately broke into whispers.

"So it was stolen?"

"She looks like such an innocent young thing. How could she do something like that?"

"What's going on with Mr. Gilbert? He gives a love token and it turns out to be stolen?"

Rose grew more panicked, looking to Bertram for help.

Bertram hadn't expected me to produce a photo either, and for a moment he had nothing to say.

At that moment, the host of the gala stepped up onto the stage and said with a smile, "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we are honored to have with us the young heiress of the Henson Group."

"And now, please welcome Miss Vera Henson of the Henson Group to say a few words to us."

The spotlight swung onto me in an instant.

The whole room fell silent, every gaze fixed on me.

Bertram and Rose looked even more stunned, staring at me in a daze.