d earring so tightly her knuckles turned white. The sharp metal posts dug into her palm, send

o the ballroom. The heat and the smell of roasted meat hit her

o was standing near a towering champagne pyramid. Seraphina was p

breath and s

ve crystal chandelier above them went completely dark. The wall scon

d. The room fel

e spotlight snapped on. It hit the smal

alking. She star

crophone stand with one hand. In her other hand, she held a sm

ly. A single, perfect tear rolled down her cheek.

ce trembled perfectly. "I went upstairs to put on my grandmother's emerald earri

llroom. Guests looked at each other in disbelief

er face was purple with rage. She pointed a shaking

h screamed. "Nobody leave

e's crying face. The emerald earrings belonged to Am

systems with their father. Of course she could bypass a biometric safe in her own childhood home. Billie had stolen the earrings from A

bled up in Amanda's th

. She marched straight toward the edge of the spotlight. Her black heels slammed again

o look at her.

raphina's arm and stepped forward. H

der his breath. "Do not

ped at the edge of the stage, directly

r voice was not loud, but it was sharp enough t

d went d

ollarbone. Her eyes widened. "Am

t hand and pointed her index finger straight at Seraphina. The spotlight operator, followin

peated. "Because I just saw that

antly from Amanda to the now

e pyramid. The glasses rattled dangerously. Instinctively, Seraphina reached up a

nt was a confession

She took a step toward Seraphina.

at Seraphina, then at the security

Seraphina by the arms. Seraphina screamed. She thrashed ag

raphina shrieked. She looked

phina. She looked at the

ething in the ha

fingers. Her palm was covered in deep, red half-moon i

, antique emerald earring. The diamonds caught the spot

rupted into

entirely. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed toward t