Chapter 2: The Thing Hidden in My Handbag
“Who?”” Daniel demanded.
The waiter swallowed.
“I... I don't know, sir.””
Eleanor marched toward him.
“You'd better think carefully before making accusations.””
The young man's hands trembled.
“I was clearing glasses near the entrance. I saw a woman approach the lady's handbag while everyone was watching the bride.””
Chloe immediately interrupted.
“Then search Vivienne's bag!””
The waiter shook his head.
“She wasn't the one who put it there.””
Eleanor's expression hardened.
“Who was it?””
He looked toward the bridal party.
Then toward Chloe.
“I couldn't see her face.””
I watched him carefully.
He wasn't simply frightened.
He was struggling with something.
Perhaps he had been threatened. Perhaps he was worried about losing his job.
Either way, I recognized the look.
I spent most of my professional life studying how people behaved when they knew something they shouldn't.
And this young man knew more than he was saying.
“What's your name?”” I asked gently.
“Ethan, ma'am.””
“Ethan, nobody is going to hurt you for telling the truth. Just tell us what you saw.””
Eleanor scoffed.
“Don't encourage him. He's a temporary employee.””
I turned toward her.
“Temporary employees can still have functioning eyes.””
Several guests tried to hide their smiles.
Eleanor's cheeks flushed.
“How dare you speak to me like that?””
I ignored her.
“Ethan, where were you standing?””
“Beside the east service entrance.””
“And what happened?””
He glanced at Chloe again.
“I saw someone walk behind your chair while the bride was taking photographs. She leaned down, opened your handbag, and put something inside.””
Chloe folded her arms.
“That's ridiculous. Why would anyone do that?””
“That's what we're trying to find out,” I replied.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Vivienne, just give them your bag.””
I looked at him.
“You still think this is about my bag?””
“It's the easiest way to settle everything.””
“Then why are you so eager to let your sister accuse me before we know what happened?””
He said nothing.
I placed my handbag on a nearby table.
“Fine. But I want everyone to see exactly what happens.””
The security supervisor approached.
“Would you like me to inspect it?””
“Yes. In front of everyone. Don't remove anything without showing the witnesses.””
Eleanor made a dismissive gesture.
“Of course. Let's get this over with.””
The supervisor opened the bag.
He removed my wallet.
My phone.
A small packet of prenatal vitamins.
A folded ultrasound photograph.
Then he reached into the main compartment and stopped.
His expression changed.
“What's that?”” Chloe demanded.
The supervisor slowly pulled out a small black velvet box.
My stomach dropped.
I had never seen it before.
He opened it.
Inside lay an emerald-and-diamond ring.
The Matriarch Ring.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Chloe screamed.
“THAT'S IT!””
Eleanor grabbed the edge of the table.
“I knew it!””
Daniel stared at the ring.
Then at me.
“Vivienne...””
I couldn't take my eyes off the velvet box.
Someone had placed it inside my handbag.
Someone had deliberately made sure it would be found.
Chloe began crying.
“You stole it! You actually stole my wedding ring!””
“It's not your ring,” I said quietly.
She stared at me.
“What?””
I took a breath.
“Nothing.””
I wasn't going to explain the legal history of the ring in the middle of a ballroom.
Not yet.
Eleanor stepped forward and slapped the table.
“Look at it! The evidence is right in front of you!””
A guest whispered, “Oh my God.””
Another said, “I can't believe she did that.””
Someone's phone camera was pointed directly at me.
I felt my face grow hot.
But I didn't cry.
I looked at the security supervisor.
“Please don't touch the ring anymore.””
He frowned.
“Why?””
“Because I want the police to examine it for fingerprints.””
Eleanor laughed.
“Fingerprints? You think fingerprints will save you?””
“They might tell us who put it there.””
Chloe grabbed the velvet box.
“It's mine!””
The supervisor immediately stepped back.
“Ma'am, please don't touch the evidence.””
Chloe's fingers closed around the box anyway.
“Give it to me!””
Daniel caught her wrist.
“Chloe, stop.””
She jerked away.
“Why are you defending her?””
“I'm not defending anyone. I'm trying to keep you from making this worse.””
Eleanor looked furious.
“Daniel, your wife has stolen from your sister, and you're worried about making things worse?””
Daniel turned toward me.
“Vivienne, please tell me how it got there.””
I stared at him.
“You want me to explain something I didn't do?””
“I just need to understand.””
“Then start by believing your wife.””
His expression tightened.
Eleanor stepped between us.
“Stop manipulating him. You were given a home, a comfortable life, and a place in this family. Is this how you repay us?””
I felt my daughter move.
I placed both hands over my stomach.
“Your family has never given me anything I couldn't provide for myself.””
Eleanor laughed.
“Really? That little townhouse you live in? Daniel pays for half of it.””
I looked at her.
“Does he?””
She blinked.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty in her eyes.
Daniel quickly interrupted.
“Mom, that's enough.””
But Eleanor wasn't finished.
“Your parents couldn't even afford a proper wedding gift. And now you've stolen the one thing that matters to Chloe.””
My jaw tightened.
“Leave my parents out of this.””
“Why? Are you embarrassed by them?””
“No. I'm embarrassed by you.””
A collective gasp followed.
Eleanor stepped closer.
“You ungrateful little—”
“That's enough.””
The voice came from behind us.
Everyone turned.
An older man in a charcoal suit was standing near the ballroom entrance.
His silver hair was neatly combed. A black walking stick rested in his right hand.
I recognized him immediately.
Arthur Sterling.
Daniel's grandfather.
The man who had built the Sterling industrial empire from a single manufacturing plant into a corporation with holdings across the country.
He rarely attended family functions.
He had been absent from the rehearsal dinner and had arrived late that evening.
Eleanor straightened her dress.
“Arthur. Thank goodness you're here. We've had a terrible incident.””
Arthur didn't look at her.
He looked at me.
Then at my torn dress.
Then at the velvet box.
His face became unreadable.
“What happened?””
Chloe rushed toward him.
“Grandpa, Vivienne stole my ring!””
Arthur slowly turned his head.
“Your ring?””
Chloe nodded.
“Yes! We found it in her handbag!””
Arthur looked at the supervisor.
“Is that true?””
“The ring was found inside Mrs. Sterling's handbag, sir.””
Arthur was silent for several seconds.
Then he asked a question nobody expected.
“Who gave Chloe permission to take that ring out of the family vault?””
Eleanor went completely still.
Chloe's mouth fell open.
“Grandpa, what are you talking about?””
Arthur's gaze moved to the velvet box.
“That ring was never yours to take.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Eleanor stepped forward.
“Arthur, please. This isn't the time for family history.””
“It is precisely the time.””
He turned toward Daniel.
“Did you know?””
Daniel frowned.
“Know what?””
Arthur's fingers tightened around his walking stick.
“That the Matriarch Ring was transferred out of the Sterling family estate six months ago?””
Chloe stared at him.
“What?””
Arthur looked at me again.
May you like
And then he said the one thing that made Eleanor's face lose every trace of color.
“Vivienne, I believe you should explain why that ring was in your possession before tonight.””
