Chapter 244



Jake’s heart raced as he moved closer to the artifact, driven by an urgent need to confirm its origins. Who on earth had made this masterpiece? But before Jake could reach it, a crisp, resounding crack echoed through the room.

Initially, the guests dismissed it as an illusion, but their disbelief turned to shock as the tray bearing the crane visibly cracked and then shattered, the pieces scattering across the table.

A moment earlier, Bria had been basking in the glow of admiration, her smile wide as compliments flowed. But as the carved crane disintegrated, her expression froze, a mix of confusion and panic taking over.

Questions hung in the air, the most pressing being the authenticity and material of the carved crane. Was it truly made of jade, or had there been a mistake? The implications of this incident were profound, not just for the gift, but for the credibility and face of the Nixon family in the eyes of their distinguished guests.

With all eyes on the broken carved crane, Sarah seized the moment to make her point, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Miss Nixon, your gift certainly looked beautiful, but it seems the quality was not quite up to par.”

Stepping forward, Sarah bent to pick up a shard from the wreckage, holding it up for the room to see. Her smile was tinged with contempt as she scrutinized the piece. “I was under the impression it was crafted from fine jade. Turns out, it’s just glass. With such an exquisite design, no one really bothered to check the material, did they?”

The crowd’s snickers were like nails on a chalkboard to Bria. Her face contorted in displeasure. Bria marched forward, jaw clenched. “This can’t be right! Glass? That just can’t be!”

Bria had spared no expense for this present. How dare Kallie screw this up?

Sarah, a sly smirk plastered on her face, said mockingly, “Miss Nixon, your shocked look tells me you didn’t make this ‘masterpiece.’ Who’d you hire to make it? Spill the beans, so we won’t be tricked like you were.”

The crowd held their tongues, but their gazes were filled with ridicule and disdain. Bria’s grand gesture had turned into a flaming dumpster fire. Her gift, meant to be a showstopper, was a shattered mess. Tyrone remained silent, but his scowl spoke volumes.

Ewing’s face darkened. He shot Bria a look that could curdle milk.

Bria had never been the laughingstock of the room before. Pride was her middle name, and this public humiliation felt like a punch to the gut.

“You wretch!” Bria, her face contorted with rage, saw red. In a blink, her hand connected with Sarah’s cheek with a resounding smack.

Sarah, caught off guard, yelped and brought a hand to her stinging cheek. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Bria, voice laced with venom, spat, “My grandpa merely said you looked familiar. Don’t flatter yourself, you leech! Look at you, already willing to ditch your own family and employ any schemes just to pretend to be my cousin. Who do you think you’re fooling?”

Sarah, stung by Bria’s words, retorted, “Oh, please! You’re a fine one to talk, huh? You’re chasing after a taken man, for crying out loud! Don’t your fancy-pants schools teach basic decency? Or is stealing other women’s men part of the curriculum?”

The two women were at each other’s throats in a heartbeat.

Ewing watched the brawl unfold, his face a mask of frustration. Bria was acting like a commoner, a far cry from the elegant lady she could’ve been. He couldn’t help but think back, feeling things would be different if she hadn’t been raised by her shady parents.

Tyrone’s birthday party, a cheerful occasion, had turned into a farce. Ewing stormed forward and pulled the two women apart. “Enough! Break it up! Have you both lost your minds?”

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