Chapter 34
Andrew soaked in the envious stares from the crowd, a touch of smugness in his tone.
"My mom usually keeps this diamond ring in her bedroom, completely out of reach for most people. But three days before Avery went back to the Carter family, the ring suddenly disappeared. We searched everywhere and couldn’t find it. Then, the night before Avery left, our housekeeper was packing her clothes and found the ring in the pocket of one of her jackets. Our maid can vouch for this."
He looked around the room.
"I should also mention that Avery’s room was right across from my parents’ bedroom. She often saw them using the code to open their bedroom door, so she must have known how to get in."
Hearing Andrew’s seemingly logical explanation, paired with the knowledge of the Carter family’s financial struggles, many in the room started to believe him. Their looks toward Avery and her family grew increasingly contemptuous.
"No wonder the Murphy family was so eager to send her packing. Who’d want to keep someone like that around to cause trouble?"
"Imagine going from being the sole heir of a billion-dollar empire to just another kid in a poor family—anyone would have a hard time with that. No surprise she’d try to steal her adoptive mother’s diamond ring out of spite..."
"Even after falling into poverty, she still has the nerve to show up at an elite party. How desperate is she to cling to her old connections..."
"Enough!"
Arthur, unable to hold back any longer, slammed the table so hard it startled everyone. His face was stone-cold as he glared at Andrew.
"You’re accusing Avery of stealing the ring based solely on what your mom and your maid said. The ring is in your hands now, yet you have no real evidence that Avery took it. You and your mom are family, and your maid works for you. It’s entirely reasonable to suspect that you could have told her to lie and frame Avery!"