Jacob’s dark gaze stayed locked on Claire.
Her simple "congratulations" grated on him more than it should have.
He had never been afraid of Claire finding out he was marrying someone else.
What bothered him was the way she reacted now.
No breakdown. No trembling. No tears. She looked so calm that anyone watching would think they had only ever been boss and employee.
’She really doesn’t care? After seven years, my little bird finally thinks she can fly on her own.’
"What happened, big-shot designer? Business so bad you have to advertise Moonstone Studio at someone else’s engagement party?"
Monica, dressed in an expensive couture gown, tossed the scarf box onto a table with a mocking smile.
Yvonne put on just the right amount of discomfort.
"Monica, don’t say that. I asked Claire to come help me. Claire, I can’t get this scarf to sit right. Could you help Mrs. Sinclair with it? You’re the professional."
Claire stayed calm. She nodded and picked up the box.
Monica refused to stop and raised her voice.
"Yvonne, you’re way too nice. If it were me, I’d have thrown her out for using your engagement party to promote her own business. Who knows what she’s really here for?"
Claire stopped and looked back with a faint smile.
"Whatever I’m here for, it’s still less embarrassing than desperately sucking up to the boss who already fired you."
Her gaze traveled slowly over Monica’s outfit.
"You got kicked out of Sinclair Design and still showed up wearing one of their gowns. Have you no shame?"
Several guests started looking at Monica with quiet curiosity.
"Yvonne, she’s being horrible." Monica turned to Yvonne for help.
Yvonne patted her hand with a warm, graceful smile. "It’s fine. Don’t get upset. Actually, Monica, could you go backstage and get my engagement ring?"
Her tone sharpened slightly. "It’s very important. Please keep a close eye on it."
Monica nodded. As she looked toward Claire, her fingers tightened.
In the middle of the event hall, Jacob’s mother, Evelyn Sinclair, was chatting with several society women, dressed head to toe in expensive jewelry.
The moment she saw Claire, her smile vanished. Her lips tightened, and suspicion filled her eyes.
’Jacob’s girlfriend? What’s a nobody like her doing at the engagement party?’
One of the women beside her asked, "Mrs. Sinclair, who is this?"
Evelyn looked away with a dismissive scoff. "I don’t know her."
"Mrs. Sinclair, Ms. Warren asked me to come over."
Claire opened the box with an easy smile and took out the silk scarf.
"She asked me to help you with this."
Evelyn’s expression eased slightly. She turned around reluctantly, lowered her voice, and spoke quickly.
"Claire Kendall, Jacob and Yvonne are a perfect match. This is an important day. Know your place, or things could get very difficult for your mother and your nearly bankrupt father."
Claire’s fingers moved smoothly, tying the scarf into an elegant knot.
Without pausing, she lifted her eyes to Evelyn and gave a faint smile.
"What exactly would knowing my place look like? Should I walk onstage and tell everyone I was Jacob’s girlfriend for seven years? Or should I tell them Yvonne entered the picture while he was still with me?"
Evelyn choked on whatever she had been about to say.
Claire stood before her, calm and self-possessed, nothing like the cautious, eager-to-please woman she remembered.
"Relax, Mrs. Sinclair. I’m only here to deliver a scarf. You paid, I delivered. That’s all. As for Jacob..."
Claire paused and smoothed the scarf around Evelyn’s neck, inch by inch.
"I’m done with him. What happened between us stays private. But please tell your son to stop bothering me. And tell Sinclair Design to let Moonstone Studio leave."
Evelyn laughed. "Who are you to make demands? This family would never acknowledge someone like you. And you say Jacob’s bothering you? Don’t flatter yourself!"
Claire took half a step back and ignored the insult.
"There. All done. Your future daughter-in-law has good taste. This scarf looks great on you."
For seven years, Claire had bent over backward to please Evelyn for Jacob’s sake. All she’d gotten back was contempt.
’God, it feels good not to have to flatter her anymore.’
Claire’s eyes curved with her smile, and her voice stayed light. "I’ve made my terms clear. Whether you agree and how you handle it are up to you."
A piercing scream suddenly cut across the event hall.
Monica looked panicked. "The ring! The engagement ring is gone! I took it out of the safe backstage and left it on the table. Then I looked away for a second to fix my makeup, and it was gone."
All the color drained from Yvonne’s carefully made-up face.
"Monica, y-you were supposed to watch it. Jacob had that ring custom-made."
"I’m sorry, Yvonne. I don’t know what happened." Monica sounded close to tears as she shifted anxiously from foot to foot.
"It was her!" Monica pointed straight at Claire.
"You were the only person who went backstage. Yvonne tried to bring your studio into Sinclair Design and you got angry, so you stole her ring to get back at her!"
Every guest in the room turned toward Claire.
"I didn’t take it." Claire’s voice was clear and unhurried.
Monica’s voice went shrill. "We’re just supposed to believe you? Let us search your bag!"
Nearby, Jacob’s mouth curved slightly. He made no move to stop them.
’Claire has the engagement ring? So that’s what my little bird is up to. She can’t stand the thought of me getting engaged, so she’s trying to sabotage it with a stunt this childish. Fine. Let’s see how she gets out of this without asking me for help.’
Yvonne pretended to object. "Monica, I don’t think we should do that. After all—"
Monica grabbed for Claire’s bag.
Claire instinctively pulled back. Then an idea occurred to her, and she deliberately let go.
The bag hit the floor, spilling its contents everywhere.
A dark red velvet box rolled out among them.
The room erupted.
Monica grabbed the box immediately and flipped it open.
A diamond ring flashed under the lights.
Yvonne lowered her voice. "That’s my ring."
Monica could barely hide her excitement. "Claire, the ring was in your bag. What do you have to say now?"
Evelyn sneered. "Where’s security? Hold her here and call the police!"
"Mrs. Sinclair, Monica, there could be some misunderstanding." Yvonne stepped forward, pretending to calm everyone down.
"Yvonne, stop being so nice. She tried to hurt you, and you’re still defending her!"
Claire looked at the ring, then at the smug satisfaction Monica couldn’t quite hide.
’What a cheap, ridiculous setup.’
Claire picked up her bag.
She used the bag specifically to deliver high-end custom embroidery pieces.
For security, there was a tiny camera built into the lining.
For once, that little precaution was about to be very useful.
Claire opened her mouth to expose the whole thing. Before she could, a low, cool voice came from behind the crowd.
"I put the ring in her bag."