Chapter 177
“You know what, Rachel?”
Rachel locked eyes with Stella, enunciating each word clearly. “If Ms. Cameron loses, you hand over the Nocturne Stella to me.”
Abby’s expression changed instantly.
“Rachel, are you addicted to snatching things that aren’t yours?”
The Nocturne Stella, like the necklace Rachel wore, was a treasured keepsake from Stella’s late mother. But the Nocturne Stella was in a league of its own- priceless, both in value and sentiment.
Rachel was playing her cards well.
If she lost, the necklace would merely return to its rightful owner. But if she won, she’d be getting something for nothing!
Rachel ignored Abby, keeping her gaze fixed on Stella.
“Ms. Cameron, do you dare?”
“Of course,” Stella said, subtly restraining a seething Abby. “With this many people watching, I suppose we don’t need anything official to hold us accountable, do we?”
Jasper smirked. “Just don’t cry foul when you lose.”
Stella glanced at the clock-no time for petty squabbles. She met Rachel’s gaze head-on. “Let’s let the scoreboard decide, shall we?”
Deanna, watching the scene unfold, muttered under her breath, “Digging your own grave.”
Callie looked at Stella with a sympathetic gaze.
Stella nodded, “It’s settled, then. Oh, and one more thing…”
Before she could finish, Rachel interjected, “Ms. Cameron, you wouldn’t be thinking of backing out, would you?”
The thought of competing had already sent Rachel into a silent celebration. She could humiliate Stella and claim the Nocturne Stella all in one fell swoop. The prospect was exhilarating!
But Stella’s voice interrupted her mental victory lap.
“Of course not,” Stella replied, her eyes drifting to Rachel’s dress. “And Ms. Pearce, aren’t you going to change out of that dress you stained and compensate me?”
Rachel hesitated, surprised by the return to the original issue. Was Stella trying to buy time?
“Ms. Cameron,” Rachel started, “we’re not the same size. This dress is custom- made for me. Even if I gave it to you, it wouldn’t fit, and besides, I’ve already worn it-”
“Haynie mentioned that an assistant would bring you a new dress, likely even better and more beautiful than the one you’re wearing.”
“Why don’t you pick a new one from those options, Ms. Cameron?”
Stella looked at Rachel. “So after all that, you still won’t change, huh?”
Rachel frowned. “It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just ”
“Alright, no need to continue,” Stella cut her off. “It’s getting late. Let’s not waste any more time on this.”
Turning to Abby, Marvin and Neville, Stella said, “Let’s head back.”
Abby, still simmering, understood the importance of wrapping things up.
With a huff, she headed for the door.
Rachel was feeling quite smug about having stained Stella’s dress without facing any consequences.
But then, Stella suddenly grabbed a glass of juice from the table and flung it at Rachel’s face!
“Ah!”
Rachel gasped as the sticky juice splashed across her face, dripping down onto her pristine white dress, turning it a deep, vivid yellow. Bits of orange pulp and fibers clung to the fabric.