Chapter 244

Liam's pulse quickened as he approached the artifact, compelled by an intense need to verify its provenance. Who could possibly have created such a magnificent piece? But just as Liam extended his hand, a sharp cracking sound reverberated through the grand hall.

At first, the assembled guests dismissed it as a trick of the acoustics. Their skepticism turned to stunned silence when the ornate tray holding the delicate crane fractured visibly before their eyes, shattering into countless fragments that skittered across the polished mahogany table.

Moments earlier, Seraphina had been glowing under the shower of compliments, her crimson lips curved in triumph. Now, as the carved masterpiece disintegrated, her expression transformed into a mask of horrified disbelief.

The unspoken question hung heavy in the air - what was this sculpture truly made of? The implications were devastating, not just for the gift's value, but for the Kensington family's carefully cultivated reputation among the elite.

Seizing the moment, Evelyn stepped forward with calculated grace, her voice laced with honeyed malice. "My dear Seraphina, while your gift was certainly eye-catching, its durability leaves much to be desired."

With deliberate slowness, Evelyn retrieved a glittering shard from the wreckage, holding it up to catch the light. Her smirk widened as she examined the fragment. "We all assumed this was genuine jade. How amusing to discover it's merely glass. Though I suppose with such intricate craftsmanship, no one thought to verify the materials?"

The titters of the crowd burned Seraphina's ears like acid. Her delicate features twisted in outrage as she marched forward, fists clenched. "This is impossible! Glass? That's absurd!"

Seraphina had invested a small fortune in this gift. How could Olivia have betrayed her like this?

Evelyn's mocking laughter rang out. "That look of shock tells me everything, darling. Clearly this wasn't your handiwork. Who did you commission? Do share, so the rest of us might avoid similar embarrassment."

Though the guests remained silent, their contemptuous stares spoke volumes. Seraphina's grand gesture had spectacularly backfired. The gift meant to cement her status now lay in ruins. Alistair remained ominously quiet, his thunderous expression more damning than any words.

Donovan's face darkened like a gathering storm as he shot his cousin a withering glare.

For the first time in her privileged life, Seraphina found herself the object of ridicule. Pride had always been her armor, and this public humiliation struck like a dagger to her carefully constructed image.

"You vile creature!" Seraphina's hand flew out before she could stop herself, connecting with Evelyn's cheek in a resounding slap.

Evelyn staggered back, her hand flying to her stinging face, eyes wide with shock.

Seraphina's voice dripped venom. "My grandfather merely remarked you bore a passing resemblance. Don't flatter yourself, you grasping little nobody! Look at you - so desperate to claim kinship you'd abandon your own family. Who do you think you're fooling?"

Evelyn recovered quickly, her retort sharp as a blade. "Coming from the woman shamelessly chasing an engaged man? Tell me, do your finishing schools teach homewrecking alongside etiquette? Or is husband-stealing an extracurricular activity?"

The confrontation escalated with terrifying speed.

Donovan watched the catfight unfold with mounting frustration. This was beneath Seraphina - she was behaving like a common fishwife, not the refined socialite she'd been raised to be. He couldn't help but wonder how different things might have been had she not been influenced by her unscrupulous parents.

What should have been a dignified celebration of Alistair's birthday had descended into farce. Donovan stormed forward, physically separating the two women. "Enough! Have you both taken leave of your senses?"