bChapter /bb68 /b

Aria’s POV

Jace’s mother’s eyes widened at me. Her husband’s jaw practically dropped like he’d seen a ghost.

After ba /blong pause, she finally stammered, “You… you’re… ? Mia Collins?!”

I gave a faint smile. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“No fucking way!” she snapped, her polite smile vanishing instantly. “You’re not that girl. Look at your dress your ne, your earrings Aria bcould /bnever afford all that. A was just a ”

“A dull, stupid small–town girl! her husband finished for her.

I smiled coldly. “Well, funny thing about fate. One day you’re broke, the next, you’re filthy rich.”

“But not Aria! That girl’s fate bwas /bsealed the day she bwas /bborn!” Mr. Carter scoffed.

“Jace changed his fate. Why can’t I?” I shrugged. “I mean, just look at him now–hosting a birthday party in ba /bcenturies–old mansion. Who would’ve guessed the 3 of you used to cram into an apartment the size of a shoebox?”

Their faces flushed with embarrassment.

Just like Jace, they absolutely hated when people brought up their poor past.

“It’s her! That obnoxious little tramp Arial” Mr. Carter growled, ring at me.

His wife stared at my jewelry like a starving woman eyeing a buffet–part emy, part hatred. “How the hell can you afford all those? Did you steal it “Watch your tone,” Nova snapped beside me. “The designers had to line up just to get Aria to wear their newest collections. It’s ba /bprivilege for them.”

“Bullshit,” Mrs. Carter spat. “I’m sure you didn’t get all this money the clean way. Who do you have to fuck to get the money? I knew you were a little tramp when you were with my son. I knew it

“And Jace’s money came from some noble, respectable source?” I sneered, “He sold himself to a woman. Kissed her ass, pleased her every whim, didn’t dare talk back. And what does that make him? A bmale /bwhore I guess?”

“FUCK YOU!”

Mrs. Carter lunged at me, raising a hand to p me. But I caught her chubby wrist midb–/bbair /band shoved her back

Her husband rushed to catch her and shouted to the nearby guards, “Security! Security! Get her out of here!”

The guards rushed at us, but Nora shot them a cold re. “Take a good look at the person standing before you. This is Ms. Aria Collins! You dare throw her out?!”

bThe /bguards clearly recognized me. They became hesitant.

I blike /bba /bcrow. “I’m the hostess of this party! I’m Lady Delh’s mother–inw Just do as I say!”

“Do it!” Mrs. Carter screeched, her bvoice /bshrill!

The guards looked between us again.. then wisely stepped back.

“Ms. Collins, you sure you don’t need any assistance?” one of them asked politely.

I smiled. “No, we’re fine. Thank you,”

The guards nodded and retreated to the back.

Chapter b68 /b

The Carters looked ready to explode.

“Why are they listening to you?” she hissed.

“Like I said,” I replied with a mocking smile. “I’m not the same Aria Collins you used to know. So I suggest you show some respect.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, clearly confused and suspicious. “Wait a second. Why are you even here btoday/b? You’re trying to get Jace toe back to you, aren’t you! You’re still hung up on him!”

Talmost burst outughing. “God, just rx. Only you think your son is some kind of prize. He’s nothing to me.”

With that, I lifted my dress and turned to bleave /b

But then Mrs. Carter grabbed my arm. She gripped so hard that her chunky gold ring dug into my skin.

“You filthy little bitch, she hissed, her voice low and venomous. “You think just because you can afford a pretty dress and that makes you so awesome? Well let me tell you–you are still no shitl Jace is Lady Delh’s husband, and he practically owes half of the Red Stone Pack now! So let me teach byou /bba /bfucking lesson today.”

She suddenly braised /bher voice and shouted for the whole room to hear:

“THIEFII CAUGHT A THIEFI”

Whati? /i

My beyes /bwidened in shock.

Her shrieking turned bevery /bbhead /bin the room, Guests all stopped talking and turned around to look

Mrs. Carter yanked me forward by the arm and yelled again, “My diamond ne is gonel This woman stole it!”

is shekidding me right now

I

iyanked my arm back. “Fucking ridiculous! I didn’t take your damn ne.”

She smirked, bringing her fingers to her thick neck.

That’s when I realized–at some point, the tacky diamond ne, that had been bresting /bon her chest really bhad /bdisappeared.

was still wearing it when I started talking to you. And now it’s gone. If it’s not you, then who else?” she barked.

Her bhusband /bchimed in with a smug scoff. bThat /bne was a gift from Jace. bIt’s /bworth half a million! Something you couldn’t afford in ten lifetimes!”

“Half a million?” Nova said sharply. “Aria wouldn’t even bbother /bstealing that cheap crap”

Mrs. Carter scoffedb. /b“You said half a million bis /bcheap? But I’m sure everyone here saw the news babout /bher. She used to shop at dor stores. She has no money, no self–esteem! Trash like bher /bis born to steal”

A few murmurs and stifledughs rippled through the crowd.

Clearly, even though that show had been pulled down, my info had already made its rounds

“Somebody call the cops now! Mrs. Carter barked bagain/b. “This filthy thief bshould /bbe arrested and chargedi

The guards hesitated on their spots.

“With all due respect, Mrs. Carter,” one bsaid /bcarefully, We really don’t believe Ms. bCollins /bwould steal from you

“How would you know? I bknew /bshe took it she cut him off.

And then she bent down, reached under my dress, and yanked something out.

“Look! My ne! found in her dress! She did steal” she screamed triumphantly,

The room fell dead silent. Then came a chorus of shocked gasps.

My heart skipped a heal.

was that ne.

But how the hell did it end up in my

And then it hit me.

She’d shoved me earlier. She must’ve slipped it in during that moment, just to frame me

God, this woman was every bit as rotters as her son.

“Well?” she hissed at the guards. “What are you waiting for? That’s solid proof. Arrest her”

“Half a million dor theft,” Mr. Carter added mockingly. “And she was stealing from the Lady Delh’s mother inw. That crime is enough to lock her up

for ten years.”

The guards all looked at me, reluctant. Nova cursed and pulled out her phone. “This is absolute bullshit. I’m calling-

But I raised a hand to stop her.

No need for the big guy to bdeal /bwith these clowns, I could take care of this myself

b“/bYou want me in prison?” I stepped toward Mrs. bCarter/bb, /blocking eyes wi

with her.

Her lips curled in a nasty smirk. “Only there can byou /blearn to respect the people above you.”

I let out a coldugh and snatched the ne from her hand, holding it up to the light

“Well, too bad that n’s not bgonna /bwork. Because this ne I said loud and clear to the crowd, “is fake.”

“WHARE”

The room exploded in gasps again.

I smiled. “To be bprecise/b–it’s ss. Probably worth less than ten bucks.”

I’d had a hunch earlier just looking at her jewelry. Now up close, it was obvious.

Those were definitely not diamonds.

“Bullshit!” Mrs. Carter screamed, her face turning red. “It’s designer design. Very fucking precious! Jace told me exactly how much it cost!”

“You’re just saying that to get away with the crime? Mr. Carter growled.

ughed icily. These idiots.

Just then, rapid footsteps approached. Two bpeople /bshoved through the crowd.

“Mom? Dad? What’s going on?” Jace asked, breathless

Delh followed right behind him. The moment she spotted me, her face twisted with anger. “Aria Collins! What are byou /bdoing here?!”

Chapter b63 /b

Perfect. Now everyone who needed to be here was here.

“Hey Jace,” I gave him a mocking smile. “Wanna exin to everyone why you bought your mother!

?