CHAPTER 475: LURING THE ENEMY INTO THE TRAP

...And what "justice," exactly, are you here to demand?

The society ladies’ expressions cracked, stunned into silence.

Did Sophia really not know what she had done?

How could she brazenly stand there—right in front of the real wife—and act so shamelessly arrogant?

The imposter’s eyes brimmed with tears.

"Miss Carter," she whimpered, "I’ve treated you with nothing but respect because you’re Logan’s niece in name... and yet, you went behind my back and..."

She staggered a little, milking the moment, and the ladies hurried forward to steady her.

"Miss Carter," one of them snapped, "why don’t you explain why one of your blue diamond earrings ended up in Mr. Reid’s room?"

"Do you not know he’s a married man?"

"Mrs. Reid treated you as a friend—how could you betray her like this?"

Many of them had seen those dazzling blue diamond earrings yesterday.

They’d even commented that, of course, the Carter Family heiress would wear such enormous blue diamonds—of course, they were expensive, but the Carters could afford it.

But heiress or not, even with the Carter Family behind her, she’d gone too far.

Spotting a man she liked and simply taking him, without a thought for his marriage or who he was?

Selina smiled sweetly, locking eyes with Logan for a brief moment before turning her gaze on the imposter.

"That’s not my earring," she said lightly.

She used the exact same words as Logan, but in the ears of the bystanders, it sounded like an excuse.

The imposter hadn’t expected her to stay this composed.

She gritted her teeth.

"Not yours? Then, Miss Carter, where are your blue diamond earrings, hmm? Why aren’t you wearing them today?"

Even with "Mrs. Reid" pressing so hard, no one thought she was out of line—after all, when a wife suspects her husband of cheating, who expects her to be polite to the mistress?

Selina arched an eyebrow.

"I didn’t feel like wearing them today. Why—does Mrs. Reid think she has the right to control what jewelry I choose to wear?"

The imposter’s lips trembled, her tone dripping with false pity.

"Miss Carter, I’m not joking!" she bit out.

"I wasn’t in that room last night, and this morning I found your earring on that sofa! Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?!"

Selina let out a soft laugh.

"Oh... why doesn’t Mrs. Reid just come out and say it? She thinks I spent the night with Mr. Reid, tossing and turning in his bed, and she’s here to confront the mistress."

Several onlookers choked on their own breath.

How could the Carter heiress speak so bluntly?

Was that really something you could just say out loud?

"You!" The imposter was nearly trembling with rage.

"But..." Selina’s expression suddenly sharpened, her voice cutting like a blade.

"It’s understandable that Mrs. Reid suspects me. But why does Mrs. Reid suspect Mr. Reid?"

Her gaze swept across the stunned women.

"As far as I know, you and Logan are supposed to be unshakable. Even if another woman stripped bare in front of him, he wouldn’t give her a second glance. A man who loves you like that—why would you doubt him?"

She tilted her head slightly, her smile turning sharp.

"Let’s take it a step further. Even if the woman in Mr. Reid’s room last night was me... couldn’t it have been that Mr. Reid rejected me? Why would Mrs. Reid instantly assume that I slept with him?"

She paused for effect, her voice suddenly low and dangerous.

"Or is it that..."

Selina’s lips curved into a knowing, mocking smile.

"Mrs. Reid already knew that, in Mr. Reid’s condition last night... he would have no choice but to do something with a woman?"

The room went utterly still.

What—what did she mean by that?

In Mr. Reid’s condition...

Was she implying Mr. Reid had been drugged last night?

And Mrs. Reid had known about it?

No.

That couldn’t be true.

Could it?

Ethan had just arrived after hearing about the scene.

He frowned, sensing something off about Selina.

She wasn’t acting like herself.

He opened his mouth to speak—but Alice grabbed his sleeve.

"Brother," she whispered.

She leaned in close and murmured something in his ear.

Ethan’s eyes widened in shock.

"But—"

"Shhh." Alice silenced him softly.

"Just watch. Let her finish this performance. Logan’s here. Nothing will go wrong."

The imposter’s face turned pale.

"I... If it were anyone else, of course I wouldn’t doubt it. But you’re different. You’ve known Logan since you were young, and I... I just love him too much! Don’t twist this around!"

"Miss Carter, I’m the one questioning you right now. What gives you the right to turn the questions back on me? You must give me an explanation today!"

She turned to Logan, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Logan, I believe you would never betray me. You were threatened by Miss Carter last night, weren’t you? Punish her for me, won’t you?"

Logan calmly adjusted the cuff of his watch, his tone unreadable.

"Although I believe that blue diamond earring has nothing to do with Miss Carter... since you insist on answers, Selina, then go ahead and ask."

The imposter’s heart soared with excitement.

It seemed Logan couldn’t explain it away—so he’d just thrown Selina to the wolves, leaving her to face it alone.

Ha.

Selina must be feeling desperate right now, wasn’t she?

The man she loved most was siding with another woman to question her.

The imposter practically buzzed with secret delight at the thought.

Outwardly, she kept crying.

"Miss Carter, did you hear that?"

"Mrs. Reid." Selina’s voice was steady, unhurried.

"If the earring is mine, I’ll pay the price for being a ’homewrecker.’ But what if it isn’t?"

"Mrs. Reid, waving around one earring and slinging accusations—if it’s not mine, wouldn’t that mean I’ve been wronged for nothing? And when that happens, Mrs. Reid, what will you do?"

The imposter didn’t even pause to think.

"How could it not be yours!"

"But..."

Selina’s delicate brows drew together slightly as she reached into her bag and pulled out a jewelry box.

Her eyes were clear, but there was something in her gaze—an undercurrent of meaning, as though she could see straight through the imposter.

The imposter’s heart clenched with sudden dread.

Wait... what was Selina about to do?

She’d already looked into this—the pair of blue diamond earrings were one of a kind, cut from a single stone.

There was no second pair in the world.

That meant those earrings were absolute proof of her identity.

So when the imposter saw one earring on the sofa, she didn’t think twice—she grabbed the chance to make a scene with it.

But now... a creeping chill ran through her veins.

"Miss Carter, I’m warning you—"

And then—

Snap.

Selina flicked open the jewelry box.

The imposter’s face went stiff.

Inside the box, two blue diamond earrings rested quietly, identical to the pair Selina had worn yesterday.

They were right there, in her hands.

So the earring in Logan’s room...

Selina let out a small, rueful laugh.

Her voice was calm, but every word hit the imposter like a strike to the ear.

"Mrs. Reid, you see this? My blue diamond earrings are right here. I just thought they didn’t go with today’s outfit, so I put them away. I never imagined you’d accuse me—dumping such a heavy false charge on my head."

In an instant, the looks the onlookers gave the imposter shifted.

"...No... that’s impossible! This is fake!"

The imposter shouted instinctively, disbelief flashing across her face.

How could Selina still have a pair?

How could she possibly still have a pair?!

"It’s a fake! It has to be a fake! You brought that box just to clear yourself—you planted them, they’re counterfeit!"

The imposter was almost hysterical.

Selina only smiled faintly.

"If you really think they’re fake, Mrs. Reid, you’re welcome to have them appraised. But don’t ignore the evidence right in front of you, and keep screaming that I’m a mistress."

"Though speaking of that..."

Selina tilted her head, her voice smooth as silk.

"If the earrings are proven to be real—how does Mrs. Reid plan to apologize to me?"

Selina’s lips curved, her tone light but sharp.

"Or is it that you never intended to apologize at all?"