CHAPTER 70: 70-HUMILIATION PLAN BACK FIRED

Clementine:

And then Ian explained why he had been staring at me. He thought all the money had been wasted on me. I felt so annoyed with him at that moment. But I just walked out of the room with Haiden because he had suddenly started acting possessive. Then he let me know he thought I looked funny. Now, as I walked past all the rooms, heads turned toward me. They were probably laughing, thinking I believed I looked cute. Little did they know, I was very well aware that I didn’t look good.

Once we reached the main hall on the first floor, I started to notice everyone looking at me even more strangely. This time, they didn’t even look away, and I was scared someone might make a comment that would make the others burst out laughing. I adjusted the necklace around my neck and straightened my back. Someone’s eyes landed on me again.

"What is it?" I asked Haiden, annoyed, thinking he was about to make another joke. But then I saw he was staring at my breasts. I felt a little uncomfortable.

"Where did you get this necklace from?" he asked me, and I was instantly shaken.

"You left it with the gown for me," I said, remembering I had found it in the small box next to the gown. There was a note on it. It said, From Haiden. So I thought maybe he wanted me to look extra good to show others he had the perfect mate.

"No, I did not," Haiden said, shaking his head.

I began to feel very uneasy. I looked around, and my eyes landed on my stepmother and my stepsister, who were now walking toward me. Even though Leysa was wearing a beautiful golden gown, I could tell she wasn’t happy with how I looked. Their eyes were all white. My stepmother, in particular, looked like she could throw acid on my face.

"It seems like they gave you plastic surgery," my stepmother said, referring to the stylist and makeup artist.

"That is a weird way to compliment someone’s natural beauty," Haiden said, hands in his pockets.

"Oh yeah? I didn’t even do that much makeup. I don’t need a makeup artist and everything," Leysa started in her weird, annoying, sexy voice.

"Yeah, I don’t care about you. I only focus on my mate." Haiden, being an asshole, for the first time used his arrogance on the right person. Even Leysa looked confused, probably because at the beginning he had acted like he was interested in her. I knew the truth, it was just for show. But once that plan was rejected, I guess he no longer felt like pretending to be nice.

"Then you should have bought her her own necklace," Leysa said, this time loud enough for everyone to start gathering around us. "I don’t want to be rude, but I found the necklace gone from my drawer, and I was wondering where it went."

She turned to me.

"Clementine, you should have asked me if you wanted to wear it. You know I would never say no to you. Just don’t steal it. Stealing doesn’t suit a crusader." She made my heart sink. It was her necklace. But how the hell had it ended up next to my gown?

Everyone started whispering to each other.

"But it’s alright, guys. It’s alright," she said, turning to the others. "I don’t mind sharing my stuff with her."

She smiled sweetly while everyone half-laughed at the idea of a crusader getting caught stealing.

I began to look around, a little too aggressively. And for the first time, I had tears in my eyes and Haiden saw them.

By this point, the rest of my squad had arrived. Troy, however, looked far more relaxed than the others. One hand was in his pocket, and with the other, he was playing with a small marble he must have found somewhere.

"What is going on here?" my father asked as he arrived with his Beta.

"Nothing, Dad. Clementine, being Clementine, stole my necklace. But it’s okay. It looks good on her," Leysa said.

My stepmother rolled her eyes. "See, Clementine? We welcome you with open arms, and you go back to your old ways."

I felt so humiliated. Is this why they brought me here? Is this why the party was thrown for me?

And without a shadow of a doubt, I knew it had to be one of them who left the pendant next to my gown. At this point, I felt ashamed to even say I found a note with it, because there was no proof that they had written it. And with the reputation I had, people would only say I wrote it myself.

I felt so embarrassed that I wanted to walk away immediately. But then I wasn’t sure if I could walk briskly in such high heels or if I’d end up falling and embarrassing myself even more.

"Don’t you think that’s enough?" Haiden muttered. I had no idea he was getting that angry until I side-eyed him and saw his clenched jaw.

"What enough? I’m just saying it’s okay. I’m literally saying it’s okay," Leysa repeated, first looking at her parents, then giving the rest of the crowd a dramatic, pitiful look.

That’s when Troy stepped into the crowd. Ian didn’t really get involved, but Yorick was right behind Troy.

"Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but that’s not your necklace," Troy said.

I looked at him and shook my head. If he was going to lie, it wouldn’t work. I was sure it was Leysa’s necklace, her confidence said it all. She must have had proof. But then Ian gave me a small nod, as if telling me to stay quiet and let them handle it.

"It is my necklace," Leysa said, forcing a weird, awkward smile, like she was embarrassed for me.

"No, it’s not. Yours doesn’t have this many diamonds. This one—I bought it for her," Troy said, pointing his thumb toward me. Then he started pulling out a receipt.

I watched the color drain from Leysa’s face. A maid walked in, holding up a similar necklace, though it had fewer diamonds.

"Ma’am, I found this lying around in your room. Where should I keep it?" she asked Leysa and that’s when everyone gasped.