Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 121

Twenty minutes ago.

Mrs. Carmichael approached Tamara with a glass of champagne in hand, her eyes gleaming with unconcealed envy. "Mrs. Sutton, your future daughter-in-law is truly a lucky woman. Mr. Sutton spoils her more than his own flesh and blood."

Tamara offered a tight, practiced smile. "Audrina is a sweet girl. She's always been so respectful, of course Waldo adores her."

"Oh, I can tell!" Mrs. Carmichael's voice pitched higher with excitement. "You should have seen it this afternoon. That exquisite archival necklace—Mr. Sutton just gave it to her like it was nothing. Four point two million dollars, and he didn't even blink. My daughter hasn't stopped talking about it all evening. She said if she ever gets married, it has to be into a family as generous as the Suttons so she's properly taken care of. She's absolutely dying of jealousy! Speaking of which, when is the wedding?"

But Tamara's brow furrowed, her attention snagged on one specific detail. "Necklace? What necklace?"

She hadn't been in the tearoom that afternoon, completely missing the spectacle.

"The return gift from the Hawthornes," Mrs. Carmichael explained. "A stunning Harry Winston piece. And I have to say, it perfectly complements Ms. Monroe's aura."

Oblivious to the smile freezing on Tamara's face, Mrs. Carmichael rattled on about the scene in the tearoom—who had crowded around to look, who had praised how breathtaking Audrina looked wearing it.

Tamara absorbed every single word, her expression unreadable even as her knuckles turned white around the stem of her champagne flute.

Audrina Monroe? What gave her the right?!

How dare she accept such an invaluable gift!

Wasn't she the one throwing a tantrum and demanding to call off the engagement? What, was it all just an act? Did she genuinely still think she was the Suttons' future daughter-in-law?

That was supposed to be the Hawthornes' gift to the Sutton family!

Forcing a polite smile to excuse herself from Mrs. Carmichael, Tamara's sharp gaze swept the ballroom.

The seat next to Zachary was empty. Audrina was nowhere to be found.

She set her glass down and abruptly left the table.

And now, Tamara was closing in on the second-floor restrooms.

The sharp click of heels grew louder, and panic flared in Audrina's chest.

The restroom was at the very end of the hall. A dead end.

She shoved Sebastian away, hopping down from the marble vanity.

"You—"

She wanted to tell him to get out, but Tamara was already coming down the corridor. Walking out now meant a head-on collision...

The words died in her throat.

Sebastian casually leaned against the sink, his dark eyes fixed on the mirror. A faint smudge of red—completely unnatural on him—stained the corner of his mouth, looking utterly reckless and sinful.

Unbothered, he slowly lifted a hand and wiped it away.

Tamara's voice echoed, much closer now. "Audrina? Why are you hiding in there?"

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