The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 291

Lavinia turned to look at him. "Charley, what's going on?"

"I'll explain everything," Charley said, his voice a soothing rumble.

He pulled out a vintage copy of the Blossom City Daily. A headline from decades ago read:

*Two Blooms from the Same City: The Harriet Hoyt Bangle Belongs to Blossom City's Two Heiresses.*

"The Harriet Hoyt Bangle isn't a single piece. It's a pair," Charley announced, enunciating every word.

The crowd erupted into shock.

He continued, "Years ago, the Gilmore family and my grandmother's family, the Shapiros, each kept one. Later, they became the dowries of Judith and my grandmother, Helena Shapiro. My grandmother even received a matching collar pin made from the same jade."

Charley glanced at Lavinia's neckline. "The very one Ms. Joplin is wearing tonight."

Julian was stunned. "So, the bangle in your hand and the pin Lavinia is wearing were both passed down from your grandmother? Then what happened to Judith's piece? Where did it go?"

Charley looked directly at Garnett. "You'll have to ask Mr. Harper that."

Charley took a step forward. "Mr. Harper, that bangle was locked away safely in your vault. How exactly was it swapped out?"

Garnett's face darkened. "Are you accusing me of doing it?"

"I'm not talking about you." Charley's voice was dismissive. "I'm talking about the woman standing next to you, Ms. Sigrid Sloan."

Every eye in the room snapped to Sigrid, whose face had drained of all color.

Charley stared her down, his tone icy. "I saw it with my own eyes. Ms. Sloan has brazenly worn the other Harriet Hoyt Bangle out in public multiple times."

He paused, a cold smirk touching his lips.

"Just moments ago, that bangle was on her wrist. Now, it's miraculously disappeared," Charley stated.

The crowd looked closer. Sigrid's wrist was entirely bare.

Someone murmured, "He's right. I literally just saw her wearing a flawless emerald-green bangle. It looked museum-quality."

Another guest chimed in, "It looked exactly like the one that gentleman is holding..."

Julian gave a subtle nod. Security guards silently began to encircle the area. Taking a half-step forward, Julian kept his tone polite, but left absolutely no room for refusal.

"Ms. Sloan, would you mind opening your clutch for us? If this is a misunderstanding, I will personally compensate you for the trouble."

Sigrid's complexion turned stark white. She didn't speak. She didn't move. Her fingers gripped the small bag in a death hold.

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