Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 49

Mrs. Clarke's face flushed with anger, her complexion shifting from red to white.

Gabriella gently squeezed Mrs. Clarke's hand in silent comfort before turning to Margaret with a measured smile. "What's shameful about honest work? I find it far more respectable than someone who does nothing but spend her husband's money on mahjong, beauty treatments, and health supplements."

"You—" Margaret pointed a trembling finger at Gabriella.

Sienna patted Margaret's back. "Don't let her upset you, Mrs. Ashcroft. Just ignore her nonsense."

Then to Gabriella, with clear disdain: "You're a housekeeper's daughter—basically a servant yourself. This is Mr. Sterling's event for his sister, with guests from proper society. Someone like you shouldn't be here embarrassing yourself."

Gabriella's smile brightened. "Proper society? How did someone of your... modest standing manage to get in?"

That struck a nerve. Sienna lost her composure.

"Who are you calling modest? A servant's daughter has no right to look down on me!"

"Trying so hard to curry favor with the Sterlings?" Gabriella arched an eyebrow. "Though your family barely qualifies to be their doorman."

"You—" Now it was Sienna's turn to point fingers. "Are you mad? Bitter because you couldn't keep Drake and taking it out on me? Well, if you can't hold onto a man's heart, at least keep your petty jealousy to yourself."

"Did Drake tell you he was hospitalized after fighting for me?" Gabriella asked mildly.

Sienna froze. So those injuries were because of Gabriella?

Margaret clearly didn't believe it. "As if you'd be worth fighting over."

"Let's go," Sienna tugged at Margaret's arm. "She's beneath our notice."

Throughout the evening, Sienna kept watching Gabriella while networking with other guests. Finally, after ten minutes, she saw her chance when Gabriella headed to the powder room.

She followed quickly.

In the ladies' room, Sienna deliberately crowded Gabriella, using the moment to slip her bracelet into Gabriella's handbag.

Gabriella, repulsed by the unwanted proximity, pushed Sienna away. "The room's large enough. Why are you crowding me?"

Sienna smirked, her goal accomplished. "It's not your private bathroom. I'll walk where I want."

Gabriella laughed inwardly. Actually, it was hers—the entire estate belonged to the Sterlings, and as Alexander's cousin, it was quite literally her family's property.

Minutes later, in the ballroom, Sienna announced her bracelet was missing.

She confronted Gabriella with manufactured outrage. "You stole it, didn't you?"

"Are you certain?" Gabriella asked mildly.