Chapter 53

"Are you accusing me of theft?" Renee was struck by the absurdity of the accusation. Before she could even continue, Catherine had already rummaged through the kraft-paper box and retrieved the fragile sapphire brooch. Catherine’s voice rose in anger. "This is the piece! Caught in the act, yet you deny it? Renee, you promised to take only what belonged to you. Why did you take my brooch?" A few onlookers began to whisper among themselves. "Is that Renee over there?" "And the one confronting her, isn't she from the Hudson family?" "Accusations of theft? This will certainly be intriguing!" Renee recognized those familiar faces of affluence and realized Catherine’s outrageous behavior was a deliberate spectacle. Catherine was using the onlookers as pawns in her scheme to brand Renee as greedy and dishonest. Catherine’s intent was clear. She wanted to smear Renee’s reputation. “Catherine to set the record straight, this brooch is mine. You saw me place it in the box," Renee countered, asto