Chapter 264: She Pushed Me Into the Water!

Chapter 264: She Pushed Me Into the Water!
Seraphina's POV

The Whitmore mansion stood like a gaudy shrine to old money, its windows blazing with light as a parade of sleek, overpriced cars rolled up to the entrance. Inside, the city’s elite clustered together, diamonds flashing under the chandeliers as they sipped absurdly expensive champagne and swapped gossip under the guise of polite chit-chat.

I clocked Victoria Whitmore the second we walked in. Her purple gown screamed “look at me,” and her ramrod-straight posture practically dared anyone to challenge her queen-bee status. Even from across the room, I caught her sidelong glance, sizing me up like I was a damn intruder.

Leander and I navigated the crowd, trading forced smiles and nods with business associates. Helena Kingsley, Leander’s mother, stood among a gaggle of society matrons, her hair swept into a pristine updo. When she spotted us together, her smile froze.

“Leander, darling,” she cooed, air-kissing his cheek before tossing me a barely civil nod. “Seraphina.”

“Mrs. Kingsley,” I replied, matching her frosty tone with practiced politeness. “Always a pleasure.”

“I didn’t realize you’d be attending together,” she said, her eyes darting between us like she was trying to solve a puzzle she didn’t like.

An awkward silence hung heavy until Helena suddenly “remembered” a dear friend she just had to speak with, her disapproval trailing behind her like a bad perfume.

“Well, that went about as well as a kick to the shin,” I muttered under my breath.

Leander handed me a flute of champagne, his lips twitching. “Give her time. She’ll warm up. Eventually.”

Across the room, Charlotte was locked on us like a damn hawk, her eyes narrowed to slits. Her fingers gripped her crystal glass so tight I swore it’d shatter any second. Beside her stood a nervous-looking woman with slightly protruding front teeth, nodding like a bobblehead to whatever venom Charlotte was spitting.

After an hour of soul-draining small talk and calculated networking, I was ready to bolt. “I need a breather,” I told Leander. “Gonna freshen up.”

“I’ll be right here,” he said, his gaze sweeping the crowd like he was expecting a damn ambush.

In the ladies’ room, I took my sweet time touching up my lipstick and taming a few stray hairs, savoring the brief escape from the social warzone outside. But the second I stepped into the hallway, all hell broke loose. A middle-aged woman in a gaudy beaded gown was frantically patting herself down, her face twisted in panic.

“My brooch! My pearl and diamond brooch is gone!” she wailed, drawing a crowd of rubberneckers.

Charlotte and her toothy sidekick materialized like they’d been waiting for this exact moment, all fake concern and crocodile tears.

“Jacqueline, calm down,” Charlotte purred, rubbing the woman’s arm. “When did you last see it?”

“Just before I went to the ladies’ room to powder my nose,” Jacqueline sobbed. “I came out, and it was gone!”

Toothy’s eyes flicked to me with a calculated glint. “I noticed Ms. Calloway was the last one to leave the restroom,” she said, her voice dripping with fake innocence.

You’ve got to be shitting me.

Every head swiveled my way as Charlotte gasped, playing shocked like a bad actress. “Really? What a coincidence.”

I kept my face stone-cold, though inside I was fantasizing about wiping that smug look off both their faces. “Interesting,” I said, locking eyes with Toothy. “Have you been staking out the restroom all night, or just keeping tabs on me?”

Her smirk wavered. “I—I just happened to notice.”

“So you’re specifically watching my every move?” I pressed, stepping closer. “That’s... oddly obsessive.”

The crowd started exchanging looks, whispers shifting from suspicion to doubt about her story.

Leander appeared at my side, a steady presence cutting through the tension. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice calm but with a sharp edge.

Jacqueline recounted her sob story between dramatic sniffles.

“Let’s not jump the gun,” Leander said, cool as ever. “Have security check the area. Jewelry slips off all the time.”

My gaze swept the hallway, landing on a large potted plant near the restroom door. “Might want to check around that planter,” I suggested. “Things like brooches can easily fall into tight spots.”

A security guard nodded, poking around the plant. “Got something!” he called out, pulling a glittering pearl and diamond brooch from the leaves.

“My brooch!” Jacqueline squealed, tears vanishing as she snatched it up.

The crowd’s focus shifted to Toothy, whose smugness had morphed into sheer panic.

“How odd,” someone muttered. “How’d she know Ms. Calloway was the last one out?”

“Sounds like she might’ve staged it herself,” another guest whispered, loud enough for others to hear.

I fixed Toothy with a hard stare. “You’ve got a real knack for noticing bathroom traffic. Is that a hobby, or do you keep a damn spreadsheet?”

Her face turned ghost-white as she stammered nonsense.

Victoria swooped in, playing damage control. “The brooch is found, everyone. Please, enjoy the evening. The fireworks in the garden start soon.”

As the crowd trickled toward the garden, Leander stayed glued to my side. “Stay sharp,” he murmured. “That was just round one.”

“Trust me, I’ve got eyes in the back of my head,” I shot back as we joined the guests by the ornate swimming pool.

The sky exploded with color as the fireworks kicked off, everyone’s attention skyward. But I felt a presence creeping behind me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Toothy closing in, her face now twisted with malice.

Leander caught it too. In one swift move, he yanked me toward him, away from the pool’s edge. “Watch it!” he hissed.

Toothy, thrown off by her failed attempt, stumbled forward. Her arms flailed wildly before she face-planted into the pool with a spectacular splash, water spraying everywhere.

Gasps and shouts erupted as security rushed to haul her out. She emerged soaked, mascara streaking down her face, dress clinging to her like a second skin.

“SHE PUSHED ME!” she screeched, jabbing a shaky finger at me. “Seraphina shoved me in!”

I didn’t even flinch. “I didn’t lay a finger on you. Everyone here saw what happened.”

Leander stepped up. “Ms. Calloway was with me the whole time. You tripped and fell on your own.”

Murmurs of agreement spread through the crowd, several guests nodding in confirmation.

Victoria and Helena rushed over, taking in the drenched mess before them.

“What on earth happened?” Victoria demanded, her perfect hostess facade cracking.

Charlotte jumped in, spinning a twisted version of events, painting me as the villain.

Helena turned to me, her expression icy. “Even if there was a misunderstanding, this behavior is unacceptable,” she snapped. “Look at her—she’s soaked and could get sick.”

“Mother,” Leander started, his tone firm, “that’s not what—”

“Leander, you don’t need to defend her,” Helena cut him off, her voice sharp as a blade.