Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 1145

The moment Noreen slipped back into the room, Claire frantically signaled her with her eyes.

While Rosalind was busy chatting with Bianca, Claire leaned in and whispered, "If you had come back any later, your mom was going out there to catch you red-handed."

Noreen was speechless.

Was 'caught red-handed' really the right phrase here?

"Thank God the fireworks started across the river. It totally distracted her."

Claire paused, winking dramatically. "Also, your lips are swollen."

Noreen panicked and slapped a hand over her mouth.

Claire clicked her tongue. "Just making out? How boring."

At that exact moment, Rosalind glanced over, her gaze landing squarely on Noreen's lips.

Noreen immediately elbowed Claire to shut her up.

Naturally, Claire stepped up to run interference. Her eyes drifted down from Noreen's flushed ears to the dazzling sapphire resting against her collarbone.

She let out a dramatic gasp. "Wait, isn't that The Mariner's Love? Seth gave that to you?"

Because her mother was a jewelry designer, Claire always paid close attention to high-end pieces.

She had instantly recognized the legendary sapphire draped around Noreen's neck.

"If I remember correctly, the last time The Mariner's Love surfaced was five years ago at an exclusive overseas auction. Word was, a mysterious billionaire bought it. And I heard this guy threw money around like it was nothing, nearly clearing out all the top-tier gems from the luxury auction houses."

"The most famous piece he took was a ruby set called Aeterna Amoris, costing nearly a billion dollars."

Noreen's fingers, which had been tracing the necklace, suddenly went still.

She vaguely remembered this.

Five years ago, Lillian Laurent had flaunted it in her face, bragging that Seth was about to marry Bianca.

Lillian had claimed Seth flew overseas specifically to buy an extravagant dowry.

And those lavish gifts were supposedly the very same legendary jewels swept up at the top auction houses.

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