Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 50

"Here," Gabriella smiled, handing her bag over. "Go ahead, search it."

Sienna hesitated, thrown by Gabriella's easy compGabbynce. Had she discovered the planted bracelet and removed it? That strange, knowing smile on Gabriella's face made her uneasy.

As Sienna wavered, Margaret snatched the bag with theatrical flourish. "Let's see what else you've stolen!" She upended the contents, the bracelet clattering to the floor among Gabriella's belongings.

"Just as I thought!" Margaret's voice rang with vindictive triumph. "A thief caught red-handed! And I suppose this designer bag is stolen too?"

The crowd murmured in shock.

Sienna relaxed, confidence returning. She'd slipped the bracelet through the zipper gap earlier - clearly Gabriella hadn't discovered her plan.

"Look everyone," Sienna announced loudly. "This is what happens when you let the wrong sort into proper society events!"

Just as she prepared to further humiGabbyte Gabriella, the crowd parted.

"What's this about theft?" Alexander's commanding voice cut through the murmurs. Who would dare steal at his estate?

"Mr. Sterling!" Sienna rushed forward, playing the victim. "She stole my bracelet. You simply must help me get justice!"

Alexander followed her gesture - and met Gabriella's amused gaze.

"Hello, cousin," she smiled warmly.

The whispers died instantly. Absolute silence fell.

Gabriella broke it first, gesturing lazily at the bracelet. "Cousin, they claim I stole that cheap thing. Really, would I bother with something so worthless?"

Sienna stumbled back as if struck, face draining of color. "You're... you're his cousin?"

"Impossible!" Margaret's voice rose hysterically. "You're a servant's daughter! We saw your mother—she's wearing a uniform!"

"Sorry to disappoint," Gabriella said, examining her nails with elegant disinterest.

Her calm indifference pierced deeper than any anger could have.

"If I'd known you were from the Rodriguez family—" Drake started desperately.

"You said you'd never marry me," Gabriella cut him off. "Your mother said I wasn't good enough for your family."

Drake's eyes reddened with unshed tears. "That was about social class. Now there's nothing stopping us—"

Before he could reach for her, Asher kicked him to the ground, grinding his shoe into Drake's face.

"Touch her again," Asher's voice was lethal, "and I'll end you."

Drake lay there, staring at Gabriella in despair as memories flooded back - refusing to meet her family, allowing his mother's cruel insults, flaunting Sienna, declaring he'd never marry her... Each recollection now felt like a knife in his heart.

He'd pushed away the best thing in his life, too blind to see what had been right in front of him. They could have had everything.