Ava's POV
A lot of phones were raised as people in the audience recorded the scene, waiting for me to accept Laura's gift.
The whispers started almost immediately.
“Why is she hesitating? That’s so rude…”
“She’s seriously turning down a gift like that?”
“She seems like a very ungrateful and greedy lady.”
My wolf went still. This was it. It was a trap, perfectly set by Laura. If I took this gift, the real earrings… my grandmother’s earrings… would be gone forever, buried under this cheap imitation.
But if I refused, they would tear me apart publicly.
My jaw tightened. Five years ago, I would have lowered my head and stayed silent. I would have let them do and say whatever they wanted, but not anymore.
I had promised myself that. No more hiding, no more pretending.
I lifted my gaze
