Opening the box revealed a charm bracelet—identical to the one I'd received from my mother on my sixteenth birthday. The one that had mysteriously "disappeared" from my jewelry box last month.
"Oh, this must be a mistake," Victoria said, examining the inscription inside: To our beloved daughter, forever in our hearts.
She held it up with a mocking glint in her eyes. "Isn't this... yours, Olivia? How strange that Alexander would have it."
Alexander's jaw tightened before he smoothly replied, "I had it resized for you, darling. I thought you might appreciate having a family heirloom, considering your connection to our family now."
The bracelet—the last gift from my parents before they died dangled from Victoria's wrist as she admired it in the sunlight.
"It's perfect," she cooed. "Practically made for me."
Victoria pressed the charm bracelet to her heart, batting her eyelashes innocently at Alexander.
"You always know exactly what I need," she cooed, leaning in to kiss him while her eyes remained fixed on me, savoring my reaction.
Alexander smiled playing along with her charade yet I caught the way his gaze kept darting to my face, searching for signs of jealousy or hurt.