"It was her! She threw herself down on purpose so she could steal my necklace in the chaos!"
I lifted my head through the searing pain. Howard's voice cut through the noise.
"If something's missing, then search her."
His gaze swept over me, deliberate and pointed.
"Right here. Be thorough."
A security guard seized my arm and hauled me upright, not caring that glass was still embedded in my palms.
"Let go of me! I didn't steal anything!"
The alcohol burned like acid in my stomach. Cold sweat poured down my back.
"Didn't steal it? Well, strip her down and we'll know for sure, won't we?"
Vivienne stepped up onto the raised platform.
"With that dress, there's really only one place she could be hiding something, isn't there?"
A cluster of men in the crowd let out lewd, ugly laughter.
"That's right. The former Graves heiress, a real socialite. Who knows what kind of special tastes she's picked up."
The guard's hand reached for my neckline, already barely holding together.
Riiip.
Black fabric slid away, exposing a wide stretch of skin mottled with bruises.
I screamed and curled into myself, pressing both hands against my chest, trying to cover what was left.
My eyes found Howard through the blur of tears.