Your Uncle’s My Husband Now Back Off, Ex! novel Chapter 86

**Through Unseen Doors We Step Into Untold Worlds Beyond by Sage Hunter Lane**

“Nyla, am I not providing you with enough money? Why on earth would you resort to something like this?!” Clark’s voice was a mix of anger and confusion, echoing through the bustling banquet hall.

Nyla cast a fleeting glance at him, her heart racing as she registered the unfamiliar fury burning in his eyes. There was a wildness there, a desperation that hinted at the lengths he might go to if they weren’t surrounded by a crowd. She could almost envision him seizing her by the neck, demanding answers as if she were a criminal caught red-handed.

A smile crept onto her lips, one that held a hint of irony. “Clark, you’ve really transformed, haven’t you?”

Once upon a time, he had placed unwavering trust in her, a trust that now seemed to have eroded into suspicion, as if he believed she was capable of thievery. It was astonishing how a shift in the heart could blind someone to the truth.

With a deliberate slowness, Nyla retrieved the diamond necklace from her bag, lifting it high for Jacqueline to see. “Ms. Rainford, take a good look at this. Is this your necklace? If I recall correctly, Ms. Hulle described your necklace’s pendant as a swan, encrusted with diamonds, didn’t she?”

The necklace sparkled under the bright lights, a delicate heart-shaped pink diamond that was a world away from Erin’s description. This was the very necklace Nyla had chosen to wear to the event, a piece that had drawn compliments rather than suspicion.

Jacqueline’s eyes widened, disbelief etched across her face. “Impossible! My necklace must still be in your bag!”

With a calm demeanor, Nyla extended the bag toward her. “Why don’t you check for yourself?”

Jacqueline seized the bag, her fingers trembling with urgency as she rifled through its contents, tossing items aside in a frenzy. But despite her frantic efforts, the necklace remained elusive, hidden from her grasp.

There was nothing. How could this be? How could there be nothing at all?!

As she observed Jacqueline’s mounting panic, Nyla’s smile deepened, a mix of satisfaction and pity. “Ms. Rainford, have you found it yet?”

Jacqueline’s expression morphed into one of pure rage. “You must have hidden it somewhere else! Where is it? Give it back to me!”

Nyla raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Ms. Rainford, doesn’t that sound utterly absurd? You were the one who confidently asserted that your necklace had a tracker and that the signal was coming from my bag. And now, when you can’t locate it, you think it’s hidden elsewhere?” She paused, letting her words sink in. “If you have a tracker, surely you should be able to find the necklace, right? Why not give it another go?”

The color drained from Jacqueline’s face as she tightened her grip on Nyla’s bag, a flicker of doubt crossing her features.

“Being reasonable doesn’t mean being a doormat. If I don’t stand my ground now, people will think they can trample over me,” Nyla shot back, her resolve hardening.

Clark felt a pang of guilt twist in his stomach as he realized the gravity of his earlier misjudgment.

Yet, he was acutely aware that the Sumner Group had numerous business dealings with Gen Pharma. Offending Tom could jeopardize their future collaborations, and it seemed prudent to appease him now for the sake of business.

“Nyla, why don’t we let this go? You didn’t suffer any loss, and Mr. Genge has offered compensation. How about Ms. Rainford simply apologizes?” Clark suggested, his tone measured.

Nyla found his suggestion laughable. Clark had learned to weigh the pros and cons too, but this time, she was the one being sacrificed on the altar of convenience.

Just as she was about to respond, a cold, commanding voice sliced through the tension from the entrance of the banquet hall. “Framing the Sumners for theft and expecting a simple apology to settle matters? Mr. Genge, do you truly believe the Sumners are fools?”

The atmosphere shifted as all eyes turned toward the newcomer, anticipation hanging thick in the air.