Chapter 426
Supported by a maid, the matriarch also stepped forward slowly.
The older woman’s face was stern, her tone sounding magnanimous but practically suffocating with authority.
“Sienna, death clears all debts. Whatever history or friction you had with Celeste, the Sterling family will wipe the slate clean and not hold you accountable.
All we ask is that you show a shred of decency, leave her to rest in peace from now on, and let this go p>
Listening to these wildly twisted accusations, the smile on Sienna’s face didn’t fade; in fact, it deepened.
“Well, Ms. Carlyle did pretend to be my family for years. It’s only right that I come light a memorial candle for her p>
Her eyes sharpened slightly as her gaze swept right through the two women, easily piercing their fragile facade.
“Yet the shrine is right here, and I’m being blocked at every turn just trying to pay my respects.
Matriarch, Helena… guarding it this fiercely, could it be that you’re hiding some dirty little secret and are terrified I’ll expose it p>
The matriarch’s eyes narrowed.
Helena’s expression turned even uglier.
She opened her mouth to argue, but a sharp look from the matriarch shut her down instantly.
“You may pay your respects,” the matriarch finally conceded after a few seconds of tense silence.
But the narrative shifted instantly, her voice dropping a few octaves, laced with a blatant threat. “But if you dare use this as an excuse to cause a scene and disturb the dead p>
Don’t blame the Sterling family for throwing courtesy out the window and dealing with you ourselves p>
Sienna just smiled faintly, not saying a word.
The matriarch stared at her for several long seconds, seemingly trying to gauge whether her intentions were genuine or hostile.
Finally, the matriarch looked away and jerked her chin toward the young maid standing behind her. “Assist Ms. Sloan with the tribute p>
The maid on standby quickly stepped up, respectfully handing over a lit memorial candle.
Sienna’s expression remained perfectly serene. She held the base of the candle lightly between her fingers, her posture impeccably straight, and bowed to Celeste’s portrait.
Her movements were strictly proper, leaving absolutely no room for criticism.
The room was dead silent, every single eye locked intensely onto Sienna, highly alert to her every move.
The three bows were completed.
The young maid stepped forward, reaching out to take the candle from Sienna’s hands.
But Sienna didn’t hand it over.
She took a quick step closer to the shrine, prompting the startled maid to hurry after her.
Suddenly, chaos erupted.
Sienna’s stiletto heel gave way without any warning, throwing her completely off balance.
Like she had lost gravity, she stumbled forward uncontrollably.
Crash!
A sharp, shattering sound tore through the dead silence.
The urn rolled off the table, smashing against the marble floor. The lid popped off sending grayish-white powder spilling everywhere.
The ashes scattered across the floor, forming a massive, undeniable pile.
The entire room erupted into pure panic!
“Ah—!” Helena shrieked.
The sound was so piercing it nearly shattered eardrums, and she jumped back from the floor as it she had been electrocuted.
“The ashes! Celeste’s ashes! She… she p>
The matriarch’s reaction was much colder than Helena’s.
For a fraction of a second, a crack appeared on that heavily wrinkled face.
She snapped her head toward Sienna, her gaze as sharp as a butcher’s knife.
It was as if she wanted to slice Sienna open right then and there to see exactly what she was plotting.
“What are you all standing around for p>
The matriarch barked viciously at the paralyzed maids, her voice tinged with undeniable panic.
“Grab Sienna! Clean up this shrine! Now p>
The maids snapped out of their daze and rushed forward in a frenzy.
Two of them went to grab Sienna, while the rest scrambled to sweep up the scattered ashes.
The scene turned into a total circus.
No one noticed that as Sienna was being half-helped up by the maids, her fingertips made a lightning-fast sweep across the floor
Seizing the brief window where everyone was lost in chaotic panic.