Chapter 427
Her fingers stealthily pinched a small clump of the ashes, her movements so fast they were practically invisible, smoothly slipping them into a pre-prepared handkerchief inside her bag.
The entire maneuver was flawless, leaving no trace behind.
Once it was done, Sienna played along and stood off to the side with the maids.
Sienna immediately looked up, her eyes brimming with a perfectly calibrated mix of panic and guilt, her face colored with mild shock.
“Oh my god, I am so incredibly sorry p>
Her voice rang with genuine-sounding remorse. “My heels were just too high today, and I lost my footing. I really didn’t mean to.
Matriarch, Helena, please don’t be angry p>
Before anyone else could lash out, Helena had already lost her battle to suppress her rage.
Her face twisted into a furious scowl, pointing a trembling finger at Sienna as she screamed, “Sienna! You did that on purpose p>
“Celeste is already dead, about to be buried, and you intentionally smash her urn to publicly humiliate her!
What is your heart even made of? How can you be this downright evil p>
In the face of the hurricane of accusations, Sienna kept her eyes lowered, her expression innocent and deeply apologetic.
Acting? She knew how to play that game, too.
“I honestly didn’t do it on purpose.” Sienna shrank back slightly behind a maid, revealing only half her face as she looked at Helena.
“Helena, if I had done it on purpose, I would have intercepted the body when you took her away last night.
I know you don’t like me, but you can’t just pin every little accident on me p>
That single sentence choked Helena into stunned silence.
No matter how furiously Helena screamed, Sienna maintained her submissive, apologetic posture.
Her eyes were clear and bright, entirely portraying the guilt of a pure accident, completely devoid of any malice.
That unapologetic innocence made Helena look like the one who was being wildly aggressive and unreasonable.
The matriarch stared deeply at Sienna, scrutinizing her closely for a long time.
But in the end, she couldn’t detect a single ounce of calculation in her demeanor.
“Enough, stop making a scene p>
The matriarch raised a hand, cutting off Helena just as she was about to explode again.
Then, she looked up at Sienna, issuing a cold, detached dismissal: “You’ve paid your respects, and you’ve shown your face.
Celeste suffered a lot in life. We need to lay her to rest soon, so you should leave p>
Sienna stepped out from behind the maid, smoothing out the hem of her skirt.
“Of course,” she said with a faint smile. “Then I wish Ms. Carlyle a peaceful journey p>
As the words settled, she shot a deeply loaded look at the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo, taking in their wildly different expressions
That single glance was light and calm, yet it carried an incredibly sharp, all-knowing weight.
Sienna didn’t linger any longer, turning on her heel and walking out with steady confidence.
The sharp click of her heels echoed down the long corridor.
Helena gripped the matriarch’s arm tightly; with every echoing click, a fresh shudder ran through her body.
The matriarch pressed down on the back of Helena’s hand, gripping it hard.
The pressure was so intense that Helena finally snapped out of her paralyzed daze.
It wasn’t until that vibrant red silhouette completely vanished past the front gates of the manor p>
The composure she had been. desperately forcing completely shattered. “Mother, tell me what did that look shejust gave us actually mean p>
The matriarch kept her eyes lowered, her tone low and grave: “Hold it together. Do not lose your nerve now p>
Out on the tree-lined driveway beyond the manor gates.
The evening breeze blew gently, washing away the heavy, suffocating air of the memorial behind her.
Sienna sat back in her car, the submissive, guilty act melting off her face instantly, leaving behind nothing but cold, razor-sharp calm.
She unfolded the handkerchief in her palm, revealing the fine, grayish-white ashes resting quietly against the fabric.
She immediately pulled out her phone and dialed a number. “I have a sample here. Run a DNA match for me p>