Chapter 563
She didn’t dare talk back. She just kept her head down, letting the tears fall freely.
The tears carved two faint streaks through her makeup, but she didn’t even have the courage to wipe them away.
She just stood there, looking like a scolded child.
From her wheelchair, Celeste watched Helena’s trembling figure and the matriarch’s hysterical rage.
Her eyes were as cold as if she were watching two complete strangers.
But a second later, her expression shifted. Tears welled up in her eyes as she rolled her wheelchair over to Helena, wrapping her arms around the trembling woman.
She looked up at the matriarch, her eyes rimmed with red. “Grandma… please don’t yell at Helena anymore. I’m to blame for this too.
I’ve been the one managing and organizing all of her jewelry.
This massive oversight is my fault. It was my lack of supervision p>
Tears streaming down her face, she willingly took the blame.
“If we can’t recover the losses, Helena will be more devastated than anyone, and my guilt will eat me alive.
If you’re angry, punish me. You can hit me or scold me, just please don’t be so harsh on her p>
The matriarch looked down at Celeste’s tear-stained face.
Her fragile, helpless demeanor, coupled with her willingness to take the fall, pierced right through to the softest part of the older woman’s heart.
She had watched Celeste grow up.
In all these years, when had this girl ever caused her an ounce of worry?
She was obedient, sensible, and sweeter than a biological granddaughter.
The matriarch’s fury instantly softened by half.
She quickly stepped forward and personally helped Celeste sit up straighter, her tone suddenly gentle. “Silly girl, this has nothing to do with you. Don’t go taking the blame for things you didn’t do p>
With that, the matriarch straightened up and glared at Helena.
Her face switched back to a mask of ice in an instant. “Well? Get your ass inside p>
The matriarch turned and walked toward the living room, leaning heavily on her cane, while motioning for a maid to push Celeste’s wheelchair.
Helena followed behind, sobbing quietly.
Celeste kept her head down, teardrops still clinging to her lashes.
But at an angle neither woman could see, the corners of her lips twitched into a subtle smirk.
As long as she had these two wrapped around her finger, no one in the Sterling family could touch her.
The living room was brightly lit.
The entire group took their seats.
Supported by a maid, the matriarch was just about to settle into the main chair.
A servant sprinted in from outside, reporting frantically. “Madam, Ms. Carlyle, the inventory of jewelry you requested has arrived at the manor. Shalf we bring it in for inspection, now p>
Hearing this, a desperate light ignited in Helena’s eyes. She practically stumbled forward, her voice laced with panic. “Bring it int Hurry! Bring it all in p>
She was desperate to verify the pieces, desperate for some small comfort.
At the very least, the private collection she hadn’t taken to the exhibition had to be real.
Box after beautifully sealed box of jewelry was carried into the living room in an orderly fashion and lined up neatly.
Helena’s trembling hands flipped open the cases one by one, inspecting the shapes, the luster, the settings.
She scrutinized them with her naked eye and couldn’t spot a single flaw.
Every piece looked just as dazzling and flawless as the authentic items in her memory.
She let out a faint sigh of relief, yet a lingering panic kept her completely on edge.
Watching from the sidelines, the matriarch frowned in confusion. “Why was your jewelry brought back from the outside?
You made a massive scene today because your exhibition pieces were swapped.
If your private collection was stored in your safe, why did you have to ship it back in bulk?
Why wasn’t your private collection kept in the West Wing’s vault p>
The barrage of questions instantly made Helena stiffen, completely caught off guard.