Because she was in such a hurry, Jenny almost fell down the stairs and Edward caught her just in ti.
It did not escape his ears what she had just shared through her shrills, the pink butterfly was missing.
He helped his wife stand more steadily before quizzing her.
"Have you checked well?"
Frantically, Jenny nodded and she shook him as if she was experiencing a spasm. Eyes wide in fright like she had just seen a ghost, she nodded.
"I checked everywhere Edward, it's gone."
The noise which Jennie made drew out everyone from different corners of the house. It was hard for her screams which were like those of a red fox not to attract attention.
Grandma Mayfair was the first to comnt, a big frown on her face since her peace had been disturbed. "What is the ruckus all about, are you trying to bring down the house Jennie?"
Jennie abandoned Edward and run to her mother-in-law. She repeated the sa words, loudly and frantically.
"It's gone, the pink butterfly is gone mother."
The old woman was well aware of what the pink butterfly was, she was the one that passed it down to Jennie after all. The frown on her face deepened as the corners of her mouth turned downwards in displeasure. It was not the cost of the pink butterfly that mattered, it was the history attached to it which gave it the most value. To lose such a precious heirloom was just negligent.
"What do you an by gone, Jennie? Surely the pink butterfly did not grow legs and walk out on its own."
Jennie's face crumbled and she shook her head. "I don't know how. What i am certain of is that it is missing. I have checked everywhere mother and i cannot find it."
Edward didn't waste a single mont, his long legs carried him upstairs and he confird with his own eyes that it was just as his wife had said. He returned downstairs and shared this fact with his mother.
Already, all the family mbers and the servants present had converged in the living room, having been summoned by grandma Mayfair. Most of them were confused about what she was talking about.
The present mbers of the family were sitting down in chairs, sharing shocked expressions.
"The pink butterfly is missing, does anyone know anything about this?" Jennie questioned all of them, children and servants alike.
"Mother what are you talking about? How can our family heirloom go missing? Perhaps you left it so where and you forgot." Ruth's eyes were wide open with her whites showing.
She was honestly shocked and disappointed in Jennie for misplacing it because that brooch was supposed to be passed down to her and now her mother had lost it.
Shaking her head vehently, Jennie heaved. "No way, i stowed it carefully after the annual founding families dinner last year and I never touched it again, i am certain that soone took it. That brooch is worth a fortune." Her eyes moved about accusingly.
Phoebe had dashed out of her bedroom but she was the last to arrive. She made her way to the living room while watching her mother speak. On looking at Ruth, she realized that her reaction was so genuine which confused her because she believed that Ophelia was working on her orders
Ruth was also searching for answers and looked at Ophelia who winked once at her in return. Ruth caught on quickly and she realized what was happening. This was it! the card Ophelia had played. The table had been set and now it was ti for her to bla Phoebe for the cri.
She put her hand on her head and sighed loudly. "Are we living with a thief? This has never happened before, it is the first ti anything has been stolen in this house. Do we have any new servant? It's odd that this is happening now, the old servants are very diligent, it must be soone new in the house." Ruth made an accusative statent.
As she expressed her concerns, she sent Phoebe furtive glances while trying to appear apologetic and troubled. She could not just co out and accuse Phoebe of being a thief directly so she was andering around the issue. Nobody was a fool and everybody understood what she was trying to hint at.
"We have not hired any new servants Miss Ruth." Ophelia voluntarily aided in the mission by offering this information.
Ruth played with her fingers and looked down. "Mmm, if it's not soone new in the house then who could it be?"
Andre slamd his hand on the chair, prepared to rebuke Ruth but another brother beat him to it.
"Oh co on Ruthie! You don't think that Pheebs here actually stole from mom. Your theory is practically an accusation being laid at her feet." Luke pulled his brows together.
Collin stretched his hand forward to dismiss Luke. "I am not saying Ruth is right but her theory is not far fetched. Phoebe is the only new person in the house and Ruth always told that Phoebe stole her things at school. She grew up poor and such people sotis have sticky fingers, maybe..."
"Oh cut the bullshit Collin!! We all know that you and Ruth don't really like Pheebs but accusing her of theft is sothing really outrageous!!" Andre clenched his fists angrily.
This felt more like a plot to trap Phoebe sohow and he was not going to let it succeed.
Edward watched his daughter and wondered why she was so calm. She was watching the happenings as if she was no more than a by passer.
[Really? Ruth so you have gone through with this stupid plot Can't you be more original? Of course if sothing goes missing in this house i would be the first suspect as the new resident. Would i be so stupid to actually steal when i will be the obvious suspect? God she is so stupid!! I am sure her next suggestion will be for my room to be searched but she will be disappointed, how can this supernatural mommy fall into such a foolish trap?]
He read her thoughts and smiled, although he didn't know her for long his daughter wasn't the kind to steal especially from her mother. From her thoughts, Ruth was behind everything.
Edward's own thoughts traveled to the latest developnt in the cuckoo case, the attempted murder in the Lee family. His eyebrows drew together as he wondered if Ruth was actually capable of harming Phoebe just so that she could remain as his daughter.
Andre and Collin continued to trade words while Ruth squeezed a few tears out of her eyes and apologized for making such a suggestion.
"I saw her."
A sudden witness statent from Ophelia silenced the room.
"What? What are you yapping about Ophelia? My grand daughter works hard to make her own money, she isn't a thief!! I know that you are in cohorts with
Ruth to sar her good image but it's not going to happen." Grandma Mayfair stepped in finally.
She had been quietly watching Ruth and Ophelia steal glances at each other. The two were thick as thieves and she suspected they were the actual thieves.
Ruth was taken aback by the accusation, she knew that the old woman had it out for her but she didn't think that she would accuse her of working with Ophelia which was actually the truth.
"Granny...Grandma I know that you favor Phoebe because she is your biological granddaughter but this is not fair, how can you blindly play favorites? I have been raised by you all my life and i have never stolen anything at ho. Father please say sothing." Ruth's words were aid at weakening her grandmother's accusations against her.
She squeezed out more tears and settled for bawling loudly before running to Collin's side.
Phoebe scoffed.
[She has never stolen at ho but what about outside ho?]
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