"I noticed you a while ago, actually. You were at the terrace too, weren't you? You saw exactly what Jasper and I were doing. Did you not understand?"
"That phone call you made was just you trying to win him back, wasn't it?"
Her gaze dropped to the necklace at Hilda's throat. It looked expensive. She assumed Jasper had given it to her. Her hand shot out, clawing toward Hilda's neck.
Hilda flinched, clutching the pendant. "What are you doing?!"
This necklace was a wedding gift Grandma had saved her entire life to buy. One for Hilda, one for Jasper. It was the only thing Grandma had left behind.
"Let me give you some advice, Hilda. What isn't yours will never be yours."
Vivienne lunged for the necklace without another word. In the struggle, Hilda was shoved toward the edge of the stairwell.
She teetered on the lip in her heels, barely holding on.
At the last possible second, Vivienne spotted a figure approaching. She swapped positions with Hilda in a flash, throwing herself backward.
The necklace was clenched in her fist. The chain bit into Hilda's throat, slicing a thin line of blood across her skin.
The necklace snapped apart and scattered across the floor in pieces.
A heavy thud. Hilda tumbled down the stairs. Vivienne, meanwhile, fell neatly into the arms of Jasper, who had appeared just in time. Not a scratch on her.
"Are you all right? What are you doing up here?"
Jasper's voice was all concern. He looked Vivienne over head to toe, and only when he confirmed she was unharmed did he exhale.
Then he turned on the figure crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, his tone sharp with contempt. "What's wrong with you? Can't you watch where you're going? Are you blind?"
Hilda lay where she'd landed, vision blackening, unable to move. Her hair was tangled across her face, hiding her features.
Jasper, irritated at being ignored, strode down the steps and planted his foot on her palm, grinding down. She curled inward instantly, trembling with pain.
"Are you deaf or mute? Can't speak?"
Vivienne hurried over and tugged at his arm.
"That's enough, Jasper. It was partly my fault. Don't make a fuss over her, please?"
She looked down at Hilda's shaking body, and a wave of satisfaction surged through her.
"I just thought the necklace on this young lady's neck was pretty and leaned in for a closer look. I must have startled her, and we bumped into each other. I'm so sorry."