Breathing heavily, I snapped, "First of all, this is a memorial concert for my mother. Second, that brooch is my family’s heirloom! Only a true McDermott by blood has the right to wear it!"
Nicole froze, caught off guard by my words.
Charles’s eyes turned red.
"You’re lying! If this was really about honoring him, why haven’t you held a concert before? Why now, when I’m holding a birthday concert, do you suddenly care? You can’t stand seeing me accomplish something you never gave me credit for! If you hate me that much, just say it! But don’t you dare lay a finger on her!"
I opened my mouth to respond in anger when a voice from the event organizers outside interrupted.
"Everyone, please calm down! There’s been a misunderstanding. The man on stage wasn’t Mr. McDermott’s son; it was a mistake by the staff. Please, don’t be upset."
"That's impossible!" someone yelled.
The furious voices from the audience echoed through the speakers:
"He’s wearing the McDermott's insignia! I recognized it instantly!"
"Exactly! No one outside the McDermotts could have that brooch!"
"Unless you bring the real one out here, we won’t believe you! Do you dare? Do you?"