I stared at that instrument, and my hands wouldn't stop shaking.
These hands had hauled bricks, scrubbed dishes, weathered chilblains until the skin cracked. My joints were stiff now. I couldn't coax out that weeping, aching melody anymore.
But I had no choice.
I lifted the violin and tucked it under my chin.
The moment bow met string, a raw, grating screech tore through the room.
Snickers rippled through the crowd.
Audrey's piano kicked in right after—but she sabotaged the tempo on purpose, rushing then dragging, rushing then dragging.
My sound collapsed into chaos.
Before the piece ended, Audrey froze mid-phrase, her hand flying to her throat.
"My necklace! That was the engagement necklace Anthony gave me—it's worth thirty million!"
The room exploded.
"It was just there!"
"How does something like that just vanish?"
Audrey's gaze slid to my open violin case.
"Layla, could it be…"
She didn't have to finish. Two bodyguards were already on me, ripping the case from my hands, shaking it out.
A diamond necklace tumbled from the hidden lining.
Caught red-handed.
Every face in the room wore the same look: of course.
"It wasn't me!"
I could've had a hundred mouths and it wouldn't have mattered.