Jealous whispers went around the room as Sienna stepped into the room on Damon's arm.
Instead of crumpling in on herself like she did the last time, she shot them a dazzling smile that shut them up immediately.
Gone was the frumpy dress she had worn the last time.
As she had with Grandmother Wright's party, she hadn't come to play, she had come to slay.
This time, she wore a midnight blue dress that showed off her slim waist and modest curves.
It was still appropriate for a married woman of her status, but the lace detail added some allure and she noticed people's eyes lingering on her figure.
"Damon! You made it!" Vivianne squealed and bounced down the stairs, "Oh, Sienna you came too!"
Of course she wouldn't even notice her step sister, and instead, greet Damon first.
Sienna was only her family's means to connect with the Wright family.
Sienna's bright smile sharpened at the edges. She might have been a pushover before, but even if her step sister wanted to steal her man, she was going to make it as difficult for her as possible.
"Happy birthday!" She released Damon's arm and stepped in front of him, intercepting Vivianne's hug for Damon and squeezing her sister tightly.
When she stepped back, Vivianne moved to hug Damon again but this time, she was stopped by the wrapped gift that Damon shoved at her and she was forced to drop her arms to hold it.
Vivianne unwrapped it with glee and was thrilled to find a necklace from an expensive brand.
Eagerly, she put it on and visibly gloated with the thought of boasting to everyone that her necklace was from the Wright family.
"Sienna!" Eric Ramsey made his way through the crowd with a grin on his handsome face.
Beside her, Damon stiffened slightly as Eric stopped in front of them.
"Mr Ramsey," Sienna greeted politely.
"One of my business partners is here and he'd love to meet you," He gestured to the corner of the room.
"My wife has promised not to leave my side today," Damon told Eric smugly, "Would you mind if I came along?"
His tone was perfectly civil however his blue eyes glinted dangerously.
You thought you could get Sienna alone? He seemed to be asking Eric silently.
Eric smiled blandly, "Of course, Mr Wright, this way."
Meanwhile, Vivianne was proudly showing off her new necklace to everyone who would spare her a minute.
However, the skin under the necklace was getting itchier and itchier, she tried not to scratch at it, but it was almost unbearable.
When she passed a mirror, she screeched in horror so loudly that everyone turned to look at her.
The skin around her neck was red and puffy, making her look like a lizard trying to be intimidating.
Sienna rushed over, immediately undoing the clasp of the necklace.
"Why would you give me this?" Vivianne cried, holding her neck, "You knew I was allergic to silver!"
Other guests immediately began whispering amongst themselves. The Astor sisters had always been on good terms.
Was there trouble in paradise?
Perhaps the older Astor sister had gotten arrogant after marrying into the Wright family!
"It's white gold," Sienna hadn't expected this at all, she had even changed the birthday gift they gave to avoid any scenes from the past, "It shouldn't trigger your allergy!"
Vivianne's eyes were brimming with tears and just as she did in her television shows, she moved the hearts of those watching her.
The girls' parents appeared from the crowd. Sienna's mother was an elegant but pinched looking woman and now, she wore a look of deep disapproval.
"Sienna, you know you should be more careful," She chastised, "Even though you've married out doesn't mean you can forget to care for this family."
Another sharp pang hit Sienna in the heart.
"The necklace is made of white gold, I know because I checked multiple times with the staff," Sienna insisted.
But the guests around them were shaking their heads and wondering if the elder Astor sister was jealous of her actress sister's good looks.
"Then how do you explain this?" Mr Astor shouted, pointing at Vivianne's neck.
"It's okay," Vivianne quavered, holding Sienna's arm lightly, "Sienna says she checked."
Everyone saw a victim who was defending the culprit and thought she was a saint.
Sienna had triple checked the material of this necklace and knew that there was no way she had given something Vivianne was allergic to.
"What a spiteful woman," Someone muttered, "Harming her sister on her birthday, no less."
"Maybe she was jealous, everyone says the younger Astor daughter is more beautiful," Someone else commented.
"But I must say, Sienna Astor is looking very beautiful today, maybe she's a late bloomer."
"Who cares about looks! Sienna married into the Wright family and started her own company, must she still target her younger sister?"
"Miss Astor, the certificate of authenticity is in the box," Damon raised his voice, drowning out the gossip that was floating around the room.
Immediately, a servant brought the gift box to her and Vivianne hesitated before pulling the papers out.
Sienna, who had been watching her closely, saw that brief pause which told her that Vivianne had indeed set her up.
Slowly, she unfolded the piece of paper and her parents peered over her shoulder.
Without even looking, Damon announced, "The certificate not only confirms that the gems are real but that the rest of the necklace is one hundred percent white gold."
Another wave of whispers went around the room as this fresh information was disseminated. Sienna held her head high, she would not waver.
"Anyone who wants to see for themselves can come forward," Damon declared, and slowly the guests inched forward to check the piece of paper with their own eyes.
"It's so itchy," Vivianne whimpered, her bottom lip pushed out in a pout.
"If that's real white gold, then what happened to her?" Mrs Astor demanded angrily, "That sheet of paper can be fabricated."
This time, Sienna couldn't help but take a small step back.
She felt as though someone had punched her, that was the weight of her mother's words sinking into her gut.
Even with proof, their mother still took Vivianne's side.