Andrew soaked in the envious stares from the crowd, a touch of smugness in his tone.
"My mom usually keeps this diamond ring in her bedroom, completely out of reach for most people. But three days before Avery went back to the Carter family, the ring suddenly disappeared. We searched everywhere and couldn't find it. Then, the night before Avery left, our housekeeper was packing her clothes and found the ring in the pocket of one of her jackets. Our maid can vouch for this."
He looked around the room.
"I should also mention that Avery's room was right across from my parents' bedroom. She often saw them using the code to open their bedroom door, so she must have known how to get in."
Hearing Andrew's seemingly logical explanation, paired with the knowledge of the Carter family's financial struggles, many in the room started to believe him. Their looks toward Avery and her family grew increasingly contemptuous.
