In the Lap of Luxury by Unsweetened Chestnuts

Chapter 63 Celia the Criminal

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Grace smiled mockingly and walked up to Celia. “Why did you freeze? Go on, call the cops. I’m

waiting.”

Celia broke into a cold sweat, gripping her phone tightly. She didn’t know what to do.

“Are you wondering how the bracelet ended up in your bag when it was supposed to be in mine?”

Celia froze. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice you slipping something into my bag?” Grace snapped.

Back when Celia had done the deed, Grace had happened to witness it through a mirror’s reflection.

Hence, she had put the bracelet back in Celia’s bag the moment the latter had turned around.

It was only then that Emily realized what had happened. “Oh, Celia, they should start calling you Celia

the Criminal! How did you come up with such an evil scheme at such a young age?”

“It looks like you haven’t learned your lesson at all since the last time you got jailed. In that case, let me

discipline you on behalf of your family,” Grace said.

Then, she turned to the staff members. “Call the cops!”

“Don’t call the police! Don’t call them!” Celia clung onto the staff members so that they wouldn’t be able

to get to the phone.

Coincidentally, Benjamin called her at that exact moment, so she picked up and immediately started

crying. “Save me, Benjamin! They’re going to hand me over to the cops.”

Emily couldn’t help but insult her. “Why is she even crying? She’s the one who committed a crime.”

Benjamin happened to be nearby, so he reached the scene within minutes. When he arrived, he saw

that Grace and the others were still fighting with Celia.

“Ben! They’re ganging up on me!” Celia wailed as she pointed at them.

Benjamin shot Grace a cold glance, then asked Celia indifferently, “What happened?”

Celia wanted to explain herself, but she realized justice wasn’t on her side and started crying even

harder.

Emily couldn’t take it anymore and said, “Your sister tried to frame Grace for stealing a diamond

bracelet, so Grace fought back, and now she’s scared. She’s just playing the victim!”

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Benjamin immediately remembered the way Susan and Cella had treated Grace in the past. So Instead

of demanding an explanation, he asked Grace calmly, “Is it true?”

Grace snorted, “Why are you asking me that? Shouldn’t you be asking your sister? Crying isn’t a sign

of innocence, you know.”

“I didn’t do it!” Celia walled.

“Then show us what’s in your bag if you have the guts!” Emily became angry again. “Someone call the

cops! If she’s being so stubborn, maybe they can teach her a lesson!”

At this point, there was nothing else Celia could say. “They bullied me! They made my friends laugh at

me. That’s why I …”

Benjamin was so full of rage that he could barely hold it in. He desperately wanted to dissect Celia’s

brain and see what the hell was in there.

He deeply regretted letting Tyler bail Celia out. He should have let her rot in jail.

“I’ll buy the bracelet. Consider this matter settled,” he said casually, trying to sweep things under the

rug.

However, Grace’s sharp gaze met Ben’s. “Hold it. Did I say this was over?”

She felt disappointment well up within her. Truly, blood was thicker than water. So what if his sister had

made a mistake? He would always side with her.

“Pick any jewelry piece you want. Consider it compensation,” Benjamin said.

“Ha! No, thanks. I can afford it myself,” Grace said, as if she had heard a funny joke.

“There’s no reason I should ask you to buy me something now when you never got it for me when we

were married.”

Benjamin suddenly remembered that throughout their marriage, save for the ring Grace had thrown

away, he had never gifted her any jewelry before.

His heart sank. His shortcomings as a husband were numerous, indeed.

“How do you want to settle this, then?”

There was no warmth in Grace’s eyes. “How do

you think?”

Benjamin took a deep breath, then turned to Celia. “Apologize to Grace.”

“No! Me? Apologize to that jinx? I would rather get arrested.”

“Celia Hawkins, let me be clear. If you get arrested again, our family will not spend a single

cent on your bail, not even Grandfather!” Benjamin gave her an ultimatum.

Chapter 64 Like a Dream

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It was only then that Celia reluctantly walked over to Grace and said, in a voice softer than a mouse’s,

“Um… I’m sorry.”

Emily protested angrily, “Louder! We can’t hear you.”

Celia’s hands balled into fists as she raised her volume. “I said I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!”

Then, she turned to look at Ben. “Is that enough, Ben?” she asked, looking like she had swallowed a

bug.

Ben replied coldly. “Ask Grace, not me.” So Celia looked in Grace’s direction pitifully.

“If apologies were enough, what do we even need cops for? Did I say an apology would spare you from

the police? You think too highly of yourself, Mr. Hawkins,” Grace said.

Her smile was so full of mockery that Benjamin couldn’t help but feel like he didn’t understand her at all.

“Why should I let go of being accused without reason so easily? Is her status a Get Out of Jail Free

card?” Grace said.

After all, Celia was only this bold because the Hawkins had let her off the hook again and again. There

was no way Grace would pass on the chance to punish her.

After Lydia heard Grace’s stance, she immediately called the cops. Some time later, the police dragged

Celia away for the second time. She kicked and screamed the entire way out.

As the police stuffed Celia into the police car, Benjamin’s face had fallen far enough to hit rock bottom.

“Why all this fuss over a diamond bracelet?” He looked at Grace in confusion. “When did you become

such a heartless person?”

Before the divorce, she had tolerated everything that happened to her. After the divorce, she had

begun to treat the Hawkins like they were her mortal enemies.

This version of Grace was getting more and more unfamiliar to him by the day. He had already asked

Celia to apologize and even offered to buy Grace something.

So why was Grace still unhappy?

“Is that so? I’ve always been like this. You just never noticed.” Grace smiled without a care in the world.

She didn’t bother explaining herself to Benjamin because he didn’t deserve it.

Benjamin didn’t argue and left for the police station. However, the moment he disappeared, so did her

smile.

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A few days later, Lydia held her jewelry exhibition right on schedule. The tickets were hard to get, but

Lydia had reserved the best seats for her best friends.

Before the exhibition started, Grace and Emily showed up backstage wearing the latest custom

made Prada accessories.

Lydia was deep in thought at the time, but the second they arrived, she looked like a weight had been

lifted off her shoulders,

“Two of our models backed out at the last minute for emergency reasons. I was worried I wouldn’t find

replacements in time to display the exhibition jewelry,” Lydia said.

Then, she stroked her chin and looked at them. “You two would be perfect.”

“Are you sure?” Grace asked.

Lydia winked in response. “Absolutely. You two are more charming than those models are. Believe me,”

Grace and Emily exchanged smiles. They hadn’t known that they were here to be free labor for their

friend. “Alright, then. Let’s give it a shot.”

The exhibition’s theme was “Close to Nature“. Most of the jewelry was inspired by colors found in

nature itself.

International critics had pointed out how these pieces of jewelry challenged traditional ideas and

brought something new to the industry.

Because of this, every guest present refused to take their eyes off the stage for fear that they would

miss out on one of Lydia York’s masterpieces.

Emily was a lively woman, so Lydia had arranged for her to wear a yellow diamond piece called

Sunflower. Combined with her loose clothing, she looked like a forest fairy.

As the music began playing, Emily showed up with a cheerful gait that attracted everyone’s attention.

Everyone was blown away by both the jewelry and the model’s perfection.

Emily smiled. As she caught Lydia’s eye in the distance, she lifted her chin confidently. After that, the

professional models calmly went onstage one by one.

Finally, it was the moment everyone had been waiting for. The collection’s defining piece was about to

be revealed.

Under the dreamy spotlight, a gorgeous woman made her way onstage. When Benjamin realized who

it was, his black eyes widened, and he found himself unable to look away.

Grace had a slight smile and makeup that emphasized her beauty. Resting on her pale collarbone was

the crown jewel of Lydia’s newest jewelry collection–Tears of the Ocean.

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It was a necklace made with the best blue diamonds, which shone brightly. But they still couldn’t

compare with Grace’s own radiant beauty. If anything, both of them complemented

each other.

The necklace attracted everyone’s attention, and Grace made sure they couldn’t look away, She looked

stunningly elegant, with an aloof beauty that kept people staring.

The audience had never seen someone beautiful enough to touch their hearts and souls.

They had even forgotten to breathe or look away. They had no choice but to keep following Grace’s

movements and her smile.

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