The heavy cane came crashing down on Blair's foot. She gasped in pain, staggering backward in fright, only to be grabbed and pulled back by Ivanka.
"This is your granddaughter-in-law," Ivanka insisted through gritted teeth.
The old woman glared at Blair and pointed with trembling fury. "She has no jade bracelet from the Diego family. She's a fake! A bed servant! A low-class mistress! A homewrecker!"
Even in her old age, the matriarch's tongue was as sharp as when she was young. The regional curse words rolled off her lips with perfect clarity. Blair froze on the spot, dumbfounded, looking helplessly at Ivanka.
Ivanka yanked back Blair's sleeve and saw nothing on her wrist—no bracelet.
"I told you to wear the jade bangle!" she hissed.
Blair's lips trembled. She said nothing. Ivanka was so anxious that sweat began to bead on her forehead.
