“What do you know?!”
Marina Thornton whipped around, shouting at Niamh Rivers so loudly her voice came out hoarse.
“Oh, I see how it is… This is all your fault!”
Suddenly, she jabbed an accusing finger at Niamh.
“You were way too rough cracking those crab legs. That’s why the diamond fell off the Queen’s crown! You broke it, so you’re paying for it–every last penny!”
Marina sounded absolutely convinced, but everyone at the table could see right through her. It was painfully obvious she was just trying to shift the blame.
Even if Niamh had been a little clumsy with the crab, there was no way that could have affected the royal crown resting safely in Queen Elizabeth’s hands.
The Queen watched Marina’s tantrum with a look of deep disappointment. As monarch, she wasn’t about to make a scapegoat out of an innocent waitress.
“Enough…”
“I’ll pay for it,” Niamh said suddenly, her voice firm.
Queen Elizabeth and Susy Fraser both stared at her in shock.
Marina scoffed, “You? With what? Your measly paycheck barely covers your rent, let alone a diamond!”
She regretted her sharpness the moment the words left her mouth, but Jonathan Thomas wasn’t in the room, so she figured it didn’t matter.
“I can fix it,” Niamh replied calmly.
Now it was Queen Elizabeth’s turn to be truly surprised. “You can repair jewelry? But I thought you were a chef.”
Niamh almost laughed.
All she’d done was crack open a crab, and now suddenly she was a chef?
“Cooking’s just my side gig. My real work is jewelry design.”
“Are you kidding me?” Marina’s eyes widened in disbelief.
There was no way she’d let Niamh swoop in and steal this job from her
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“That’s the royal crown we’re talking about! You think just anyone can lay a finger on it?”
Niamh could read Marina’s petty intentions like an open book. She just shrugged.
“Exactly. Not just anyone could manage to make a diamond fall out of the Queen’s crown.”
“You-!”
Marina’s face turned red with embarrassment and anger.
“Let her try,” Susy piped up from the side, unable to hold her tongue any longer.
She’d seen Niamh’s craftsmanship first–hand and, right now, making sure the Queen was satisfied was what mattered most.
Niamh shot Susy a sideways glance. “What, you’re not afraid I’ll turn the crown into a cheap knockoff?”
Susy caught the jab–she’d once accused Niamh of giving her fake jewelry for her wedding set.
Queen Elizabeth had already warmed to Niamh a bit after watching her handle the crab; now, hearing her offer to fix the crown, the Queen was more than willing to give her a chance.
Susy immediately sent someone to fetch some tools. In no time, the white tablecloth was pushed aside, and the dining table became an impromptu
workbench.
Niamh began working on the crown right in front of Queen Elizabeth, Susy, and
Marina.
Just then, Jonathan walked back into the room and nearly thought he’d entered the wrong place.
He saw Niamh hunched over, working with delicate precision, and quickly.ced together what must have happened.
Spotting Jonathan, Marina hurried to his side and whispered, “Niamh was too rough with the crab and knocked the diamond loose. Now the Queen’s making her fix it!”
When Jonathan frowned, Marina felt a twisted satisfaction.
Perfect… She wanted nothing more than for Jonathan to despise Niamh.
Chapter 351
He kept his brows furrowed as he strode over to Niamh.
He moved so quietly, but Niamh still sensed someone at her side. She was surprised to look up and see Jonathan.
“Something you need?” she asked, turning to meet his gaze.
Jonathan’s eyes were always so dark–cold as the ocean on a winter night.
How cold? She’d learned the answer all too well the day she’d thrown herself into
the sea.
He didn’t say anything at first, just stared at her intently.
Niamh couldn’t figure out what he was searching for in her eyes–whether he found it or not, she didn’t know. But what she did see, clearly, was disappointment in his.
“You hurt your hand,” he said quietly.
Niamh was taken aback, only now noticing the first–aid kit Jonathan was carrying. Though the words sounded caring, his tone was detached, almost emotionless.
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