ROMEO TRISTAIN'S PAYBACK

Chapter2

 The crowd hushed, heads turning as she stormed toward him, her silk gown swishing, her fair face twisted with fury. 

“Where’s my golden necklace? The one I left on my bed?”

Romeo froze, confusion clouding his face. His tray wobbled slightly as he turned to her, his voice steady but puzzled. 

“I didn’t take any necklace, Madam Tracey. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She stepped closer, her lips curling into a sneer. 

“Don’t play dumb with me, you little thief. You were the only one in my room yesterday. I know I left it on my bed!”

Romeo’s heart pounded, but he held her gaze, his tone firm and honest. 

“I swear, I didn’t take it. When I went to your room to drop off the linens, there was no golden necklace. I didn’t see anything like that.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, low and cruel. 

“He’s lying.” 

A woman whispered, her diamond earrings glinting as she leaned toward her friend. 

“Look at him, all shifty-eyed. Probably stole it to sell it.” 

Another man muttered.

“That’s the orphan, right? His mother was trouble, I bet he’s just like her.”

Before Romeo could respond, a tall woman in an emerald-green dress stepped forward, her face smug. It was Lady Gaga, Madam Tracey’s best friend, her amber eyes gleaming with malice. 

“Tracey, he’s obviously lying.” 

She said loudly, her voice dripping with disdain. 

“Look at that guilty face.”

Romeo turned to her, his jaw tight, his voice rising slightly.

 “I’m not lying! I didn’t steal any necklace. I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Madam Tracey’s lips curved into a wicked smirk as she took slow, deliberate steps toward him, her heels clicking ominously. 

“Oh, really? Then prove it, you little rat.”

Romeo looked up at her, his brow furrowing. 

“Prove it? How am I supposed to prove I didn’t take something I didn't see? I’m telling you, I didn’t do it!”

Tracey folded her arms, her smirk growing. 

“Is that so? Then search your pockets, Romeo. Right now.”

He blinked, caught off guard. 

“What’d you say?”

She let out a sharp, mocking laugh, loud enough for the whole room to hear. 

“Are you deaf? I said, search your pockets, right here, right now!”

Romeo’s face burned, the crowd’s eyes boring into him. 

“Fine,I’ll do it.”

He said, his voice low but steady, he set his tray of drinks down on a nearby table, the glasses clinking softly. 

“I’m telling you, I don’t have any necklace.” 

He said, his hands moving to his trouser pockets. He patted the left one,empty. Then the right, his fingers brushing something cold and metallic. His stomach dropped as a golden necklace, delicate and glittering, slipped out mid-sentence, tumbling to the polished floor with a soft clink.

The room gasped, the sound sharp and collective. Romeo’s eyes widened, his breath catching.

 “No, that’s not…” 

He started, but Lady Gaga was already moving. She swooped down, her green dress rustling, and snatched the necklace from the floor, holding it up like a trophy.

“Tracey!” 

Lady Gaga called, her voice triumphant as she dangled the necklace. 

“Look at this!”

Madam Tracey’s eyes locked onto the necklace, her smirk widening into something vicious. Romeo shook his head, his voice desperate.

 “I didn’t take it! I swear, someone put it there! I’m being framed!”

Before he could say more, Tracey closed the distance between them in two quick strides. Her hand flew up, and three sharp slaps cracked across Romeo’s face.

“Taa!”

“Taa!”

“Taa!”

His head snapped to the side, his cheek stinging, the sound echoing in the now-silent ballroom. The crowd watched, some smirking, others whispering, their eyes hungry for the drama.

Tracey leaned in close, her voice low and venomous.

 “You filthy little thief, you thought you could steal from me? You’re nothing but a disgrace, just like your pathetic mother.”

 She straightened, her smirk returning as she raised her voice for all to hear. 

“Look at yourself, you despicable little rascal. You stink just like your smelly, poor mother,a whore who thought she could rewrite her story by sleeping with my beloved husband and getting pregnant. Hahaha!”

She laughed, a cruel, cutting sound, and raised her glass of wine high. 

“A toast to my co-wife’s death, that whore who caused her own end,and her baby’s!”

The ballroom erupted in laughter, harsh and mocking, the sound crashing over Romeo like a wave. His fists clenched, his face burning from the slaps and her words. 

His mother’s face,her gentle smile, her amber eyes,flashed in his mind, twisted by Tracey’s lies. He couldn’t take it anymore. Shoving past a stunned servant, he bolted for the door, the laughter chasing him as he stumbled onto the porch. 

The cool night air hit his face, and he sank onto the steps, his head in his hands, tears spilling over as sobs shook his shoulders.

Footsteps approached, soft but steady. A woman in a simple but elegant dress stood beside him, her blue eyes kind in the moonlight. 

“Ma’am, what do you want from me?” 

Romeo asked, his voice thick with sadness, barely looking up.

She smiled, a warmth in her gaze that felt unfamiliar.

 “Haaa… at last, I’ve found you, Young master R

omeo.”

Romeo’s face twisted with confusion as he turned to her, wiping his tears.

 “Young master?” 

He echoed, his voice breaking as he stared at the woman, her smile steady and knowing.