Chapter 49

Vanessa's fists tightened unconsciously as her eyes swept past the judges' table, only to suddenly land on a middle-aged man in the front row who bore a slight resemblance to Xander. The smug smile plastered on his face told her right away - that had to be Caleb Brooks, her elusive uncle. There was something about his grin that rubbed her the wrong way - cocky, satisfied, overconfident... it made her uneasy. They'd been cautious all along, yet somehow, Caleb still managed to pull a fast one on them with those stones. She hated to admit it - she'd been too inexperienced. Choking back the tears that welled up behind her eyes, Vanessa shifted her gaze. In the VIP section below, a striking couple had slipped in unnoticed. She blinked, heart skipping, recognizing them in an instant - Victor and Fiona. Fiona looked much healthier now, flushed cheeks and radiant skin. She was curled against Victor with the kind of soft dependence that made Vanessa feel a pang in her heart. Fiona whispered som