From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 183

Carlson Baker glanced over at Lavinia Bennett.

Lavinia’s eyes flickered up, and she looked momentarily stunned.

Carmen Gates chimed in, “Of course! This is my daughter, and she’s Olivia’s— she’s Lavinia.”

Carlson let out a short, dry laugh. “Lavinia.”

Carmen didn’t catch the edge in his tone; she thought he was just making sure, so a smile broke across her face. “She’s a bit older than Olivia, by a couple of years, so yes, this is Lavinia.”

Carlson’s lips curled into a mocking smirk. “Lavinia, really? The way she went after my Olivia just now, you’d think they were sworn enemies, not sisters.”

The moment those words landed, you could feel the tension crackle through the room.

Lavinia bit her lip, looking completely lost.

If she’d known he was Carlson Baker, she never would have sided with Claire Camp earlier. The Bennetts just couldn’t afford to cross the Bakers nowadays.

Adelina Lane’s worry was obvious. “What do you mean, went after her? What did she do to Olivia?”

Carmen swallowed nervously. “Maybe there’s been some kind of misunderstanding?”

Carlson arched an eyebrow, voice cool and distant. “Hard to misunderstand what you see with your own two eyes. When I walked in, she and that other girl—what’s her name, Moon or something—were both ganging up on Olivia. Tried to set her up, but it backfired and they both ended up flat on their faces. And if I’m not mistaken, you…” His gaze fixed on Lavinia. “You even vouched for Claire, didn’t you?”

With every word, it was like he was slapping Lavinia across the face.

Her cheeks drained of color, lips trembling as she tried—and failed—to get any words out.

Mason Bennett’s eyes darkened as he shot Lavinia a glare. “It was a misunderstanding. Lavinia did walk in with Claire Camp, but she didn’t do anything.”

If she had, Claire wouldn’t have been the only one left standing before.

That was the only reason Mason dared say anything at all.

Carmen and Lavinia looked like they’d been slapped raw.

Adelina Lane, who’d never liked them to begin with, now looked downright disgusted. “Olivia’s already said it—she doesn’t have family like you. So let’s stop pretending, and stop trying to claim her.”

Naomi Barton was blunt. “Seems like you’ve had your fill of the party. Maybe it’s time to leave.”

Mason’s jaw clenched. After a tense pause, he said stiffly, “I think we’ve overstayed our welcome. We’ll be going.”

He shot Carmen and Lavinia a hard look. “Let’s go.”

The two of them hurried after him.

The second they stepped out of the ballroom, all three faces were stormy—Mason’s especially, his whole body radiating cold fury.

Even once they’d climbed into the car, the atmosphere hadn’t thawed one bit.