Filed to story: Billionaire Bride’s Revenge (Vera & Howard)
Tricia scoffed and looked at Vera with disdain. “For your sake, I’ll forgive her.”
Vera observed the insincere display, her eyes glimmering with scorn.
It was clear now; her initial reluctance to attend what she suspected to be a sham birthday party was justified. The claim of going abroad was nothing more than a ploy to draw her into this event.
Vera stood tall, disregarding the curious stares around her. She appeared unaffected by the ordeal. “Are we finished? If so, I’m leaving.”
Just as she turned to leave, another person began screaming.
“My diamond necklace is gone!”
The voice immediately shifted everyone’s focus back to Vera.
Suspicion clouded their gazes, as though they were watching a thief caught in the act. Whispers began to circulate among the crowd.
“Could it be possible that someone came to this party intending to steal another’s necklace?”
“Now that you bring it up, there seems to be an ideal suspect right in front of us. I’ve heard she’s been struggling since she was expelled from the Montgomery family. Perhaps she attended this birthday party to steal and sell something for financial gain?”
“We need to find the thief immediately. Such behavior cannot be allowed!”
The conversations among the crowd continued, but every eye remained fixed on Vera.
With a contemptuous glint in her eyes, Tricia surveyed the crowd and declared, “No one is leaving this party until we identify the thief. I intend to find out who would dare to steal at my birthday celebration!”
She then spun around and called the person who had just raised the alarm about the missing necklace.
“Now, explain to me where you have been and whom you have spoken to since your arrival.”
The woman, Chloe Hampton, nervously bit her lip. “I have been in the dessert area since I arrived.” She appeared to be straining to remember, and then abruptly pointed at Vera.
“Oh, now I recall. I brushed past her moments ago, and shortly after, I realized my necklace was gone.”
While the previous comments had been mere malicious gossip, Chloe’s statement seemed to offer significant evidence.
In that instant, the collective disdain and revulsion in everyone’s eyes became unmistakable.
Vera silently balled her fists. It felt as though this entire birthday party had been set up with the intention of framing her.
First, Tricia had humiliated her by summoning her to the front, and now this orchestrated theft seemed designed to frame her.
Yet one thing puzzled her. She had once had a strong bond with Tricia, having looked after Tricia and the Guerrero family. Why would Tricia betray her like this now?
Had the human heart truly become so untrustworthy in the face of adversity?
Adela, seething with anger at the baseless accusation, clenched her jaw and retorted, “If you’re going to frame Vera, at least try to make some proper efforts. Does it make any sense that she could steal someone’s necklace just by brushing past her? This is utterly disrespectful.”
Tricia’s eyes narrowed slightly with irritation. “What’s with Adela? Why is she defending Vera?”
She advanced a step and remarked, “Adela, your naivety is showing. People who cannot handle their misfortunes might go to any extreme to regain their lost status. Theft might just be the beginning; they could eventually resort to robbery.”
Vera’s gaze grew icy as she replied firmly, “I did not steal her necklace.”
Tricia smirked and responded, “What thief ever admits to their crime? They only confess when the evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.”
She was resolute in her mission to place the blame on Vera, ensuring she would never be able to hold her head high again.
Lily’s eyes revealed a trace of disappointment as she let out a weary sigh. “The truth, Mom, Dad never meant to push you away. Your pride and stubbornness are to blame for this situation. If you were struggling, you could have come to us for help. Instead, you chose to steal. Your actions not only ruin your reputation but also cast a shadow on Mom and Dad.”
Vera’s icy gaze locked onto Lily with the intensity of a sharp blade slicing through the air, instilling a sense of fear that made Lily instinctively recoil.
“Do you not understand what I am saying? I did not take anything from her. I have not even come into contact with her.”
She had just taken another careful look at Chloe, ensuring they had not come into contact or brushed past each other. Upon entering, she had been preoccupied with looking for something and hadn’t had the opportunity to pay attention to anyone else.
Adela promptly spoke up to support her. “We’ve been together the entire time. Vera had nothing to do with this.”
“Aside from Vera, who else here would have a motive?” Tricia sneered, her voice laced with irony and contempt.
She looked down at Vera, relishing her newfound superiority as she metaphorically placed Vera beneath her feet.
She basked in the satisfaction of dominating Vera, her elation growing with each moment. “Given our long history, if you just hand over the necklace, we might decide against involving the police. But if you remain obstinate, the consequences will be far worse.”
Lily, clutching her chest in distress, urged urgently, “Vera, please give it to us quickly. Don’t make things worse. This could destroy your entire future.”
Vera’s expression remained unyieldingly cold, as though she were encased in a sheet of ice.
Before she could respond, Chloe abruptly lunged forward and grabbed the bag from Vera. In the blink of an eye, Chloe extracted a necklace from the bag and lifted it for everyone to see, declaring in a resolute tone, “This is my necklace!”
The sight of the necklace being found in Vera’s bag was like a bomb detonating amid a joyous gathering. Up until now, everyone had only speculated, but now hard proof had finally surfaced.
Fury blazed in Tricia’s eyes as she lunged forward, seized Vera’s wrist, and spat through clenched teeth, “I knew it. You’re a thief! How dare you steal from my friend at my birthday party?”
Lily gazed at Vera with deep disappointment, releasing a long, weary sigh.
“Vera, you’ve let me down profoundly. If Mom and Dad found out, they would be heartbroken. They’ve spent years trying to instill good values in you, but I guess they just couldn’t change who you truly are deep inside,” Lily added.
Vera’s eyes went wide with shock. She had been by Vera’s side the entire time. How could that necklace have ended up in Vera’s bag? Vera, her gaze now icy, wrenched her wrist out of Tricia’s hold.
She faced Chloe, her lips curling into a sneer. “You’re saying this necklace belongs to you. Can you prove it?”
Chloe stuttered, unable to meet Vera’s eyes. “I know my own things. Do you think I wouldn’t recognize what’s mine?”
With a piercing gaze, Vera challenged her, “Alright then. Tell me exactly what this necklace is made of and who the designer is. Every custom piece has a unique serial number engraved on the back. We can trace it back to the designer and the original buyer. Since you’re claiming this is yours, share those details.”
Chloe, now completely thrown off, was at a loss. How could she possibly know the materials of the necklace she held? But with many eyes on her, she had no choice but to press on.
“This necklace was a gift. How would I know all those details? Stop trying to cover up your crime. You stole my necklace!”
As she uttered the last words, Chloe’s voice suddenly gained strength and confidence. She refused to believe that Vera could turn the situation around.
Adela shot back with a mocking smile, “You should follow Vera’s suggestion and prove that this necklace is yours before accusing anyone of theft. What if this necklace belongs to Vera, and you’re claiming it wrongly?”
Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stepped back. “Wait! Does Vera have any proof that this necklace belongs to her?”
Vera responded with a soft, knowing laugh. “I can absolutely prove this necklace is mine.”