“What’s the matter? Feeling guilty? Are you afraid to let us search your bag?” Frederick let out a scornful snort and pointed at Hannah. “If you don’t hand over the necklace, don’t even think about leaving!”
“Don’t be like this, Frederick,” Shirley uttered quickly and looked at Hannah.
“Ms. Cole, things have already gotten to this point. You should just let us search your bag. That’s the only way innocence!”
The crowd was pointing fingers at Hannah.
“Exactly. She keeps saying she didn’t steal it, but she won’t let anyone check her bag. That’s suspicious.”
“If you ask me, she stole it and now, she’s just stalling for time!”
to prove your
“She better not drag this out until the end of the party. If she ends up upsetting the Lancasters, they might just throw her out. That would be humiliating!”
“Why are you still hesitating? Hurry up and take it out already! What’s all the fuss about?”
“Yeah, just take it out!”
Hearing them, Hannah sighed and looked at Shirley. “So, unless I take everything out of my bag here and now for you all to see, you won’t let this go?”
“Please understand, Ms. Cole. We’re just trying to help you prove your innocence.” Shirley smiled.
Then, she turned to Grace. “Don’t you agree, Mrs. Lancaster?”
Grace was already feeling a headache from all the commotion, and once she heard about Hannah’s past with Dominic, she had grown colder toward Hannah.
“Ms. Cole, please don’t disrupt our family’s event.”
Facing Grace’s hostile gaze, along with the onlookers who were enjoying the drama, Hannah smiled bitterly, as if mocking something.
“Alright. Search it, then.”
She looked as if she no longer cared about anything, ready to let things crash and burn. She then opened her bag in front of everyone.
A glint of triumph flashed across Shirley’s eyes.
She had already instructed that maid to secretly slip the necklace into Hannah’s bag. As long as Hannah took it out in front of everyone, it would be hard evidence. No matter how slick Hannah’s tongue might be, there’d be no way to talk her way out of it!
This was the price of crossing Shirley. She would make sure Hannah became the target of ridicule and scorn from all sides.
Not only that, but Shirley had even arranged for someone to hide in the shadows to record the entire scene so she could upload everything online. She wanted the netizens to see for themselves that their beloved Hannah was nothing more than a thief.
Shirley was going to ruin Hannah completely.
The thought made Shirley’s smile deepen as she locked her gaze on Hannah’s every move, not wanting to miss the exact moment Hannah’s expression would crumble when she pulled out the necklace.
Hannah let out a breath. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she opened her bag and took out everything inside, yg it all on the table.
There was lipstick, a compact cushion, tissues, perfume, and car keys. Then, she reached into the bag again, pausing for a
second.
1/2
Chapter 518
+25 BONUS
Shirley craned her neck, waiting eagerly to see the moment Hann’s expression changed.
But the next second, Hannah pulled her hand out empty and looked around at everyone. “Everything in my bag is here. Feel free
to take a look.”
“What?” Shirley froze.
“What’s going on? I thought the necklace would be in her bag? Why is it not there?”
“Yeah, this is strange. Did she hide it somewhere?“.
“Maybe… She really didn’t steal it after all.”
“That’s impossible!”
Shirley’s expression shifted. She immediately stepped forward and snatched Hannah’s handbag, turning it upside down and shaking it hard, only for nothing to fall out.
Where was the necklace?
She had even planned to snatch it back after Hannah took it out. But now, the necklace was really missing.
“Where did you hide the necklace?” Shirley questioned with a raised voice.
“Ms. Watson, why are you suddenly so agitated?” Hannah blinked, looking confused and even a little startled. “If there’s something you want to say, do it calmly.”
