Sophie Foster declared emphatically, "Estelle Lockwood is the one who stole it! Thea was just trying to help you and Mr. Sloan see Estelle’s true colors!"
"How is a woman with sticky fingers like her worthy of marrying Mr. Sloan!"
Despite her righteous tone, Old Mrs. Sloan just scoffed.
"If my grandson isn’t interested in you, you should do some self-reflection instead of blaming my granddaughter-in-law. I don’t need you worrying about what kind of person she is!"
Sophie Foster was furious. ’It’s obvious Estelle Lockwood stole it! Why is Old Mrs. Sloan protecting a thief?’
Old Mrs. Sloan sneered, "Thea York, is that what you think too?"
Thea York shook her head helplessly. "Old Mrs. Sloan, I said from the beginning that I agreed to a search because I believe Estelle would never commit petty theft. Now that things have escalated, only a search can prove her innocence... If we keep delaying, others will just think Estelle has a guilty conscience."
Old Mrs. Sloan’s face turned even darker. Noticing the gazes from the people around them, she shot Thea York a cold glare.
Estelle Lockwood smiled faintly. "Grandma, you should rest. I can handle this."
A glint flashed in Thea York’s eyes. "Estelle, how else can you handle this besides a search?"
Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow. "Setting Sophie Foster aside for a moment, it seems Miss York is quite eager for me to be searched."
Thea York sighed, looking as if her good intentions were being misunderstood. "Estelle... I won’t give you a big speech, but I truly don’t know how else we can prove your innocence. After all, sometimes words aren’t enough to clear one’s name."
"You’re not wrong about that."
Estelle Lockwood nodded in complete agreement. "Then let’s do the search."
"Estelle, if you’re not willing..." Thea York suddenly froze. "What did you say?"
Estelle Lockwood gave a half-smile. "I said I agree to the search. Go ahead and search me, Miss York."
For a moment, Thea York actually hesitated.
’Why did Estelle agree so readily... Could she have found out?’
’But that’s impossible. I was so discreet. There’s no way Estelle could have found out. Even if she did, she wouldn’t have had enough time to do anything about it.’
So, Thea York forced a relieved-looking smile. "Estelle, then let me search you. I know you wouldn’t do something like this, so I’ll just do a quick search."
Estelle Lockwood’s smile deepened. "Alright. But since you’re the one who proposed the search, Miss York, how will we settle the score if it turns out I didn’t steal it?"
A vein throbbed on Thea York’s temple. Estelle slowly continued, "Grandma is right. I’m not just me; I’m also Nathaniel Sloan’s wife, a member of the Sloan Family. If you, Miss York, baselessly accuse a Sloan, how should this matter be resolved?"
A bad premonition grew in Thea York’s heart.
The onlookers exchanged glances. Estelle Lockwood was so composed; it really didn’t seem like she was the thief.
Sophie Foster suddenly hesitated. Her head cleared a little, and she knew the Sloan Family was a force she couldn’t afford to offend. If she had really wronged Estelle Lockwood...
But Thea York shot her a firm look, followed by a slight shake of her head.
Sophie Foster was instantly reassured, feeling even more contempt for Estelle Lockwood’s act.
"Hmph. If you didn’t steal it, I’ll get on my knees and apologize to you!"
Estelle Lockwood scoffed and looked at Old Mrs. Sloan. "Grandma, for slandering your granddaughter-in-law, a simple apology on their knees... are you satisfied with that?"
Old Mrs. Sloan sneered. "Kneeling to apologize? That’s just a bit of public humiliation. What good is that? If Estelle didn’t steal it, and it’s proven that you slandered her, you’ll either go to jail or compensate her with company shares. My granddaughter-in-law is not someone you can bully so easily! Thea York, that goes for you too!"
Thea York swayed slightly, but the thought of her foolproof plan brought a smile back to her face. "Old Mrs. Sloan, I understand what you mean."
She sighed. "Although I believe Estelle wouldn’t do such a thing, I have to be the bad guy here for the sake of Nathaniel’s reputation. After all, I’m one of Nathaniel’s closest friends. I can’t just stand by and watch his good name be tarnished."
"Estelle, since it has come to this, I’m sorry."
Estelle Lockwood’s lips curled. "Alright. Please, begin."
Old Mrs. Sloan was still faintly worried, but then she saw Nathaniel Sloan give her a slight shake of his head.
’Estelle said she’d handle it, so she can handle it.’
Alright. She would trust Estelle.
Thea York walked forward and put on a show of rummaging through her bag. Estelle Lockwood’s lips curled slightly.
’A little while ago, Thea York had come over to get friendly with her. Was that really all it was? Hadn’t Thea made some other, unnecessary movement?’
Estelle Lockwood had felt her bag being moved slightly. At that moment, Thea York had touched her bag.
Combined with this whole drama about a search, what was there left for Estelle not to understand?
’Thea York had made such a big fuss just to brand her as a thief, hadn’t she?’
’She had to admit, Thea York was a good actress—’
And indeed, Thea York’s expression changed. As if in shock, her face paled, and she took half a step back.
"Thea, how is it!" Sophie Foster asked impatiently.
Thea York bit her lower lip, her hands unconsciously clasping together. She seemed to glance nervously at Estelle Lockwood. "Estelle, I..."
Thea York shook her head, looking from Estelle Lockwood to Old Mrs. Sloan. Anyone could see her hesitation.
Estelle Lockwood tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You can just say it, Miss York."
"I don’t know, I really don’t know why you would do this..."
Before Thea York could finish, Sophie Foster rushed forward excitedly. She caught sight of the bracelet in Thea York’s palm and shouted, "My bracelet!"
!
The crowd was stunned!
They recognized that bracelet. They had indeed seen it on Sophie Foster’s wrist earlier!
It was really found in Estelle Lockwood’s bag?!
Everyone’s gaze fell on Estelle Lockwood. To be searched in front of so many people, only to be proven a thief... Tsk, tsk. Old Mrs. Sloan had protected her granddaughter-in-law so fiercely, only to lose face so spectacularly.
The color drained from Old Mrs. Sloan’s face.
Only Estelle Lockwood stood there calmly, ignoring all the strange looks and contemptuous whispers around her.
Sophie Foster glared at Estelle Lockwood and demanded, "What else do you have to say? The evidence is irrefutable! Thea was trying to give you an out just now. All you had to do was admit it, but no, you had to blow things up. Well, now you’ve made a fool of yourself!"
Then she turned to Old Mrs. Sloan, a triumphant glint in her eyes. "Old Mrs. Sloan, you see? I told you the search was for your own good. Now it’s been proven that this granddaughter-in-law of yours is no good. She stole my bracelet. Are you still going to protect her?"
Old Mrs. Sloan stared at the bracelet. Although it looked identical to Sophie Foster’s, she was certain Estelle would never do such a thing!
"Protect her? If Estelle really stole it, would she be stupid enough to leave the bracelet in her bag, just waiting for you to find it so brazenly?"
"That... does make sense. Mrs. Sloan doesn’t seem like an idiot..."
"How can you say that!!!" Sophie Foster flew into a rage. Flustered and exasperated, she lost her temper, grabbing a decorative vase from a nearby display and smashing it on the ground!
"Estelle Lockwood is a thief! She’s a thief! How dare you protect a thief and bully me, the victim!"