Chapter 21
At that very moment, panic struck everyone, and Sara’s face turned pale as a sheet. The missing ring was the most expensive piece of jewelry in the store, and if it were lost, even selling her wouldn’t cover the cost of compensation.
They hurriedly searched every corner but found no sign of the ring. Heart pounding.
Roseanne.
“Ouch, that hurts” cried Roseanne, shrinking into Jeffrey’s embrace.
inadvertently pressed harder as she applied medicine to
that to disinfect?” he barked.
Jeffrey angrily knocked the disinfecting tools from Sara’s hand. “What kind of way Terrified, Sara could hardly focus on the reprimand. Though the jewelry hadn’t gone missing on her watch, she felt responsible, fearing the repercussions of not fulfilling her duties. The weight of accountability for such a valuable item wasn’t something she could bear.
Anxiously, she turned to the still–complaining Roseanne and asked, “Ms. Larson, think carefully. Where could the ring have fallen off?” Roseanne hadn’t truly intended to make trouble For Sara, so after feigning hesitation, whispered, “During the fall, someone pulled the ring from my
hand
g at the doorway. At the time of Roseanne’s tumble, everyone had been distant except for Cynthia. Instantly, all eyes turned to Cynthia standing
“Miss, the lost ring is so valuable. I’m afraid you can’t leave as you were present at the time,” the manager said to Cynthia, stopping her from departing
Cynthia didn’t mind. She found a spot to sit and stated, “The ring isn’t on maj
“Then, would you allow us to check your bag?” Sara, scrambling on the floor, was too panicked to consider propriety and lunged to search Cynthia’s bag. She had suspected this poorly dressed woman who was browsing in a luxury jewelry store.
Cynthia dodged, frowning slightly. I told you, it’s not in my bag
Cynthia’s resistance made Roseanne secretly thrilled. Thief shouting to catch a thief. The more Cynthia resists now, the more humiliating it’ll be when she’s exposed, Roseanne thought, couldn’t wait to see Cynthia shamed and humiliated.
Unprepared, Cynthia locked eyes with Roseanne’s malicious glace. Before she could take a closer look, Roseanne transformed into a picture of injured innocence and accused, “Cynthia, you were the only one close to me when I fell. You must have taken the ring.
“Hand it over quickly. It’s not funny
“If you’re shon of moncy, I can lend you some, you can’t do this.”
Each stammered accusation from Roseanne confirmed Cynthia’s crime in everyone’s eyes. They all felt Cynthia was here to steal out of desperation.
Jeffrey was utterly convinced by Roseanne and looked at Cynthia with disgust. “Return the ring now, or I’ll call the cops”
He ached for his injured fiancee, wishing he could have taught this spiteful woman a lesson if only Roseanne hadn’t stopped him. “This vile woman plotted repeatedly against her, I can’t believe that I’ve had once been engaged to her, thought Jeffrey in disgust.
He expected Cynthia to come groveling when caught red–handed, but instead, he saw her calmly sitting, fiddling with her phone.
“Hand over the ring immediately, and then come to apologize to your sister,” he demanded.
Cynthia ignored him, her focus on her phone.
Never had anyone so openly disregarded Jeffrey, and rage caused his chest to heave. He rose, ready to take action.
“Jeffrey, don’t” Roseanne pretended to stop while his sleeve quickly got rid of her grasp. With that, she showed a smirk of victory
In his anger, Jeffrey hadn’t noticed his girlfriend’s ulterior motives. Approaching Cynthia, he was ready to lash out, fueled by fresh rage and old grievances, he planned to use full force.
“Sir, please calm down. Let the young lady hand it out herself, the manager interjected, seeing the escalating tension and trying to mediate But Jeffrey just didn’t listen. He was set on settling the score that very day.
Cynthia’s mouth curled into a dangerous ar wrath.
arc, a sparkle of menace flickering in her eyes. If anyone knew her well, they’d stay back to avoid her
The slap everyone expected never came, Before anyone could even see how she moved, Jeffrey’s taunting voice cut out, his previously raised hand now dropping helplessly.
Chapter 20
Unprepared, Cynthia was tackled to the ground, both tangled on the floor. Thankfully, neither was hurt due to the low stools.
The fall caused chaos in the store. Roseanne seized the opportunity to slip the ring into Cynthia’s bag.
After setting her trap, she still found herself on top and, driven by vengeance, swung a hand towards Cynthia.
Discerning her intent and acting before anyone could assist, Cynthia sharply bent her knees.
Roseanne’s hand was mid–air when a jolt of pain struck her back. Before she could react, her face made a close encounter with the ground, creating a new connection with the floor’s rugged surface. A few cuts appeared, bleeding profusely.
“Ahr Roseanne clutched her face in pain.
Jeffrey rushed to aid Roseanne, while Sara fetched the first–aid kit.
The ruckus, or perhaps Roseanne’s piercing scream, was so loud that even the manager, resting in the back, rushed to the scene. He was taken aback, scurrying to help. After all, those who patronized this establishment were reputable figures he couldn’t afford to offend.
Cynthia stood up swiftly, dusting herself off with cool resolution. She gave the theatrically groaning Roseanne a disdainful glance and headed
towards the exit.
Before reaching the front door, she heard a sharp cry from behind, “Ah, the ring!”
Not caring about the sting of antiseptics, Roseanne waved her hand in the air, showing the bare finger where there should have been a ring
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