6
I looked up at him, stunned.
He, who knew me better than anyone, chose not to believe me now.
“I… I won’t apologize. Because I didn’t do it.”
None of the contemptuous stares and the quiet ridicule surrounding me shattered me.
But his disbelief pierced through me like a blade.
Miguel’s voice softened, almost coaxing. “Be good. If you’ve done something wrong, you mus admit it…”
Each word felt like a slow execution, deliberate, cruel.
I stumbled back, my foot catching on a piece of clothing on the floor.
I crashed down, my hand slamming against something hard.
“I have proof.”
Saoirse’s face twisted with irritation. “Assistant Belle, enough with the excuses. Officers, take he away already!”
I slapped her hand away and forced myself to stand. Then, I picked up a shirt from the floor and tore off a button.
“This is a hidden camera. I wear it whenever I handle transfers involving valuable items.” “Officer Brandon, this camera recorded my entire day. It’s enough to prove my innocence.” A flicker of admiration passed through his eyes. “You’re right. Please hand over the footage.” Soon, the tech team extracted the video and projected it onto the large screen behind us. But the technician, unfamiliar with the controls, accidentally dragged the timeline to the night
before.
The footage showed me being forced to drink by a group of thugs, then collapsing in a bathroom, my body disheveled and limp.
Miguel’s face drained of color. He stared at the screen in stunned silence.
“Belle… why didn’t you tell me…”
Only now did his eyes fall on the scars scattered across my body.
The once flawless skin he had adored was now rough, marked, and battered.
“Your body…?”
I didn’t look at him. My voice remained calm. “Officer, please skip to 5:40 PM. That’s when I entered the venue. The handover was at 6.”
Snapping out of his daze, the technician quickly adjusted the timeline.
The footage showed me accepting the box from the assistant and placing it straight into the safe.
I hadn’t handed it to Saoirse until right before the event began.
Now, all eyes shifted toward her. She took a step back, panic flashing in her eyes.
“It… it wasn’t me…”
Her gaze darted around, her voice trembling. “Maybe, maybe it was the other assistant, or maybe the necklace wasn’t real to begin with!”
The assistant shot to his feet, face red with fury. “Are you insane? You were the one who told me to switch the necklace and slip it into Belle’s pocket! You even asked me to lie for you!”
He pulled out his phone and waved it.
“I’ve got the $10,000 transfer you sent me as proof. Don’t even think about denying it!”
As chaos unfolded before my eyes, I couldn’t help but let out a low, cold laugh.
“So now, shouldn’t the police arrest the real thief?”
