Chapter 230: What is Estelle Lockwood’s Identity?

Chapter 230: Chapter 230: What is Estelle Lockwood’s Identity?

CRASH. A vase shattered on the floor.

Old Mrs. Sloan’s expression darkened. "So you’ve decided to make an unreasonable scene, have you? Miss Foster, it seems compensation and an apology aren’t enough to teach you a lesson. Smashing my vase, destroying someone else’s property... You really ought to spend a couple of days in jail!"

"You..." Sophie Foster choked with anger.

"Sophie," Thea York said, playing the peacemaker. "Don’t be angry. Since the bracelet has been found, let’s just drop it... After all, given Estelle’s status, you can’t afford to offend her. Don’t blow this out of proportion."

Tears of frustration streamed down Sophie Foster’s face. "So what! Am I supposed to just let her bully me for no reason?!"

Thea York sighed. "Sometimes, when someone’s status outranks yours, there’s nothing you can do. Even I can’t help you today... If you keep making a scene, I’m afraid it won’t end well for you."

"What, is Estelle Lockwood a robber?!!!"

Sophie Foster suddenly shrieked, her shrill voice piercing everyone’s eardrums.

"She steals things and then comes after me! Is there any justice left in this world?!"

Murmurs began to spread through the crowd.

Sophie Foster was the victim, yet not only was she unable to get justice, she was also being threatened. It truly seemed unreasonable.

Thea York, playing the peacemaker for both sides, now put on a magnanimous air and turned to Estelle Lockwood. "Estelle, about this..."

"Does Miss Foster not even recognize her own lost bracelet?"

Estelle Lockwood spoke calmly, "Perhaps Miss Foster should take a closer look. That’s my bracelet, not yours."

...

...

Everyone was stunned.

Sophie Foster, however, shrieked without even glancing at it. "That is mine, you shameless woman! What do you mean, you have an identical one? Do you have any idea how much this bracelet costs or how hard it is to buy? Who do you think you are? Are you even worthy of owning the same bracelet as me?!"

Thea York had just been praising this brand, so everyone understood it was a limited-edition bracelet. What Sophie Foster said wasn’t entirely wrong. Given Estelle Lockwood’s status, it was likely that...

Wait, what was Estelle Lockwood’s status?!

A smile touched Estelle Lockwood’s lips. "Is Miss Foster implying that as the daughter-in-law of the Sloan family and the wife of Nathaniel Sloan, I still can’t compare to you?"

"You can buy a limited-edition bracelet, but I can’t; you have money, but I don’t."

"Are you looking down on Old Mrs. Sloan, or are you looking down on Nathaniel Sloan?"

The color drained from Sophie Foster’s face. She had spoken too hastily. Who knew Estelle Lockwood would be so shameless? ’Besides,’ she thought, ’Thea said that Estelle and Mr. Sloan are just an estranged couple. Thea will be the real Mrs. Sloan soon enough!’

Estelle Lockwood scoffed softly. "Actually, if Miss York had continued her search, she would have discovered that I have more than just this one bracelet in my bag."

As she spoke, Estelle Lockwood looked down and pulled several more boxes from her own bag.

She opened them one by one, revealing that they were all the same limited-edition bracelet!

They were identical, complete with authenticity marks. Combined with the luster of the gems and platinum—many of the wealthy ladies and socialites present could tell at a glance that the bracelets in Estelle Lockwood’s bag were genuine articles, not fakes.

So... that meant Estelle Lockwood owned several identical bracelets!

Estelle Lockwood said leisurely, "The authentication codes on the one Miss York took and the three I have here are consecutive."

"So, Miss York, are you sure the bracelet Miss Foster lost is here with me?"

As her words fell, the tables turned.

Thea York’s expression stiffened, her smile slowly vanishing.

A few of the ladies chimed in, "Consecutive authentication codes mean they were all purchased at the same time. And what a coincidence that would be. Even if Mrs. Sloan did steal one, is it possible she just happened to steal the one with a consecutive code?"

"Besides, Mrs. Sloan already has three others. Why would she steal one... Unless Miss Foster lost four bracelets at once, this story isn’t convincing at all."

Sophie Foster was dumbfounded. She saw the authentication code on the bracelet; it definitely wasn’t hers!

Unwilling to accept it, she shrieked at Estelle Lockwood, "Maybe you were just being greedy!!"

But Estelle Lockwood ignored her, instead looking calmly at Thea York with a faint smile on her lips.

’Thea York deliberately set her up, so she could just as easily set up Thea York in return.’

’There were only the three of them in the restroom, and no security cameras. That meant Thea York was free to make up any story she wanted.’

’So why couldn’t she do the same?’

Estelle Lockwood chuckled softly. "Miss York, you’ve actually known all along that I have four identical bracelets, so there was really no reason for me to steal another. You were in the best position to prove I’m not a thief, yet from start to finish, you’ve acted as if you knew nothing at all. Isn’t that a bit unethical? Anyone who didn’t know the situation might think you were deliberately trying to frame me."

A lump formed in Thea York’s throat. "Estelle, what are you talking about? How could I possibly know..."

"You don’t know? Miss York, you’ve been to my home so many times and have seen these bracelets on numerous occasions. You even know why I bought four of them in the first place. How can you flatly deny it now? Do I need to have Nathaniel come out and vouch for me?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s lips curled into a smirk.

’When it came to citing non-existent evidence, she really was something else.’

Thea York had no idea what Estelle Lockwood meant, and her expression turned grim. The other ladies, however, caught on.

"So Mrs. Sloan is saying that Miss York has seen these four bracelets at Imperial Crest before? And that she knew Mrs. Sloan bought four at once?"

"Yes, and doesn’t Miss York often brag about how she can come and go from Imperial Crest as she pleases? It would be perfectly normal for her to have seen them."

"Then what exactly is Thea York up to? She didn’t say a word about Mrs. Sloan having the same bracelet. And when it was found, instead of considering it might be Mrs. Sloan’s, she was certain Mrs. Sloan was a thief. I’d be a fool to believe this wasn’t a deliberate frame-up."

Indeed. If Thea York knew Estelle Lockwood owned such a bracelet, yet still accused her of theft after it was found, you couldn’t just say she forgot. It had to be intentional.

Thea York trembled all over. What Estelle Lockwood said sounded perfectly logical and well-supported, but... she truly didn’t know any of it!

A small smile played on Estelle Lockwood’s lips.

’That’s right. Thea York didn’t know a thing. The story about Thea knowing she had four bracelets was a complete fabrication. But so what?’

’She hadn’t known Sophie Foster had lost a bracelet, or that it would somehow end up in her bag. If she hadn’t been on her guard, she would have been framed and her reputation ruined today!’

"You’re talking complete nonsense!"

Sophie Foster rushed forward, pointing an accusing finger at Estelle Lockwood as she roared, "You’re just lying! Thea would never do something like that! Besides, even if you do have four bracelets, that doesn’t prove you didn’t steal mine! There were only the three of us in the restroom. If you didn’t steal it, who did?!"

A slight smile touched Estelle Lockwood’s lips. "You said it yourself. There were three people in the restroom. Besides me, there was someone else."

Besides Estelle Lockwood, and besides the victim, Sophie Foster, there was one person left... Thea York!

Sophie Foster froze for a moment, then her voice rose to a shriek. "Thea? You’re still trying to slander Thea, even now? I’m not done with you—!"

Before she could finish, two police officers walked in. "Who is Estelle Lockwood?"

Estelle Lockwood smiled calmly. "I am Estelle Lockwood. That’s right. I’m the one who called the police."