?<strong>Chapter 382:</strong>


    “It’s not easily bought. Kallie is skilled in deceit. It is quite humorous. After being ousted from the Nixon family, Kallie couldn’t possibly possess such fine items.”


    The mockingughter grew harsher. Some people looked at Kallie as if she was trash.


    “I feel ufortable staying in the same ce with such a thief and her mother.”


    “Can someone get them out of here as soon as possible?”


    Paying no heed to the clueless onlookers’ taunts, Kallie calmly pulled out her phone and searched her album for the certificate of the emerald bracelet she had purchased. The very document proved she had purchased a bracelet, with a price tag far surpassing Evelyn’s.


    Kallie raised her voice and dered, “The certificate number can be verified. If you doubt it, verify it right here. I won’t lie about it.”


    Confident, Kallie presented the evidence, leaving the onlookers momentarily uncertain, exchanging nces. Evelyn remained skeptical.


    “Even if it proves you can afford it, so what? Some people steal not out of need, but because they desire what others have. Maybe you bought your daughter a ne, and she just wanted my bracelet.”


    Kallie put her phone away with a sneer. “I own several auction houses and have ess to the finest items in the world. It’s odd to think my daughter would need to steal anything.”


    Evelyn gasped and said, “You are lying. How could—”


    Kallie, no longer wishing to engage in this fruitless conversation with Evelyn, turned her sharp gaze to Zuri, who stood there feeling guilty.


    Kallie announced word by word, ensuring Zuri grasped the gravity of the situation, “This hotel should have surveince cameras. The bracelet in question is enough evidence to file a case. I’ll call the police right now. I don’t want to point fingers, but I must warn the mastermind that police involvement could lead to her arrest. Once charged, if found guilty, she would have a criminal record for life.”


    As expected, Zuri panicked and knelt before Kallie, her face pale. “I’m sorry, Kallie. I stole the bracelet and shifted the me on Sophie. I didn’t mean to do so. Could you not call the police, please?”


    Kallie felt a deep sense of disappointment. The previous encounter with Zuri a few days before had made her soften her heart, assuming Zuri might have a tough time in the Reeves family’s residence. She hadn’t expected such cunning from Zuri at such a young age, reflecting all the worst traits of Melinda.


    The sudden turn of events caught the bystanders off guard. Zuri knelt on the floor, crying bitterly, as if she had just realized the gravity of her mistake. She began to bow repeatedly. “I’m sorry, Kallie. It was me. Please don’t drive me out.”


    An onlookermented, “She’s just a child, after all. She’s young and didn’t know better. Let this slide.”


    “Yes, she knew nothing. Don’t be this harsh with a kid.”


    Kallie sneered at theirments. That was not what they said when they scolded Sophie without bothering to figure out the truth. She never intended to make things difficult for Zuri. From the very start, she solely wanted to set things right and clear Sophie’s name.


    As Kallie extended her hand, wanting to help Zuri up from the floor, someone beat her to it.


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