?Chapter 981:


    Fury lit up Lucinda’s face. “Shut it! If she’s got nothing to hide, why won’t she let me search her? Only a guilty person would refuse!”


    Off to the side, N remained silent, watching the situation unfold. This wasn’t how she expected things to go, but Elena showing up on her own saved her the trouble of setting anything in motion.


    Sliding forward with measured calm, N spoke. “Lucinda does have a point. Miss Harper, if your conscience is clear, a simple search would resolve this quickly. Why resist?”


    Elena thought N was as annoying as ever. With just a few words, N managed to corner her without lifting a finger. If she refused, it would make her look like she had something to hide. But why should she let herself be searched just because Lucinda had used her? If Lucinda cast the usation, then Lucinda needed to back it up with proof. She doubted N didn’t understand that.


    A cold glint sharpened in Elena’s eyes. “Think you can search me just because you’re calling me a thief? Alright, then. I lost a two-hundred-million-dor gem and suspect both of you. How about you empty your pockets so I can check?”


    Brows furrowed, N replied, “Miss Harper, this kind of resistance isn’t helping your case. It’s starting to sound like you’re hiding something.”


    A slow, biting sarcasm tinged Elena’s voice as she addressed N and Lucinda. “Oh, what a convenient double standard. You get to use me of stealing your ring, but heaven forbid I say you stole my gem.”


    N’s face hardened for a moment, her eyes narrowing with hidden bitterness. Elena’s nerve was insufferable. She wondered just how long Elena could keep this up.


    At a loss for a retort, N pressed her lips together, managing only a wounded look.


    Lucinda, her nerves already frayed from the missing ring, saw Elena’s reluctance to be searched as damning.


    Ignoring Ellis, Lucinda lunged at Elena, grabbing for her arm.


    But Elena’s reflexes were lightning quick. In an instant, she had Lucinda’s wrist in a tight hold, sending a shock of pain up Lucinda’s arm and draining the color from her cheeks. Sweat beaded on Lucinda’s forehead.


    “Elena, you crazy woman, let me go!” Lucinda screamed. The pain in her voice made her words pierce the air.


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    Elena’s fingers dug deep, forcing Lucinda’s face to twist in torment. The fury in Lucinda’s eyes faded, reced by pure fear.


    A cold, chilling gaze settled over Elena’s face as she stared down at Lucinda. “You keep calling me a thief. Why not show everyone your proof? If you don’t have any, stop throwing baseless usations around. Understand?”


    Lucinda’s pride burned, but caution quickly took over. She bobbed her head, lips pressed tight, swallowing any retort.


    As soon as Elena released her, Lucinda stumbled backward. She gripped her aching wrist, her eyes shing between terror and a brewing storm of anger.


    Still defiant, Lucinda muttered under her breath, “If you didn’t take it, who did?”


    Ellis stepped in front of Elena, his eyes like ice as he stared at Lucinda. “A ring worth half a million? My sister wouldn’t even bother with it. If she wants a ring, the Harpers will buy her one for five million or even fifty million without batting an eye.”


    Lucinda’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Of course, you’d say that…” she grumbled.


    No amount of their logical responses could shake Lucinda’s suspicion. She remained convinced that Elena was behind the theft, and everything they said seemed like nothing more than a cover-up.


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