Chapter 131
Chapter 131
“When exactly did I give this to you?” Valérie asked again.
Juliette hesitated, then replied, “It was… not long after you got married…”
“So, not long after I got married, I gave you the wedding gift the Walker family gave me?” Valerie asked with a smile.
Everyone around let out low chuckles at that.
Sariah said, “Miss Scott, was it? Do you think we’re brain–dead, or is your brain so rotted you thought we’d believe such nonsense?”
Johanna crossed her arms arrogantly and laughed. “Even the most naive person wouldn’t casually give away something marked with their family crest.
Juliette’s face grew even paler. “I… It’s true…”
Back then, Valerie hadn’t accepted Aiden yet. She cried every
As her best friend, Juliette naturally went to comfort her at home.
But she didn’t expect how wealthy the Walker family was.
That huge house, the number of servants, and the walk–in closet bigger than her aunt and uncle’s entire home. Juliette had been overwhelmed with
envy.
All of the jewelry was neatly arranged in a box. Juliette liked each and every piece.
So, she secretly took one, a relatively small piece.
After all, Valerie had always been careless and wouldn’t notice a missing piece from such a
large
collection.
Juliette had known Valerie for nearly ten years. She knew Valerie too well. And as expected, Valerie hadn’t noticed at all.
But when Juliette tried to sell the piece out of desperation, she got caught red–handed.
“Enough.” Kelly crossed her arms and snapped, “Stealing is stealing., Don’t go spinning it like it was a gift. That’s disgusting. I already thought you were annoying at the restaurant last time, but I didn’t know you were this shady. Let’s call the cops!”
Juliette was terrified. She turned pale. “No, don’t call the police! If you do, I’m done for!”
Ever since she ran away, her uncle and aunt had been searching for her at school. She hadn’t dared return.
To make matters worse, those monsters had filed a missing persons report. Now, even walking on the street made Juliette anxious and paranoid. If –someone called the police, she’d be found immediately.
And once they found out she still had money, they’d drain her dry.
The thought of going back to that kind of life made Juliette break down. She cried out, “Valerie, I was wrong! I stole your jewelry, I admit it! It was my fault, but please! For the sake of our years of friendship, don’t call the police!”
She continued, “You know my background. You know what kind of people raised me. I’m begging you! If they catch me, I’m done for!”
Valerie did know what kind of people Juliette’s aunt and uncle were.
They had always treated Juliette badly. They forced her to do endless chores from the
1/2
At the time, Valerie had already been adopted by the Clark family. She had begged Everett to fund Juliette’s schooling. Tuition was cheap back then, and throughout high school, Valerie had been the one supporting her.
age
of
ften. By middle school, they forced her to work outside.
Chapter 131
After high school, Valerie’s status in the family plummeted, and Julietta’s lifestyle also took a dive. She had to start befriending ven two grew distant.
But Valerie had never blamed Juliette. She thought it was just because she herself had been busy, and still considered Julietta a close, dependable
friend.
After so many years of mutual support, she had regarded Juliette as a sister.
Now, she realized Juliette had only ever seen her as an ATM.
And Juliette had been the same thing to her aunt and uncle, a walking cash machine.
Now that the ATM had escaped, of course they were anxious. But Valerie didn’t owe her anything.
Juliette cried even harder, sobbing. “Valerie, I’ll give it back! I’ll give it back right now! Please let me go!”
Seeing her so desperate, Sariah stood up with a coquettish laugh. “Begging? That’s how you beg?”
Her tone was contemptuous, as if she were mocking a pathetic clown.
Not only Sariah. Even the jewelry store clerks had started watching, faces full of amusement and scorn.
Under the weight of all those eyes, Juliette trembled. Tears fell like rain as she looked to Valerie for help. “Valerie…”
Juliette knew Valerie was softhearted. She couldn’t bear to see others suffer. And after so many years together…
But unexpectedly, Valerie’s face remained cold and expressionless.
Valerie was indifferent. Juliette had never seen this side of her. Or maybe she had, once.
At the Clark family party. Valerie had looked down on her with that same cold expression.
Juliette’s heart pounded. Looking at this merciless version of Valerie, a flood of regret surged in, overwhelming and unstoppable.
All those times in the past, whenever Juliette had problems or faced tough situations, Valerie had always been there for her.
It had always been so natural for Valerie to help. But it was different now.
Johanna laughed. “You stole her things, so you should go to jail. If everyone could cry their way out, the world would be chaos!”
Sariah added with a flirtatious smile, “Mrs. Walker has a kind heart. But this isn’t just any trinket. It’s an important piece of jewelry gifted by the Walker family. Even if you want to apologize, shouldn’t you at least show some sincerity?”
More and more eyes turned their way.
Mocking. Scornful. Derisive. Every single gaze was full of malice. All of them were watching Juliette’s humiliation.
Juliette trembled all over, feeling like every ounce of malice was a knife stabbing deep into her.
AD
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