Ch. 1956..1960

Chapter 1956

Chapter 1956 The exhibition was at the rear of the venue.

Most people must have checked it out already since by the time Caprice and Isabel showed up, there was only the same group of girls they met just now. They were gathered around the diamond.

Caprice and Isabel took a look at the art pieces. While turning a corner, Isabel accidentally bumped into a staff holding a glass of wine. Its contents spilled onto her wrist. The staff apologized frantically, "I'm very sorry, miss. Let me take you to the washroom."

Isabel was not bothered. Besides, the washroom was only a short walk away. She turned to Caprice. "Caprice, just hang around over here and check out the collection. I'll be right back."

Caprice obliged and nodded. Isabel waved the staff off and went to the washroom by herself.

Meanwhile, the group of ladies who were checking out the pink diamond had left as well. This section was suddenly basked in silence.

Caprice continued to browse the collection before heading over to the pink diamond that was protected by reinforced glass. The pink diamond was strapped onto a necklace. It was illuminated with a warm glow that further accentuated its brilliance. After inspecting it briefly, Caprice went on to check out the other art pieces.

However, as soon as she approached the other art pieces, she suddenly heard the alarms blaring off.

She was jolted by the sudden alarm.

Then, she watched as a young staff member paced anxiously toward the spot where the pink diamond was exhibited and suddenly cried out, "Mrs. Duwait’s pink diamond is gone!”

Caprice was appalled. She had been staring at it mere seconds ago. How could it have suddenly vanished into thin air? She began heading over there to figure out what had happened.

That was when the staff cast a vigilant look at her, her eyes filled with suspicion.

Caprice frowned.

It would seem like the staff suspected her of stealing the renowned pink diamond.

Meanwhile, more staff members and guests flocked over to the scene, drawn by the commotion. They all heard the staff when she cried out that the pink diamond was lost. Soon, they all cast a suspicious look at Caprice.

Caprice said rather bluntly, "It was still inside there just now. | saw it. Are you sure it's gone?"

The staff eyed her sharply. "When | heard the alarm go off and rushed over, you were the only one here."

"She was the only person here when the alarm sounded. Who else but she could have stolen it?"

"There's a sensor underneath the glass cover. The moment the pink diamond is removed from its original spot, the alarm will be triggered. She has to be the one who stole it since she's the only one here."

People jumped to conclusions.

Caprice cried out vehemently, "! didn't steal it!"

‘Who else could it be? You're the only one here!" a man accused her.

Caprice was completely confused. She was still looking at the pink diamond only moments ago, so how did it suddenly disappear? She denied the accusation, "I don't know. | didn't steal it."

Everyone was casting doubtful looks at her.

Someone suddenly raised a question, "Who is she anyway? What family is she from? How have | never seen here before in Westchester?"

’| don't know her either, but | saw her showing up with Isabel Ross." The person who said this was the same man who had tried to talk to Caprice just now but was chased off by Isabel. He grinned icily and added, "I was wondering why she was so standoffish, so she was a thief this entire time."

"Hehe..." People began to snigger.

Several men in the crowd who looked otherwise gentlemanly had revealed their true selves. They cast devious and even perverted looks at her.

Chapter 1957

One of the men confronted Caprice. "Girlie, hurry up and hand over the pink diamond. Just so you know, I'm good friends with the Duwaits. | can tell them to go easy on you if you hand it over right now."

Caprice repeated again and again, "I didn't steal it! It was not me!" "Who else could it be other than you?" "Shame, the pretty little thing turned out to be a common thief."

"That's right. Hurry up and hand it over. Norman over here has even offered to defend you. You'd hand it over if you know what’s good for you."

How did she find herself in this situation? She had never been accused as a thief in her entire life! She was furious and was at a loss for what to do.

What should she do? What was there to do?

She had to look for Isabel! She was the only one who could save her in this situation.

She turned toward the washroom.

"She's trying to run! Stop her!" someone cried out.

The staff rushed forward and had Caprice flanked from all sides in no time.

Everyone pressed forward and surrounded her as well.

Caprice resorted to reaching for the phone in her bag, intending to call Isabel.

It was at that crucial moment when she suddenly heard a familiar voice calling after her. It was a sharp and shrill voice. ‘What’s going on, Caprice?

Why do they have you surrounded?" It was Heather. She showed up with an older lady and flashed a look of stark curiosity at Caprice. Caprice frowned as her guts told her that something foul was about to happen.

Someone in the crowd turned to address Heather, "Miss Manson, do you know this girl? Who is she? Why haven't we met her before?"

"She's not from Westchester, but I’m sure you all know her boyfriend." Heather looked at Caprice and announced with a smile, “Her boyfriend is President Carter of Carter Tech City."

The moment she said this, a wave of silence overtook the crowd.

Everyone was completely baffled.

"Oh, my God! Why would President Carter choose someone like her?”

"If | had to guess, it’s because she’s beautiful.”

‘What a disgrace. She's soiling President Carter's name. If | were him, | would be disgusted."

The consensus was one of shock and amusement.

Caprice felt the color slowly draining out of her face.

Heather feigned ignorance and asked wryly, ‘Why are you saying this? What did she do?" "She stole Mrs. Duwait's pink diamond."

"She refuses to admit it as well. How shameful."

Heather turned to Caprice and began speaking to her in a mild, concerned voice, "Caprice, you're President Carter's friend, and that makes you a person of status as well. Come on, hand over the pink diamond before Mrs. Duwait contacts the police. It wouldn't be a good look if you were arrested."

Caprice was boiling over with anger. A part of her wanted to say, "Go ahead, call the police for all | care”, but Isabel began storming in from the back of the crowd before she could have her piece.

Isabel rushed to her side and asked frantically, "What's going on over here?”

After finally seeing someone who was on her side, Caprice was so moved that she nearly broke out in tears. She suppressed herself and said, "Isabel, they're accusing me of stealing Mrs. Duwait's pink diamond."

Isabel guarded Caprice with her arms and cast a vicious look at Heather. She surveyed the crowd and asked out loud, "Does anyone have any proof that she stole it?

The staff who was the first one at the scene spoke up, "She was the only one here when the alarms went off."

Isabel scoffed, "How does that prove anything? How does her being present when the alarms went off imply that she was the thief? Would a thief be idiotic enough to stick around after stealing something so expensive?"

 

Chapter 1958 Awave of silence washed through the crowd. Even the staff who initially accused Caprice was speechless.

"Isabel, | know you're trying to protect Caprice, but this is not the right time or place," Heather remarked with a faint smile, “Everyone here is a public figure who commands a great deal of respect. There won't be any common thieves among us."

Someone in the crowd chimed in, "That’s right. We are people of stature. No matter how much we admire the pink diamond, we would never stoop down to something as low as stealing. She was the only one at the scene, so she must have stolen it.”

"You're just a common actor. Why don't you mind your own business? If you want to help her, then tell her to hand over the pink diamond peacefully.”

Isabel ignored all of them and turned to the staff. "There should be surveillance cameras. Pull out the footage.” This immediately silenced the crowd, and they began glancing at the staff.

Caprice's eyes shone.

That's right! How could she forget about the surveillance cameras?

Alady, who seemed to be the leader of the venue team, spoke up,” Unfortunately, the surveillance cameras in this area happened to malfunction today."

"Strange coincidence, isn't it? Someone must have tampered with them." Upon hearing the passing remark from someone in the crowd, everyone began casting their suspicions at Caprice again.

Isabel stepped in front of Caprice protectively. "She couldn't possibly have known that the surveillance cameras are down. | brought her here on short notice."

Heather expressed tiredly, "Isabel, stop trying to defend her already. Hurry up and hand over the pink diamond before Mrs. Duwait finds out about this."

“Heather, I'll slap your head off if you don't shut up!" Isabel threatened her.

Heather scowled as a burst of anger swelled up inside her. Suddenly, an idea came to her, and she asked in a nonchalant voice, "Isabel, you're not in cahoots with her, are you?”

"She sure is yapping a lot fora common actor. They definitely planned this together and are scrambling for a way out now that they've been caught."

People threw snide remarks at them. Isabel closed her eyes to suppress her anger. Caprice had never felt so wronged in her entire life. She was fuming!

Just as she was about to erupt, someone suddenly gestured at her purse. ’ Look at her. She's been holding onto that purse the entire time. The pink diamond must be inside!"

Everyone directed their attention to Caprice’s purse. She was caught by surprise.

Whenever she was feeling upset, her default reaction was to clench her fists tightly. Since her purse was the only thing she had in hand, it was only natural that she would clench it tightly.

Heather made a proposition. "Caprice, if you are truly innocent, why don't you let them search your purse?"

The people agreed, "Yes, let them check your purse.”

Isabel frowned disapprovingly. "You don't have the right to do that." Caprice tugged at her to stop her. "It's fine. Let them do it." If she did not prove her innocence, they were going to keep humiliating her!

Upon noting her determined expression, Caprice pursed her lips and stopped protesting. She presented the purse for everyone to see. She was going to open it and pour out its contents.

"Wait a minute, you can’t do it yourself.” Sophia, who had silently stood by Heather the entire time, suddenly interjected. She suggested, "Let the staff do it.”

’Yeah, let the staff search your purse! She's going to find some way to hide it if we let her do it!" People heckled her. The first female staff who accused Caprice stepped forward and held her hand out, demanding the purse.

Caprice fearlessly handed the purse to her.

The staff began to rummage through the purse and extracted everything inside it.

There was nothing out of the ordinary: a phone, a small mirror, lipstick, and several cards.

 

Chapter 1959 Everyone held their breaths and watched intently. Caprice looked on, completely unfazed.

When the staff produced the final item inside the purse, a regular credit card, everyone shared a look of disappointment. It was in that decisive moment when she reached for another concealed pocket in the purse that Caprice never used to stash anything.

Her expression changed the moment her fingers were tucked into the pocket. She removed something from within and put her hands high in the air.

The surface of the pink diamond gleamed underneath the ceiling lights, reflecting its brilliant glow in every direction. It was the necklace along with the treasured gem.

Everyone grew wide-eyed, Caprice most of all. She stammered, "No way... How could it be inside my purse?!” "Caprice..." Isabel turned to her.

Caprice spoke with a tinge of panic in her voice, "Isabel, it wasn't me! | did not steal it!"

Isabel assured her, "I know, | believe you."

It was just a pink diamond, Caprice had never been fond of gemstones ever since she was a child. Even if she happened to like it, she would not have stolen it.

Everyone nearby heard their exchange and snickered at their expense. "The pink diamond is found inside your purse, and you still insist that you did not steal it. Do you expect us to believe you?" "That's right. We've caught the thief red-handed. Let's have Mrs. Duwait call the police."

Heather stepped forward. She spoke to Caprice in a disappointed tone, " So, this is the kind of person you have been this entire time. How would President Carter feel? He cares so much about you. Did you ever consider his feelings when you crept your fingers toward the pink diamond?"

Caprice's eyes started to turn red as she shouted at the top of her voice, insisting adamantly, "I did not steal it!’ Heather dragged a long sigh.

Caprice almost wanted to hit her right then and there.

Fortunately, Isabel was a step ahead of her. She rushed towards Heather. ’ Heather, you set Caprice up!”

Heather backed away from her and muttered all the while, "Isabel, we caught her with the pink diamond in her purse. There’s no way you can refute that. You can’t blame it on me."

"I'm going to slap your head off even if it wasn’t you!" Isabel roared, her fists raised.

Sophia cried out sharply, "Security! Call security! They're resorting to violence now that they've been caught!"

The security team and Heather's friends rushed forward.

Even the people who had been spectating the entire time hurried forward. They had had enough of Isabel and Caprice. Everyone was on Heather's side.

Before Isabel could even graze her fingers against Heather, she was overpowered by the combined strength of everyone else. She tumbled to the floor.

Caprice could not stand by idly, so she quickly went to help Isabel.

Right then, a leg was raised. The sharp point of a high heel looked like a dagger.

Caprice barely had time to react as she shielded Isabel with her body. The point of the high heel jabbed viciously at Caprice’s back.

She felt a sharp stab of pain and grimaced.

Just when she thought Heather had had enough, the vicious woman stomped on her back several more times. Thump, thump, thump!

Several other people jabbed violent kicks at her body as well.

She could not resist the pain anymore and cried out.

Shielded by Caprice's body, Isabel was unhurt, but she was horrified by what was happening. She completely lost it and screamed, "If any of you pricks continue kicking her, I'll banish you and your entire family from Westchester!"

There was something about the way she had said it, especially the pitch of her voice, that made everyone stop. They all fell silent, even withdrawing their feet from Caprice.

Isabel helped Caprice to her feet. She looked up and saw Heather, her friends, and everyone else surrounding them smiling mockingly at them.

 

Chapter 1960

Aman remarked condescendingly, "Banish us out of Westchester? You sure know how to run your mouth." “What a joke! How dare a common actress like you make threats like this?"

“Ha! That's the funniest thing I've heard all year!"

Everyone laughed and mocked them, especially Heather. She was not even hiding it anymore as she laughed heartily and savored every moment.

Isabel tried to charge at her again.

Caprice hurriedly stopped her and held her back. "Stop it. Don't be impulsive." Isabel drew a deep breath. "I'll call my Dad right now."

She had enough!

Caprice nodded. They would have to let Uncle Carter settle this for them.

Upon hearing their exchange, the crowd began hurling snide remarks at them again. "Call whoever you want, call God himself. He won't save you. You stole

Mrs. Duwait's pink diamond!"

Sophia smiled devilishly. "Hurry up and notify Mrs. Duwait, then the police. We're done wasting time with her. | don't want to hear her miserable excuses anymore."

As soon as she said this, one of the ushers posted at the entrance of the venue ran to the scene. He was very nervous and turned to all of his colleagues who were present at the scene. "Somebody, send a message to Mr. and Mrs. Duwait! Mr. and Mrs. Carter from Carter Corporation are here.

They came with Mr. and Mrs. Stockton from Glanchester!"

As soon as he made the announcement, the other staff members sprang to the task. "Okay, got it!"

With that, they ran to their respective posts.

The gathered crowd seemed to have had their fill of fun as well, so they began to disperse and returned to the venue.

The Carters were a prestigious family. Mr. Carter was one of the oligarchs in Westchester while his wife, Mrs. Carter, was a world-famous painter.

As for the Stocktons, Mr. Stockton was an oligarch who reigned over Glanchester while Mrs. Stockton was a famous investor and philanthropist.

These were no ordinary people!

Even getting the chance to exchange a common greeting with them as mere passing strangers was something worth bragging about!

The crowd dispersed very quickly. Heather's friends went off with their respective families as well.

Even Heather's father, Roman, paced over anxiously. He called after his daughter and wife, "What are you two standing over there for? Come with me!"

They hurried over. Caprice and Isabel were left standing there in a daze.

‘Isabel, are they talking about our parents? Are they here?” Caprice could not believe her ears.

Isabel's eyes radiated with light. "I think so."

She immediately took Caprice's arms and wanted to check out the commotion, but they were immediately cut off by the staff who formed a line.

They were sentenced by sharp looks from the staff. The frontmost staff, who found the pink diamond in Caprice's purse, said with scorn in her voice, "You're not going anywhere until Mrs. Duwait and the police show up."

Isabel said sharply, "You guys had better get out of my way right now." Caprice could feel the anger physically seething from her body. She would not be surprised if they came to blows. She tried to get Isabel to calm down and stepped in. "We're not going anywhere. Our family is here, so we want to see them."

"Your family?" the female staff expressed with stark surprise before sneering, "It's only the Stocktons and the Carters who showed up, nobody else. You're not going to tell me that they are your family, are you?"

As soon as she finished speaking, two security guards stepped forward, each brandishing a stun baton. They cast menacing looks at Isabel." Enough of your games. Don't be surprised when we don't go easy on you!"

Caprice and Isabel fell silent.

Just when it seemed like they were going to retaliate against the security guards, they heard a round of footsteps approaching. It was followed by a familiar voice.

"Caprice? Isabel? It really is you two! What happened to you two? How did you end up in this state?"