Chapter 3 Stealing?

Seeing that it was about time, Nora smiled and called out, "Emily, come over to Mommy.It's time to open the presents."

"Okay," Emily replied with a sweet smile.Then she hesitated and looked at Fiona."Sister, it's your birthday too today, but it seems like everyone forgot to prepare a gift for you.You don't mind, do you?"

Fiona shook her head expressionlessly."No, I don't."

She just hoped this party would end soon.

"That's good," Emily said, seeming relieved.

She then beamed and added, "There are so many presents today.If you see something you like,I'll give it to you."

Fiona nodded indifferently.

With that, Emilyy eagerly started unwrapping the presents.She had been missing for many years and had just returned.The Dawson Parents hosted this party clearly to make a big deal out of her return.With the Dawson Parents' emphasis and Abel's clever hints, everyone naturally tried to give the best gifts.Each gift Emily unwrapped was more extravagant than the last, and her eyes began to sparkle with excitement.As the cherished daughter of the Dawson Family, she shouldn't have been so easily swayed by material things.However, those three years away from home had been tough.So now, looking at these expensive gifts, she couldn't help but feel her breath quicken.But remembering the occasion, she forced herself to calm down,maintaining the grace and poise expected of a Dawson.

Indeed, there's no place like home!

Three years ago, what had possessed her to stage her own disappearance?Emily opened each gift, thanking the giver with every unwrapping.

"Emily, this one is from Mom and Dad.Open it and see," Gilbert said with a smile, handing her a beautifully crafted rosewood box.

"Thank you, Mom and Dad," Emily said sweetly, then opened the box.But inside, it was completely empty.Hilbert and Noraa both froze.

"Where's the gift?"Nora exclaimed."I personally put the white jade bracelet in there!"

Fiona had been quietly standing aside.But a white jade bracelet?Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, a sense of unease creeping in.

"A bracelet?"Emily looked surprised.

"This white jade bracelet was handpicked by your mother and me," Hilbert said seriously.

"It's made from the finest jade, worth at least half a million dollars!"

"That's so expensive," Emily exclaimed, covering her mouth in surprise."But now, the bracelet is gone!Could it be... stolen?"

"The box has always been kept in the house's storage room.Who else could take it besides someone from the family?"Hilbert frowned.

"Someone from the family?"Emily looked puzzled."There are only four of us in the family: Dad, Mom, me, and my sister.Dad and Mom definitely wouldn't take it,and I have no reason to steal it.Could it be..."

Emily instinctively glanced at Fiona, then quickly waved her hands as if realizing she had misspoken."Sister, I'm not saying you took it!The bracelet must have been stolen by one of the servants.Dad, Mom!This is worth five hundred thousand dollars!We need to investigate thoroughly."

"Of course!"Hilbert said coldly.

Fiona stood there, her hands trembling slightly.The spot where the bracelet had been felt like it was burning, the pain was intense.Now, she was almost certain.This was a setup.A trap aimed at her.

But what she wasn't sure of was how many people were involved in this scheme.Emily resented and disliked her, so if she had set this up to harm her, Fiona wouldn't be surprised.'But Dad and Mom... did they... did they take part in this?'Fiona's expression turned slightly dazed.She remembered three years ago.

It was winter.Nora reached out her hand to her, smiling so gently.She said, "Child, come home with me."

Fiona looked at this noble and kind woman and placed her hand in hers.She thought she had found a home from then on.For the past three years, Mr. and Mrs. Dawson had been kind and caring to her, except for asking her to imitate Emily.They were gentle and considerate.Because she cherished that warmth, even if it meant being a stand-in, Fiona accepted it willingly.But now.Emily had returned.So, her existence was an eyesore.So, did Dad and Mom also find her intolerable? No!Dad and Mom couldn't possibly treat her like this.While Fiona was in a daze, Hilbert had already called all the servants with swift decisiveness.The other guests, not expecting this turn of events, gathered around eagerly to watch.

As soon as the servants were assembled, Hilbert said coldly, "Speak up, who took the bracelet!If you confess now, I'll give you a chance.But if we find out who did it, you'll be kicked out of the Dawson Family!"

A servant immediately burst into tears and said, "Master, I'm sorry, it's my fault."

"Your fault?"Hilbert's gaze was icy."Did you steal the bracelet?"

The servant cried even harder."I shouldn't have let Miss threaten me into helping her steal the bracelet."She then turned towards

Fiona and said, "Miss, I'll give you back the fifty thousand dollars.You should return the bracelet."

Fiona felt a chill run through her entire body.

This servant was the one who had personally put the bracelet on her earlier.

"Sis," Emily looked at Fiona in surprise, "If you liked it, you could have told me.Why did you... why did you have to steal it?"

"I... didn't steal it," Fiona said slowly.

"Miss, please don't get me into trouble," the servant said, suddenly rushing over and pulling up Fiona's sleeve."Everyone, look, the bracelet is right here."

On her fair wrist, the bracelet shimmered with a translucent glow, dazzling and beautiful.The crowd was in an uproar

"I can't believe it.After three years, we raised a thief."

"Tsk tsk, she's really not fit for the spotlight."

"What a disgrace."

"A sparrow is always a sparrow, it can never become a phoenix."

Harsh words pierced Fiona's ears, one after another.

"Fiona, do you have anything to say for yourself?"Hilbert glared at her and raised his hand, slapping her across the face.

Fiona turned her head to the side, stunned and motionless for a moment.

"Fiona, how could you do something like this?"Nora said, her voice filled with disappointment."All these years, we've given you everything you needed.How could you be so short-sighted?"

Fiona bit her lip, thinking that this must be a misunderstanding.If she could just explain, her parents would surely believe her.

"Mom, Dad," Fiona said, trying to hold back the bitterness in her heart."I didn't steal anything.Really, I didn't.This bracelet, the maid forced it on me."

The maid's eyes flashed and she cried out, "Miss, if I had stolen the bracelet, why wouldn't I take it for myself?Why would I put it on you?Even if you want to clear your name, you can't make up such lies."

Hilbert snorted, pointing angrily at Fiona."At a time like this, you still dare to argue?"

Fiona took a deep breath."I'm not arguing.

Dad, isn't there a camera in the hallway?This bracelet, the maid really forced it on me.If you don't believe me, we can check the footage."

Emily's eyes glinted as she softly said, "Sister, why are you saying this on purpose?

You know very well that the cameras at home were just taken down today to be replaced with new ones.Where are we supposed to find the footage now?"

All the cameras were taken down?How could it be such a coincidence?Why such a coincidence?

Fiona suddenly turned to Emily: "It was you."