Chapter 229: My Granddaughter-in-Law Is Not So Easily Bullied

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: My Granddaughter-in-Law Is Not So Easily Bullied

Sophie Foster declared firmly, "Estelle Lockwood stole it! Thea was just trying to help you and Mr. Sloan see Estelle Lockwood’s true colors!

"How can a woman with such sticky fingers be worthy of marrying Mr. Sloan!"

Despite her self-righteous tone, Old Mrs. Sloan merely sneered. "If my grandson doesn’t fancy you, take a good look in the mirror. Don’t push the blame onto my granddaughter-in-law. What kind of person she is, is none of your concern!"

Sophie was practically foaming at the mouth. It was glaringly obvious that Estelle was the thief, so why was Old Mrs. Sloan shielding a criminal?!

Old Mrs. Sloan scoffed. "Thea York, is this what you meant?"

Thea shook her head helplessly. "Old Mrs. Sloan, I said from the very beginning that I agree to a search because I believe Estelle wouldn’t do something so underhanded. With the situation escalating, a search is the only way to prove her innocence... Dragging this out will only make others think she has a guilty conscience."

Old Mrs. Sloan’s face grew even more livid. Noticing the gazes of the onlookers, she shot a frosty glare at Thea.

Estelle chuckled softly. "Grandma, why don’t you take a rest? I’ll handle this."

Thea’s eyes flickered. "Estelle, how else can you handle this besides a search?"

Estelle raised an eyebrow. "Setting Sophie aside for a moment, Miss York, you seem rather eager for me to be searched."

Thea sighed, looking as though Estelle was failing to appreciate her good intentions. "Estelle... I won’t preach, but I truly don’t know how else to prove your innocence. After all, sometimes innocence can’t be proven with words alone."

"You’re not wrong," Estelle nodded in complete agreement. "Then let’s do the search."

"Estelle, if you’re not willing..." Thea abruptly froze. "What did you say?"

Estelle smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I said I agree to the search. Miss York, go ahead."

Thea surprisingly hesitated for a couple of seconds.

Why had Estelle agreed so readily? Had she noticed something?

But that was impossible. She had been so discreet; how could Estelle have found out? Even if she had, there was no way she could have dealt with it in such a short amount of time.

Thus, Thea forced a seemingly relieved smile. "In that case, Estelle, let me search you. I know you wouldn’t do such a thing, so I’ll just do a quick check."

Estelle’s smile deepened. "Sure. However, since you proposed this search, Miss York, how should we settle the score if it turns out I’m not the thief?"

A vein throbbed at Thea’s temple. Estelle then slowly added, "Grandma is right. I’m not just myself; I’m also Nathaniel Sloan’s wife and a member of the Sloan family. If Miss York is baselessly slandering the Sloans, how should we resolve this matter?"

A bad premonition welled up in Thea’s heart.

The bystanders exchanged glances. Estelle was so composed that it really didn’t seem like she was the thief.

Sophie suddenly faltered. Her mind cleared a little, and she realized the Sloan family was an entity she couldn’t afford to offend. If she really had wronged Estelle...

But Thea shot her a firm look, followed by a subtle shake of her head.

Reassured, Sophie’s disdain for Estelle’s acting grew even stronger. "Hmph, if you didn’t steal it, I’ll get on my knees and apologize!"

Estelle scoffed and looked at Old Mrs. Sloan. "Grandma, just kneeling and apologizing for slandering your granddaughter-in-law—are you satisfied with such simple terms?"

Old Mrs. Sloan sneered. "Kneeling and apologizing is just a loss of face. What use is that? If Estelle didn’t steal it, proving this to be slander, you will either go to jail or compensate us with shares. My granddaughter-in-law is not someone you can bully so easily! Thea York, that goes for you as well!"

Thea swayed slightly, but remembering her foolproof plan, she still managed a smile. "Old Mrs. Sloan, I understand what you mean."

She sighed. "Although I believe Estelle wouldn’t do such a thing, no matter what, I must play the villain for Nathaniel’s reputation. After all, I’m his best friend, and I can’t just watch his good name be tarnished.

"Estelle, given the circumstances, I’m sorry for this."

Estelle curled her lips. "All right. Be my guest."

Old Mrs. Sloan still felt a faint twinge of worry, but then she saw Nathaniel gently shake his head at her.

Estelle had said she would handle it, which meant she could. Fine, she would trust Estelle.

Thea stepped forward and made a show of rummaging through her bag. Estelle smiled faintly.

Not too long ago, when Thea had approached her to chat, was she really just trying to be friendly? Did she not make any extra movements? Estelle had felt her bag being bumped. At that moment, Thea had touched her bag.

Coupled with this whole search charade, what else could Estelle fail to understand?

Thea making such a big fuss out of this—wasn’t it just to pin the label of a thief on her? She believed Thea had quite the acting chops.

Sure enough, Thea’s expression drastically changed. Feigning great shock, she took a half-step back, her face draining of color.

"Thea, how is it?" Sophie asked impatiently.

Thea bit her lower lip, her hands unconsciously clasping together. She shot Estelle a seemingly nervous glance. "Estelle, I..."

She shook her head, looking from Estelle to Old Mrs. Sloan. Anyone could see her hesitation.

Estelle tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Miss York, you can just say it."

"I don’t know... I really don’t know why you would do this..."

Before Thea could finish speaking, Sophie excitedly rushed forward. Catching sight of the bracelet in Thea’s palm, she shrieked, "My bracelet!"

The crowd was astonished! They remembered that bracelet; they had indeed seen it on Sophie’s wrist just moments ago! Had it really been found in Estelle’s bag?!

Everyone’s gaze fell on Estelle. Being searched in front of so many people and then proven to be a thief... Tsk, tsk. Old Mrs. Sloan had defended her granddaughter-in-law so fiercely, only to suffer a massive loss of face.

Old Mrs. Sloan’s expression drastically shifted.

Only Estelle remained perfectly calm, ignoring all the peculiar stares and disdainful whispers around her.

Sophie glared fiercely at Estelle and demanded, "What else do you have to say? The evidence is conclusive! Thea was giving you so much face just now. All you had to do was admit it, but you just had to blow things out of proportion. Well, look at you now! How humiliating!"

With that, she turned to Old Mrs. Sloan, a flash of triumph in her eyes. "Old Mrs. Sloan, see? I told you the search was for your own good. Now it’s proven that your granddaughter-in-law is really no good! She stole my bracelet. Are you still going to cover for her?!"

Old Mrs. Sloan stared at the jewelry. Even though it looked exactly like Sophie’s bracelet, she was absolutely certain that Estelle could never do such a thing!

"Cover for her? If Estelle really stole it, would she be stupid enough to leave the bracelet in her bag just waiting to be brazenly discovered by you?"

"That makes sense. Mrs. Sloan doesn’t look like a fool..." whispered a bystander.

"How can you all be like this!!!" Sophie flew into a rage. Exasperated and throwing a tantrum, she grabbed a decorative vase nearby and smashed it onto the floor.

CRASH!

"Estelle Lockwood is a thief! She is a thief! How dare you shield a thief and bully the victim!"