Chapter 232: Thea York Is on the Verge of a Breakdown

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Thea York Is on the Verge of a Breakdown

Thea York had already calmed herself down. "Estelle, I’ve always admired Star’s designers, which is why I bought the bracelet she designed. I never expected you and Sophie to have it too. It’s just a coincidence. I purchased this one myself; it’s not Sophie’s. As for Sophie’s missing bracelet, I don’t have a clue either."

Mrs. York’s eyes darted around as an idea formed. "Exactly! It’s just a bracelet. It’s not like our York Family can’t afford it. Even if it’s a limited edition, it’s not that expensive. What’s so strange about Thea buying it?"

Old Mrs. Sloan’s face darkened. Thea was dead set on denying it!

"Has Miss York ever purchased limited-edition products from Star?" Estelle Lockwood asked suddenly.

Thea gritted her teeth. Of course she hadn’t. Star was in direct competition with her studio. She would have to be crazy to buy products from a rival. The designer was undeniably talented, but Thea was simply jealous of her.

Estelle smiled. "Miss York, why aren’t you speaking?"

Mrs. York grew impatient. "I already said Thea bought this bracelet, so of course she has..."

"Since Miss York has bought them before, she should know that all limited-edition jewelry from Star Company comes with a serial number." Estelle looked at Sophie Foster. "I’m sure Miss Foster is well aware of this."

Sophie felt something was wrong. While she hesitated to speak, a socialite in the crowd chimed in.

"Yes, I’ve bought quite a few pieces of jewelry from Star. Any limited-edition item they release matches the buyer with the jewelry’s serial number. One number corresponds to one person, so there’s absolutely no mistake."

Thea swayed, her face turning ghastly pale.

"Indeed." Estelle nodded unhurriedly. "With this serial number, we can find out who the owner of this bracelet is. Although Miss York claims she bought it, it would be safer to check to prove your innocence, wouldn’t it?"

Thea had spoken so self-righteously just a moment ago. If she refused now, wouldn’t it make it obvious that she was hiding something?

Thea forced a few words through her throat. "...Estelle... I don’t really like this bracelet anyway, so I’ll just give it to Sophie. It’s too much trouble to have someone verify it. It’s not like Star offers twenty-four-hour customer service..."

"It’s no trouble at all." Estelle’s lips curved into a smile as she casually logged into Star’s corporate software.

A sense of foreboding washed over Thea.

"Perhaps Miss York isn’t aware, but I hold a position at Star and can check the purchase records," Estelle said methodically. "Could I trouble Miss York to hand over the bracelet?"

The bracelet had a serial number, and that number could be used to find the buyer’s name. Thea instinctively hid it behind her back.

This action made everyone present exchange glances—could she make it any more obvious?

"It seems Miss York is unwilling. That’s fine." Estelle ignored the livid expressions on Thea and Old Mrs. York’s faces. "By entering the buyer’s name, we can still find the serial number." She typed a few words on her phone, then raised her eyebrows in surprise. "...Miss York, why isn’t your name on the buyers’ list?"

...

Thea York wasn’t the buyer?! Thea had never bought this bracelet?!

Sophie was shocked. "Thea..."

Thea was trembling all over, her teeth chattering. "Estelle..."

"Y-You think you can slander our Thea just by tapping on your phone a few times? Where is the justice in that!" Mrs. York was exasperated and furious. "Who knows if you’re actually checking or just putting on an act? If our Thea says she bought the bracelet, then she bought it! Don’t push your luck..."

"Idiot!" someone who couldn’t stand it anymore interjected. "Mrs. York, do you even know who Estelle Lockwood is?"

Mrs. York was furious. Who could Estelle Lockwood possibly be!

However, a realization struck Thea’s mind like a bolt of lightning, and a sudden chill ran down her spine—

"Estelle Lockwood is the chief designer of Star, and this bracelet is her creation! Do you think she can check the buyers’ list or not?!"

"She’s the designer herself, yet she was accused of stealing the bracelet. She could have as many of these bracelets as she wants! Why would she steal Sophie Foster’s and get caught red-handed?"

"On the contrary, a certain someone isn’t on the buyers’ list but has a bracelet, and Sophie Foster just happens to have lost hers."

"Yet that certain someone insists on being stubborn and claiming she didn’t steal it."

Sarcastic remarks poured into Thea’s ears from all directions. Her body trembled, and her vision darkened in waves.

She couldn’t believe it. Estelle... Estelle was Star’s chief designer?!

This bracelet... To draw everyone’s attention just now, she had praised this bracelet to high heaven, but it turned out she was praising Estelle all along?!

Mrs. York was also dumbfounded, her mouth opening and closing without being able to utter a single syllable.

"While I’m very grateful that Miss York likes my design," Estelle said with a half-smile, "it’s best to clear up this matter of theft first. After all, Miss Foster is my customer. Since her bracelet inexplicably ended up in Miss York’s hands, I have an obligation to get to the bottom of this on Miss Foster’s behalf."

"As if Thea York would ever admit it," an anonymous sarcastic voice rang out. "Don’t you get it yet? From the very beginning, when Thea York asked to see Sophie Foster’s bracelet, she was plotting against Miss Lockwood."

"She stole the bracelet herself and framed Mrs. Sloan. Since Sophie Foster is close friends with Thea York, she would naturally believe her. If Mrs. Sloan weren’t Star’s designer, I’m afraid Thea York’s scheme would have succeeded!"

Estelle chuckled lightly.

Thea’s brain was buzzing loudly.

She finally realized that today, she wasn’t the one plotting against Estelle; Estelle was the one who had plotted against her.

From the moment she brought up the bracelet, Estelle had seen right through her scheme.

But how did Estelle manage to slip the bracelet onto her belt?!

Suddenly, it dawned on Thea, and her lips trembled uncontrollably.

It was Nathaniel! It was Nathaniel! Only Nathaniel had been standing next to her just now, so... so...

Thea felt a freezing chill seep into her very bones.

At this moment, Mrs. York was frantically pinching her philtrum, wishing she could just roll her eyes back and faint.

No matter how foolish Sophie was, she finally understood what had happened. For a moment, she didn’t know what to do.

"Thea York, give me an explanation!" Old Mrs. Sloan demanded sharply. "Theft and framing! At today’s banquet, do you even have any respect for me at all?!"

Thea clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh, biting down hard on her teeth.

Why... Why...

Disgust, disdain, and contempt... All sorts of gazes fell upon the once-arrogant Young Miss York, driving Thea to the brink of a breakdown!

Over the years, everything had gone smoothly for her. She had stepped on Stella York and that so-called original wife to climb to the top, hobnobbing with the heirs of high society as if they were brothers.

Why was she ultimately losing to Estelle Lockwood?!

"I... I thought... it was my bracelet..." Thea gritted her teeth, forcing the words out one by one as the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. "I thought I bought it... I didn’t expect to have remembered it wrong..."

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes were dark and profound. "Apologize."