Chapter 2

Listening to the murmurs, my hands curled into tight fists.

Our parents died in a car crash when we were very young. Ethan was only two years older than me, and it was Victoria who raised both of us.

Back then, the thing Victoria dreaded most was seeing me wronged.

In elementary school, a classmate mocked me for being an orphan.

The next day, Victoria showed up at school in her faded uniform, holding my hand, demanding to see the teacher and the boy's parents.

"My sister may not have parents, but she has someone who loves her."

"If anyone ever talks to her like that again, I'll make sure they regret it!"

After that, no one ever dared say those words to my face.

Yet now, trapped under the glaring lights of this boutique, facing the judgment of strangers, that familiar feeling of helplessness came rushing back.

Holding the phone she had snatched from my hand, Jasmine shouted, "Get security over here!"

I stiffened. "What are you doing?"

Jasmine said flatly, "Since you refuse to cooperate, security will handle it."

I turned to leave.

Fiona blocked the door and shoved me back.

"Think you can run after stealing?"

I stumbled, my lower back slamming hard against the display case. The sharp pain made my vision blur.

Fighting the pain, I looked up at her.

"I told you, I didn't steal anything!"

Jasmine scoffed. "If you didn't, why run?"

Two burly security guards arrived in no time. "What's going on here?"

Jasmine walked over, sighed, and pointed at me. "Our boutique is missing a high-jewelry brooch."

"This young lady was in the display section. She refuses to cooperate with a check and tried to make a run for it."

I spoke up immediately. "I didn't refuse to cooperate!"

"I emptied my bag for them to see."

"They have zero proof, yet they want to strip-search me."

The guards hesitated.

After all, this was a high-end luxury mall, not a place where they could just roughhouse anyone.

Fiona pressed them. "Officers, hurry up and search her."

"That's forty grand! We could work a whole year and not cover that loss."

"If she's innocent, what's she hiding?"

Ignoring them, I told the guards, "I want to call the police."

"No one touches me until the cops get here."

At that, Jasmine's face darkened completely.

"Call the cops? You think I'm scared?"

"When the police show up and find it on you, you'll be facing criminal charges."

She turned to the guards. "Search her."

The guards still hesitated.

Jasmine pulled rank as the assistant manager.

"Search her! I'll take full responsibility!"

"If that brooch isn't found, everyone on shift takes the blame."

"Besides, I have dinner with my boyfriend tonight, and I don't have time to waste."

Everyone knew her boyfriend was loaded—the heir to the Sterling Group.

Not wanting to cross her, the guards moved toward me.

Two men grabbed my arms.

I fought back with everything I had.

"Let go of me!"

"This is illegal!"

Nobody listened.

Fiona stepped in, yanking my jacket off my shoulders.

With both arms pinned, I couldn't stop her.

My jacket was ripped away, and Jasmine shook it out violently.

Nothing.

Her eyes locked onto my hoodie pockets.

"Take it off!"