Chapter 1

My appendix suddenly flared up, and I was in so much pain I nearly passed out. And of all times, my sister-in-law picked that moment to claim at home that her gold bracelet had gone missing.

Both my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law insisted I must have stolen it.

"Catherine, drop the act! You obviously stole Carly's bracelet!"

"You'd better hand it over, or there's no way I'll let this go!"

My mother-in-law glared at me as she spoke.

"Catherine, you stole my gold bracelet and then pretended to be sick. Did you think that way you could sneak the bracelet out of the house?"

I turned to look at my husband, hoping he would believe me and then take me to the hospital.

But I never expected the ice in his voice as he said, "Catherine, just admit it. Once you pay my sister back for a gold bracelet, I'll take you to the hospital!"

Hearing my husband say that, I let out a furious laugh.

I pulled out my phone and sent a message in the family group chat.

"Carl Henson's family is falsely accusing me of stealing his sister's gold bracelet. I have appendicitis, and I'm in so much pain I could pass out."

The next moment, several of my cousins in the family group replied at once.

"Five minutes and we'll be there, Cathy. Don't worry."

1

I had just set my phone down when my sister-in-law fixed her eyes on me. "Catherine, hurry up and hand it over!"

"That gold bracelet is worth a lot!"

She looked at me and said it.

Hearing that, I answered her directly. "Carly, how could I possibly take anything of yours!"

"You know perfectly well that just the gifts I've given you these past few years are worth over a hundred thousand!"

"Why would I steal one bracelet from you!"

I clutched my stomach, face pale, staring at Carly.

Ever since I married Carl, I'd given the Henson family plenty of nice things.

Over the years, the things I'd bought for Carly alone came to well over a hundred thousand.

And that bracelet of hers—of course I knew it was worth ten thousand at most.

There was no way I'd steal Carly's bracelet.

"Catherine, quit talking nonsense. The things you bought for me—weren't they paid for with my brother's salary?"

"That's our family's money!"

Carly looked at me coldly as she spoke.

At the same time, she said quickly, "You'd better hand over the bracelet!"

"Otherwise, thieves aren't welcome in this family!"

I looked at Carly, my expression by now beyond grim.

The pain from my appendix had long since left me barely able to straighten up.

I quickly said to Carly, "Carly, I really didn't steal anything!"

"If you don't believe me, then search me!"

As I spoke, I pointed at myself.

I hadn't hidden a single thing on me, and by now I was in so much pain I was on the verge of fainting.

Even so, I still hoped Carly would search me, so I could get to the hospital sooner.

But I never expected it—the moment I finished, Carly cut me off.

"Catherine, telling me to search you now just means you've already hidden the bracelet somewhere!"

"You'd better take it out!"

I listened to Carly, my face full of disbelief.

"Carly, what is that supposed to mean?"

"I told you I didn't steal it, and you're going to smear me like this?"

After I said that, I turned to look at Carl.

"Honey, I'm in terrible pain. Please, take me to the hospital now!"

I grabbed Carl's hand and got the words out fast.

But Carl only gave me a cold glance and said, "Catherine, just hand it over, and I'll take you to the hospital!"