I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 71

Natalie Watson froze, every eye in the room suddenly fixed on her.

She was still trying to figure out what was happening.

Arianna Mitchell immediately rushed to Natalie’s side, pointing an accusing finger at Elena. “What right do you have to slander Natalie? Do you have any proof?”

Elena sneered, completely unreasonable. “Hmph, if it wasn’t her, who else could it be? Camila’s bracelet was here a moment ago, and now that you two have shown up, it’s gone. If she didn’t take it, then you must have!”

Finally, Natalie understood. Camila White’s bracelet was missing.

“Just because you say so? Is your mouth the only evidence you need? In that case, I say you stole it!” Arianna shot back.

At that moment, Natalie stepped forward and looked at Camila White, her voice ice-cold. “I was just in the restroom, so it would have been impossible for me to steal your bracelet. Besides, I ran into your friend there.”

“So what if you saw me? Does that prove you didn’t steal anything? You could have taken it before you went to the restroom!” Elena insisted, doubling down on her accusation. Arianna was so furious she was about to curse.

Camila White bit her lip, speaking in a timid, uncertain voice. “I really don’t think it was Ms. Watson. It’s just… that bracelet was a gift from Alex. It’s very important to me, and I have to find it. Ms. Watson, why don’t you open your bag for everyone? That would prove your innocence.”

“That’s right,” Elena chimed in. “Everything Mr. Ramirez gives Camila is priceless. It’s no surprise you’d have your eye on it. The only way to prove you didn’t take it is to open your bag and let us see.”

The atmosphere in the sales office grew thick and tense as everyone’s gaze shifted between Natalie, Camila, and Elena.

The sales manager finally spoke up, his tone polite. After all, these were people he couldn’t afford to offend. “Ms. Watson, perhaps it would be best if you opened your bag? Otherwise, there’s really no way to prove you didn’t take it, is there?”

“She didn’t take it because she didn’t take it! Why should we have to prove her innocence just because they’re making baseless accusations? If they suspect her, let them produce some evidence!” Arianna’s face was pale with anger. Seeing Natalie falsely accused made her even more furious than if it had happened to her.

The manager was caught in the middle, unsure of what to do.

Natalie gently patted Arianna’s arm, signaling for her to calm down. “Fine,” she said evenly. “I’ll let you look.”

With that, she opened the small handbag she carried.

She took out her lipstick, her car keys, her phone, one by one.

Suddenly, her hand stopped.

Calling the police was the best course of action, so the manager immediately walked to the counter and used the landline to make the call. He then made a second call.

Before long, the police arrived. After getting a summary of the situation, they began to review the security footage.

About half an hour later, a female officer approached Elena. “Miss, according to the surveillance footage, you were the one who placed the bracelet in Ms. Watson’s bag. Please come with us to assist with the investigation.”

“Impossible!” Elena shot up from her seat. “The security camera by the restroom was clearly…” She stopped mid-sentence, realizing her mistake.

Understanding dawned on everyone’s faces.

The manager clarified the situation. “The camera directly outside the restroom isn’t active, as its angle is a bit awkward. That’s why we installed another one at a better vantage point on the other side.”

Elena had noticed the camera by the restroom door was off and assumed she wouldn’t be seen. That’s when she had taken the bracelet, which was already in her hand, and slipped it into Natalie’s bag while they were talking.

Her face turned ashen. She pointed a trembling finger at Natalie. “You set me up!”