A lipstick, a packet of tissues, and a motorcycle key.
That was it.
The Heart of the Sea she had personally slipped inside was nowhere to be seen!
Isabella's expression instantly froze.
Gone?
How could it be gone?
Isabella frantically snatched the bag off the floor and shoved her hand inside, digging around wildly.
She tipped it upside down and shook it violently.
Nothing!
Still nothing!
There was no Heart of the Sea in Black Jack's bag!
"How is this possible?!"
Isabella turned pale as a sheet and let out a shrill scream.
She ripped the bag open again, staring into its empty depths, her legs turning to
jelly.
The necklace wasn't in the bag.
So where was it?
It was a national treasure. If it was truly gone...
A chilling terror crept through Isabella's veins.
Her hysterical meltdown drew the entire room's gaze squarely onto her.
"Isabella Lancaster."
Serena's cool, detached voice rang out.
She tilted her head slightly, eyeing Isabella with a knowing smirk. "You seemed awfully certain... that The Heart of the Sea would be in my friend Hazel's bag. Did you put it there yourself?"
"I..."
Isabella was deathly pale, her ears ringing violently, her words stumbling out in a panicked stutter. "N-no, I didn't. It's not... I just... I just....."
Suddenly, as if struck by a lifeline, her wild eyes darted toward the crowd of guests.
She locked onto a few socialites she recognized and pointed a trembling finger at them. "Them! They came to the dressing room earlier! They must have taken if i demarid they be Searched
She knew she had shoved that necklace into Black Jack's bag.
If it was gone now...
Then it had to be those girls who came in to touch up their makeup. They must have stolen it!
The socialites she pointed at looked furious. "Are you out of your mind? Why would we steal The Heart of the Sea?"
"You were the only ones in here! Who else could it be?" Isabella yelled, her face drained of all color.
"Just because we used the dressing room doesn't mean we stole it! You
were in here way longer than we
were, throwing a tantrum and
trashing the place. If anyone stole it
it was your The
women werent
about to back down, firing right back
at her.
FindNovel.net
Isabella's face flushed crimson, then turned a sickly shade of green. She pointed at them, stammering, "Y-you..."
"Isabella, you're bouncing from one
suspect to the next. The more you talk, the more it sounds like... you're
the one who took it," Serena remarked, crossing her arms Her amused scrutinizing gaze raked over Isabella unashamedly.
Isabella dug her nails into her palms, biting her lip hard. "I... I didn't! I've already been searched!"
"However..." Serena trailed off, her gaze trailing down Isabella's form before landing deliberately on the waistline of her champagne-colored gown.
The dress Isabella had chosen was highly elegant, but the design around the waist was heavily layered.
It featured elaborate, decorative ruching meant to cinch the waist and create a slimmer silhouette.
Serena turned to Princess Isadora. "I believe we need to conduct a more thorough check on her person."
Because Isabella's dress was so form-fitting, she didn't seem like she could hide anything.
The bodyguard had only given her a quick pat-down earlier, focusing mostly on her clutch.
Princess Isadora, having no reason to deny Serena's request, nodded and motioned for her guard to proceed.
The guard stepped toward Isabella.
Isabella's heart seized, a terrible sense of dread washing over her.