Abandoned by All I Took It All Back novel Chapter 29

Since Elena had spoken, Viola and Yvonne had no choice but to 'reluctantly' agree.

The idea of a personal search was unsettling for many of the guests.

Yvonne, ever the strategist, knew she couldn't afford to offend anyone. So, she suggested they start with just Janina and Viola, the two parties directly involved.

She knew the ring was in Janina's bag, so once it was found on her, there would be no need to search anyone else, and no one would be embarrassed.

Janina didn't waste any time. To prove her innocence, she unzipped her handbag and emptied its contents onto the floor, even turning the inner lining inside out.

There was no ring on the floor.

And there was no ring in the bag.

Viola and Yvonne's faces changed instantly.

Viola, in particular, was stunned. She was certain she had put the ring in Janina's bag.

What could have gone wrong?

"As you can all see, there's nothing in my bag," Janina said, holding up the empty, inside-out bag for the crowd to see.

It was a small handbag, and it was easy to see that it was completely empty. The items she had dumped out also did not include a ring.

"Your turn!" Janina said, tilting her chin towards Viola.

Viola snapped back to reality and reluctantly emptied her own handbag.

With a soft "clink".

A round, metallic object fell out of Viola's bag. It was the exact ring Yvonne had described.

A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. A loud voice exclaimed:

"Hey, isn't that the ring? It was in Viola's bag! So she was the one who was accusing Miss Holt of taking it."

"I can't believe it. The thief was crying 'stop thief'!"

"Thank goodness Miss Holt didn't agree to handle this privately. Otherwise, she would have taken the fall for this."

"How shameless! Stealing Miss Moore's ring and then trying to frame Miss Holt for it. What a wicked heart."

Nearby, Elena's face was ashen. Her gaze flickered between Viola and Janina, and for a long moment, she was speechless.

She had wanted to see Janina embarrassed, but now Yvonne had been dragged into the mess.

Janina stared at the panicked, flustered Viola.

"Everyone saw it. The ring fell out of your bag. Now, kneel and apologize to me!"

Kneel and apologize? That was impossible.

With so many guests watching, she would rather die than kneel before Janina.

Viola shot a desperate, pleading look at Yvonne.

But Yvonne's mind was in turmoil, and she didn't even notice Viola's gaze.

She was silently cursing Janina over and over again, and cursing Viola too for being so incompetent. She had messed up a simple task and given Janina an opening.

Viola looked around and noticed the security cameras in the living room. An idea sparked in her mind, and she pointed at the ring on the floor.