Chapter 131 Caught
Katie was pale as she argued, “We found my bracelet in your room, and that was solid evidence. It’s been so long, but you’re digging it up again. Are you trying to ruin my reputation?”
“Who cares if it happened a long time ago?” Madeline smiled mockingly and continued, “Why do it if you don’t want anyone to know? Do you think that the truth will be concealed just because it happened a long time ago, and I’ll have to take the blame for you my entire life?”
“What about you? You’re probably thinking you can blame me just because you’re in a higher position now.” Katie had tears in her eyes. “Yes, you’re in a different position now. You’re the young mistress of the Wendel Family, but I’m only a loose relative of the Taylor Family. You’re blocking the entrance to the Wendels’ living room and denying me entry, and you’re also putting stress on Uncle George and Aunt Holly. You’re forcing me to admit that I was behind that incident so that your name can be cleared, aren’t you?”
“Quit trying to twist the truth. It’s no use,” Madeline said calmly. “Since I’m blocking you right now, that means I have the right and confidence to. Do you think that just because it happened so long ago, I won’t be able to find any evidence? You’re wrong.”
Katie trembled in her heart, her face getting paler. “Madeline, what do you mean by that? What evidence? You stole my jewelry, so even if you found evidence, it will only prove that you’re guilty. What does that have to do with me?”
“Katie, do you know that you weren’t very smart when you tried to frame me? No one discovered the truth back then, but that’s only because everyone believed that I was the one who stole your jewelry. No one bothered to investigate…” Madeline stared at her. “A few days ago, some people carried out an investigation and found evidence that could prove my innocence…”
“You’re lying!” Katie was panicking now. “Even if they did find evidence, it must be fake. You must’ve faked the evidence so that I would take the blame!”
Madeline smiled. “This argument is meaningless. I’ve reported it to the police, and they will be here soon. When they get here, I’ll hand over the evidence to the police—evidence that you framed me and involved a huge sum of money in the process… Katie, you will go to prison. You will pay for everything you’ve done!”
“W-What did you say?” Katie panicked.
Did she report it to the police?
How could she do that!
It’s just a private matter within the family…
That day, everyone believed that Madeline was the one who stole her jewelry, but no one reported it to the police, so what right did Madeline have to file a report now?
She was so scared that her hands and feet went cold. She grabbed Holly’s wrist in panic with tears welling up in her eyes. “Aunt Holly, I didn’t frame her. She’s trying to blame me for it, Aunt Holly…”
Holly patted her comfortingly. Then, she frowned as she looked at Madeline. “This is a private matter in our family, so how could you report it to the police? If everyone knows about it, both the Wendels’ and the Taylors’ reputations would be damaged.”
“If I don’t report this to the police, how will I clear my name?” Madeline looked at her with a clear gaze. “I was almost beaten to death by you people. I was young and couldn’t prove my innocence, but now that I can do so, I’d want to clear my name.”
“Mom…” Buddy, who was originally leaning in Sebastian’s embrace, suddenly leaped into Madeline’s arms. He buried his small face into her embrace and began to cry.
“It’s okay, Buddy, it’s over now. I’m not sad anymore, so please don’t be sad too, Buddy!” Madeline hugged his little body, her heart aching for him. She gently caressed the back of his head.
She didn’t purposefully ask the children to stay away.
To her, it wasn’t a proud thing to be called a thief.
She feared that someone would tell her children nonsense in the future.
Her children would definitely believe her, but if they didn’t know the truth, they might be hurt by the rumors that were circulating outside.
Instead of that, she would rather have her children know the truth.
Besides that, she didn’t want her children to grow up sheltered and spoiled.
They had to experience the storms in life so that they would know how vicious people could be. That way, they would be able to learn how to identify and avoid these people.
Aldo also walked over to Madeline and held her hand. He looked up at her, his pretty little face tensed up. “Mom, I’m not afraid. I’ll protect you!”
“Good boy!” Madeline patted his little head, her smile soft and gentle like water.
Holly frowned hard. She was about to say something when sirens were heard in the distance. They were getting nearer and clearer by the minute.
At the sound of the sirens, Katie trembled all over, the fear evident in her eyes. Her hands that held Holly’s in a tight grip were as cold as ice.
Holly frowned and looked at her suspiciously. “Katie, what are you scared of? If you’ve never done it, no one can blame it on you.”
She didn’t want to suspect Katie either, but Katie’s reaction was too unusual.
If it were her, she would be furious at Madeline for turning things upside down and accusing her. She would be more angry than scared.
However, Katie’s emotions right now almost contained no anger. In fact, it was only fear.
She couldn’t help but begin to suspect that Madeline really was innocent back then.
“Aunt Holly, I’m scared,” Katie’s voice trembled as she said, “Aunt Holly, Madeline is now the young mistress of the Wendel Family. I’m scared that she bribed the police to blame me. I would never be able to clear my name…”
“Are your Uncle George and I nothing to you?” Holly said, “Unless the police produce concrete proof that you really did it that day, your Uncle George and I are here for you. No one would be able to slander you!”
Katie wasn’t the least bit comforted. When she heard the sirens coming nearer, she trembled even more.
She wasn’t confident at all.
She was scared that Madeline really found proof that she had set up the incident all those years ago.
If Madeline really found proof, she would be sent to prison, and her life would be over!
In truth, she was secretly in love with Jonathan.
She didn’t know when it started. When she realized it, she was already helplessly in love. She didn’t have eyes for anyone except Jonathan.
Holly knew of her feelings and had tried to convince her by saying that she wasn’t a good fit for Jonathan and that she should give up.
She had to kneel and beg Holly before the latter agreed to ask Michael and his wife to arrange a meeting between her and Jonathan.
If Michael, Crystal, and Jonathan agreed, she could be Jonathan’s girlfriend. She might even marry him in the future.
She had a crush on Jonathan for the longest time, and she had hoped for years. She finally gained Holly’s support and managed to take one step closer to realizing her dream.
However, this had to happen right now.
If the incident was exposed, how would Jonathan view her?
Jonathan would never like her back!
The more she thought about it, the more scared she got and the more painful it became for her. Tears began to stream down her face.
By then, the police car had arrived.
A few policemen got out of the car, and the policeman at the front showed Katie a warrant. “Katie Baker, you’re suspected to be involved in a case of jewelry theft that happened six years ago. Please come with us; we require your assistance.”
“No! It wasn’t me, I’m innocent!” Katie was so terrified that she hid behind Holly and gripped Holly’s arm tightly. “Aunt Holly, I’m innocent!”
