Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Turning the Tables

As Natalia’s words fell, the crowd’s gazes toward Selina shifted to disdain.

"I never thought she’d steal her sister’s bracelet."

"Didn’t you hear what Jillian said? She’s not used to luxury—probably couldn’t help herself when she saw something valuable!"

"No wonder the Clark Family resents her. If I had a daughter who stooped to stealing, I’d disown her too."

Ryan, standing protectively by Natalia’s side, spoke with a reprimanding tone. "Selina, is there anything you lack? Why would you bully Natalia?"

Selina finally raised her eyes, her voice calm but cutting. "You think I stole something?"

Ryan, frustrated by what he saw as her refusal to admit wrongdoing, retorted, "What else? How else did Natalia’s bracelet end up in your hands?"

A faint, cold smile curled Selina’s lips.

Old Mr. Carter’s face darkened. "Enough. Are we still eating, or not? It’s just a bracelet—why would Selina need to steal it?"

Ryan, visibly irate, couldn’t understand his grandfather’s insistence on defending Selina. "Grandpa, the evidence is right there! Selina clearly—"

"Ryan, please don’t!" Natalia interrupted, her eyes brimming with tears, feigning urgency.

"Selina didn’t steal anything. The bracelet... the bracelet was borrowed. She asked me for it earlier—I must’ve forgotten. Please don’t blame her, Ryan."

Her words, spoken with such self-sacrifice, only painted Selina in a worse light.

Jillian seized the moment to escalate the tension, turning to Old Mr. Carter. "Dad, Natalia is being considerate, but I can’t just let this go. Selina is clearly abusing your favoritism to act out, showing no respect for the Carter Family!" _{frёewebηovel.cѳm}

Avery chimed in dramatically, "Natalia, even now you’re defending her? Today it’s a stolen bracelet—what’s next? Stealing someone’s man?"

Natalia bowed her head, guilt washing over her face. "That’s not true..."

Ryan, his voice cold, said, "Selina, no matter your reasoning, you must face the consequences of theft."

"Even a criminal has the right to defend themselves," Selina said, her tone suddenly sharp. "You’re ready to convict me without letting me explain?"

Selina slowly lifted her chin, her voice steady. "What if I told you this bracelet is mine?"

Ryan scoffed, as if she’d just made the most ridiculous claim he’d ever heard. "Yours? This sapphire bracelet is one of a kind—Uncle Clark gave it to Natalia for her coming-of-age gift! Do you think we’re all fools?"

"Ryan, if you don’t believe me, why don’t we head to an appraisal office? We’ll see if this bracelet is authentic or not."

Under the weight of the crowd’s gaze, Selina removed the bracelet from her wrist, her demeanor shifting from confident to vulnerable.

With a trembling voice, she continued, "Father gave both Natalia and me bracelets for our coming-of-age gifts. Hers was a genuine sapphire, but mine... mine was a glass imitation."

"I know Father never liked me. I’ve spent my entire life walking on eggshells around my stepmother, just trying to survive in that household."

"I never wanted to compete with Natalia. I never even told anyone the truth about my bracelet because... because I didn’t want to create trouble. But now you’re all using it to accuse me of theft."

Her voice hardened. "Natalia, you said your bracelet was stolen. Why don’t you open your bag and show everyone?"

The room fell into a tense silence.

A few socialites stepped closer, examining the bracelet Selina had removed. From afar, it looked identical to Natalia’s—but up close, it was clearly glass.

Ryan felt as if ice water had been dumped over his head. He stared blankly at the bracelet, a voice echoing in his mind: You’re done for.

And indeed, the moment the realization set in, the room erupted with condemnation.

"How horrible! Why would the Clark Family treat her so differently?"

"Exactly! One daughter gets a priceless sapphire, and the other gets a cheap knockoff? And Natalia still has the audacity to play the victim?"