[Chapter 53]
"Chris, I didn't take the wallet. If I agree to pay ten times its price, it'll just prove that I'm guilty, right?" Natalie spoke calmly. There wasn't a trace of panic in her voice.
Elaine eavesdropped from the sidelines. She thought that Natalie was just too proud to accept Christopher's money. But it was futile. Did she think that the police could prove her innocence?
Anyway, the wallet was found in Natalie's pocket, and what had really happened wasn't caught on the store's security camera. That meant that Natalie, by default, was the thief.
Unable to contain her excitement, Elaine urged the shop manager to call the police already. "The thief can't pay you. You're wasting your time if you don't call the police right now."
The shop manager agreed and called the police. It didn't take long before two men in uniform strolled into the shop.
When the police arrived, Elaine immediately ran up to them, dragging Natalie behind her. "Sir, it's her who stole from this store, but she still doesn't want to admit it."
"Please hold on. I want you to check the security camera footage. I have evidence to prove that I didn't steal the wallet, but was framed," Natalie said with a confident smile.
Elaine narrowed her eyes at her, sniggering as though she had heard a dirty joke. "What tricks are you playing? Didn't we just check the store's security footage?"
"I'm not talking about this shop's security camera. I'm talking about the security cameras in the shopping mall's corridor." Suddenly, Natalie turned around and pointed to the security cameras in the corridor right outside the shop.
In order to attract more customers, the shop's storefront was made of glass, so the security cameras in the corridor could easily capture what went on inside the store through the glass walls.
"Please check the mall's security cameras. The footage from that angle should be able to prove that I didn't steal anything," Natalie said calmly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Don't listen to her! She's probably just stalling for time and plans to run away when you're not looking!" Hearing Natalie's calm explanation, Elaine was the one who was filled with panic. All the color drained from her face as she urgently tried to convince the policemen.
After all, she was the one who slipped the wallet into Natalie's pocket, taking advantage of the blind spot of the store's security camera. But she didn't take into consideration the mall's security cameras. If what she had done was really captured on video, she would be doomed.
"Elaine, I'm just asking the police to check the mall security cameras. Why are you so scared?" Natalie looked at her with fake empathy, although her eyes flashed dangerously.
Flustered, Elaine forced herself to keep calm. "If the thief isn't scared, why should I be?"
As requested, the police immediately checked the mall's security footage.
Everyone held their breath and peered at the computer screen, wondering what tricks Natalie would play. After all, the wallet had been found in her pocket.
While the footage was a little pixelated, it was still very clear that Elaine had stood next to Natalie and, under the cover of her body, secretly took the wallet from the shelf and slipped it into Natalie's coat pocket.
What a twist!
Elaine stared at the computer screen, dumbfounded.
"Elaine, you haven't changed one bit. All you know is to bring trouble for the others." Natalie sneered.
"I didn't… No… It's…" Elaine panicked. She finally understood why Natalie was stubborn about not agreeing to the compensation but insisted on calling the police.
If no one had called the police, Elaine could have gotten away with the problem by paying the price to the shop manager even if they found out she had flicked the wallet.
However, the arrival of the police worsened the situation. They just couldn't solve the problem in private anymore.
Christopher shook his head in disappointment. He didn't expect Elaine to be shameless enough to do such a cheap thing. "Elaine, was it you who did that?"
The unmistakable evidence proved Elaine was the culprit.
Elaine couldn't get away with the crime no matter how hard she tried. She lowered her head in shame, for she couldn't come up with an excuse. "I… I didn't do it on purpose," she tried explaining.
However, Natalie knew she was lying. Elaine was bluffing now to escape from the problem.
Natalie looked away from Elaine. After all, the woman was a hopeless liar.
The police quickly stopped Elaine. "You are suspected of theft and false accusation. Come with us, please."
Elaine stepped back and tried defending herself. "No, I won't come with you. I can compensate by paying ten times the price of the wallet. Please don't take me away."
"You are the suspect of this crime. There is no point in compensating now. This is a police case now, and the people who have filed a complaint do not intend to let you go," a policeman said mercilessly.
Hearing this, Elaine grabbed Natalie's hand and pleaded, "Natalie, can you let go of me this time? Please show mercy. I know I made a mistake. I will never hurt you again. I promise."
"You tried ruining my reputation last time in the Larson Group, and tried framing me for theft now. What makes you think I'll let go of you?" Natalie asked calmly.
If she didn't teach Elaine a lesson, the woman would continue to bother her.
"Sir, you can handle the case according to the law."
Elaine sneered, fury blazing in her eyes. "Why are you so cruel? It's all because of you! I won't let you go!"
Her words dripped with malice. Natalie shrugged indifferently.
"I have never intended to harm you in any way. But you have been making things difficult for me time and again right from college. Elaine, it's time for you to introspect and realize what all you have done. Don't even think of bothering me again. Otherwise, you'll have to face the consequences. It will be worse than this."
Natalie scoffed at Elaine and stormed out of the shop with her bag.
Christopher followed her out, guiltily lowering his eyes.
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I remember Elaine confessing her love for me before. Has she been troubling you because of that?"
The setting sun cast a soft glow on Natalie. She shook her head and sighed. "Don't beat yourself about it, Chris. Elaine is a crazy woman. Besides, you already rejected her proposal in college. It's not your fault."
"Well, do you want me to continue helping you with the gift?" Christopher asked hesitantly.
Natalie checked the time on her phone: it was almost seven in the evening. "Forget it." She waved her hands dismissively. "You better go home. I'll look around."
Before Christopher could respond, Natalie hurriedly sprinted off.