Chapter 273: Checkmate
Yunice glanced sideways and saw Oscar slumped over the table, completely unconscious. Oscar was a researcher, someone who normally never touched alcohol. One drink was enough to knock him out.
Her gaze swept over the roomful of ill-intentioned people, then landed on Owen. Those two had always been at odds. Owen likely wouldn't bother helping Oscar now.
In the end, Yunice still couldn't forget the past. She stepped back into the room, walked up to Oscar, and gently patted his shoulder. “Oscar?” she called softly, twice.
No response.
Owen caught the motion, and a flash of jealousy flickered in his eyes. If it had been him passed out at the table, Yunice would have walked right past without a second glance. That thought gnawed at him, and he took another bitter sip of wine.
“Wait, Yunice. Don’t leave just yet,” Elsie suddenly stood up. “My stuff is still in your bag.”
Yunice was certain she hadn’t taken anything of Elsie’s, but she still asked, “What stuff?”
Elsie smiled sweetly. “I gave you my ID just now. Since you don’t want it anymore, give it back to me.”
She smiled. Yunice smiled too. She picked up her bag and asked, “You’re saying it’s in here?”
Elsie put on a pitiful face. “Yunice… don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind? You don’t want to give it back? But the photo’s still mine. What’s the use of you keeping it?”
The people nearby began to jeer. “Didn’t she act all generous just now? Can’t even keep it up for five minutes?” “If you want us to believe you didn’t take it, at least open your bag and let us look.” “She definitely doesn’t dare open it. Who knows what she’s hiding? Don’t forget what she used to carry back in high school!” “Should’ve stopped Oscar from drinking. At least then he’d see what kind of sister he really has.”
Yunice’s eyes passed over their cager, mocking faces. Yes, she used to prove her innocence in situations like this, over and over again. They knew she was being wronged, but they weren’t after the truth. What they loved was…
Chapter 273: Checkmate
…Not anymore.
Calmly, Yunice said, “Call the police.” She pressed the service bell.
When the waiter arrived, Yunice pulled out a wad of cash and handed it over. “Could you please find two people to help carry him out?” She pointed at Oscar.
At that moment, Owen, now tipsy himself, groaned with his head in his hands, cheeks flushed red. “Yunny…”
Yunice glanced at him, then looked away as if she hadn’t heard.
As the waiter came in to lift Oscar, a man who had been ignored all night suddenly lunged forward and yanked her handbag. “Who said you could leave?”
With a hard pull, the bag slipped from Yunice’s shoulder and crashed to the floor. The man glared at her, then turned to Elsie. “Go ahead, check it. So many of us are here. What’s she going to do?”
This man had long been harboring sleazy thoughts about Yunice. He thought she was pretty and seemed open ‘in private.’ Now he saw a chance to take her down a peg.
Elsie, delighted, rushed over to pick up the bag.
Yunice sneered. “There’s a needle in there meant for sewing mouths shut. Want me to use it on you?”
Elsie’s hand trembled. She suddenly remembered who was backing Yunice: Wyatt. And she definitely remembered the pain of having her mouth sewn shut. She reflexively recoiled. But the man was not afraid. He grabbed Yunice’s bag and turned it upside down.
In that instance, bundles of cash hit the floor. Then, with a soft clink, a massive diamond ring rolled out.
Everyone stood up to gawk. “That can’t be real, right? Who has a diamond that big?” “Who carries that much cash in their bag unless they’re showing off?”
The man shook the bag again until it was completely empty. No personal items. No sign of Elsie’s ID.
Chapter 273: Checkmate
That was how she always was. Using light and breezy apologies to dismiss the humiliation she had just caused.
Yunice replied evenly, “It’s fine. When legal comes to collect evidence later, just remember to wire the compensation fee to my account.”
Elsie blinked, “What do you mean?”
Yunice was already taking photos of the scene, specifically, the scattered cash and the gleaming, pigeon-egg-sized diamond ring on the floor. “This is a colorless South African diamond. Current market value? Around 7 million dollars. The base has a new scratch. Repair cost… roughly 410,000 dollars. But you know how luxury goods are. Once repaired, they lose value. You’ll need to cover the depreciation, too.”
“Oh, and there was 3,000 dollars in cash in my bag,” she added as she started counting the bills on the floor. “Huh… how come so much is missing?”
The man who had yanked her bag stared at her in disbelief. “What are you saying? Are you accusing us of stealing?”
Yunice lifted her phone and took a full group shot of everyone in the room. “I just withdrew that 2,000 dollars today. The receipt’s still in my coat pocket. If none of you took it, who did? You’re all here. No one leaves.”