Chapter 147 The Bloodshed in the Banquet Hall

Henry rubbed his forehead and shut his eyes for a moment.

That woman in the red dress from his memories hadn't shown up in ages.

He pulled himself together and shot a dark look at Rhea, who was accusing Alice. "How can you prove this necklace is yours?"

Rhea pointed to her friends. "They can back me up."

The two nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, it's definitely Rhea's."

"I was with her when she bought it. I can vouch for her."

Ethan had enough. "Do you even know who she is? She's Lone Moon, Mr. Howard's girlfriend. Why do you think she'd steal your necklace? Ridiculous!"

He wanted to say Alice was Henry's wife, but since Henry hadn't made it public, he held back.

Rhea scoffed. "I don't care who she is. The necklace was found in her bag!"

Henry turned to Alice, his voice soft. "Did you leave your bag on the table?"

Alice nodded. "Indeed, it was inconvenient for me to hold the cake, so I placed it on the table. My bad."

Henry said, "So there are no fingerprints of yours on the necklace." He looked at Ethan. "Call the cops and make sure they bring the forensics team."

Ethan nodded. "Got it."

Henry then turned to Erik, his tone icy. "Lock down the banquet hall and check the surveillance footage."

Erik never anticipated such an incident and hastily contacted the hotel manager to retrieve the surveillance footage. However, he was informed that the recordings from that time period had been deleted.

Alice called Calvin, but he didn't pick up.

She thought for a moment and decided to call Sterling instead.

"Alice, you miss me?" That one sentence caused Henry's face to darken with anger as he stood beside Alice.

Alice held the phone in one hand and squeezed Henry's hand with the other. "I'm at the Azure Palace Hotel in Mudas for a banquet. Someone accused me of stealing a necklace, but the surveillance footage was deleted."

"What's going on? Expert appraiser Lone Moon stealing something? I don't believe it, considering you've seen so many good things. Sterling was furious. "Accusing someone without even thinking if it makes sense! Idiots! I'll fix it."

Ten minutes later, Sterling called Alice and asked her to connect the computer.

Soon, the banquet hall's big screen showed the footage from the dessert area.

Rhea was seen sneaking a look in Alice's direction, then she walked to where Alice's handbag was placed, stayed for less than ten seconds, and left.

Another surveillance footage was quickly pulled up, showing Rhea's actions from the front.

Everyone watched as Rhea opened Alice's handbag and put the red necklace inside.

Rhea looked at her own image on the big screen, covering her mouth in disbelief.

How could this be? Why would she do such a thing?

"I don't know why this is happening! I don't know anything!" Rhea frantically pushed through the crowd, trying to escape.

Ethan grabbed Rhea and pulled her back.

"Let go of me; I was innocent!" Rhea struggled.

Ethan kicked Rhea's leg, making her kneel on the ground. "Framing Mr. Howard's girlfriend—you really are overestimating yourself!"

Rhea seemed to go into a trance, repeatedly muttering, "I don't know."

Suddenly, she bit down hard.

Alice frowned. "Oh no!"

She hastily grabbed a spoon and rushed forward, prying open Rhea's jaw in an attempt to insert the spoon into her mouth. However, it was too late—a soft, crimson piece of tongue had already fallen to the ground. Rhea's mouth began to emit a trickle of blood, and then, as if choking, she started to cough violently.

Rhea suddenly broke free from Alice, grabbed a fork from the table, and stabbed it into her neck. Blood spurted out like a fountain, and she collapsed to the ground.

Alice rushed forward and pressed on her artery, watching as blood seeped through her fingers.

"Call an ambulance!" Alice shouted, even though she knew it was to no avail.

Rhea's eyes widened, and she began to convulse.

She gripped Alice's wrist tightly. "I don't want to die." Blood sprayed from her mouth.

Rhea's pupils dilated, her hand, which had been gripping Alice's wrist, fell limply to her side.

Rhea's off-white dress and Alice's white dress were both stained with blood.

Alice frowned. Rhea's actions and her last words were clearly contradictory. Why did Rhea suddenly act as if she were possessed?

She gently laid Rhea on the ground and said calmly, "She has no vital signs."

Everyone was stunned, not expecting such a bloody incident at a banquet.

Henry, seeing her covered in blood, put his arm around her shoulders. "I'll take you to wash up and change clothes."

He glanced at Ethan, who immediately understood and went to the car to get a spare dress.

In the restroom.

Henry stood behind Alice, squeezing out hand soap to wash her hands.

Alice watched as the bright blood on her hands gradually faded and then washed away, feeling a myriad of emotions.

As a doctor, she had treated many patients and witnessed many live suicides.

Most suicide victims were extremely regretful before they died, but unfortunately, life only happened once, and regret was useless.

But Rhea's death was very uncanny. It was as if she had unconsciously committed suicide and then regained consciousness before dying. What on earth was going on?

Henry turned off the faucet and took out a paper towel to dry her hands. "You were very brave just now."

Alice responded softly, "I'm not a saint. I won't forgive someone who falsely accuses me, but that was still a life that disappeared right in front of me."

Henry unzipped her dress from the back, exposing her spine to the air as he helped her into a new dress.

Henry said, "People always pay for their actions. Relax. We need to go to the police station to give a statement."

Alice nodded.

It was already four o'clock in the afternoon by the time they finished giving their statements at the police station.

The breeze in Mudas was slightly cool. Henry took off his suit jacket and draped it over Alice. He tucked her loose hair behind her ear. "We didn't have lunch. What do you want to eat for dinner?"

Alice shook her head. "I don't have an appetite. Let's go back to the estate."

Henry agreed and walked with her towards the car.

At that moment, Nicole approached, showing concern. "Alice, are you okay? Were you scared?"

Alice replied, "I'm fine."

Nicole nodded. "If you need any psychological counseling, you can always come to me."

Alice smiled. "Thank you."

Nicole watched as Alice and Henry got into the car and left, her smile gradually fading.

All her planning had paid off; tonight was an unequivocal triumph.

It wouldn't be long before Alice meant nothing to Henry!

Nicole was so foresighted, having prearranged Rhea's death; otherwise, it would have been exposed sooner or later.

Nicole got into her car, looking at the necklace identical to the deceased's in her bag, and smirked.