Everyone's gaze focused on the necklace around Sophia's neck; they could all tell it was valuable!
The skeptical looks were burning hot!
Jessica took the initiative to defend Sophia, saying, "Let's not judge a person based on their job. A necklace worth hundreds of thousands of dollars isn't actually expensive."
Mary hesitated and said, "Ms. Jessica, hundreds of thousands of dollars may not be expensive for someone like you, but for us working people, it's a fortune. It would take us years of not eating or drinking to possibly afford such an expensive necklace."
The implied meaning was that Sophia, being young and not having much savings, must have obtained the necklace through illicit means. And everyone else had been demanding to search through her bag.
Sophia realized that this was Jessica's trap, but she was absolutely certain that there was no ring in her bag, nor was there any possibility of someone else secretly placing a ring in there. Sophia had been carrying her bag all along, and it had two layers of zippers and a combination lock, so no one, other than her, could open it.
Jessica seemed to be in too much of a hurry.
Sophia sneered in her mind, her exquisite face captivating and impossible to divert one's gaze from. "You kept saying that I took the ring, but why didn't you intervene at the time?"
"I thought it was yours," Mary explained.
Sophia said, "I didn't leave my seat just now, nor did I go near Mrs. Murphy. So, were you instigated by someone to attack me like this?"
These words caused Mary to drastically change her expression, becoming flustered. Mary urgently said, "Ms. Johnson, please don't change the subject. I saw it with my own eyes, you stole it!"
"You have no evidence. Accusing me based solely on your words, how would you explain it if there's no ring in my bag?" Sophia questioned.
Mary firmly said, "It's impossible that there's nothing in your bag!"
"If there's no ring in my bag, then it proves that you've been slandering me. How would you explain it then? Or if the item isn't in my bag, does that prove that you stole it?" Sophia persistently confronted her.
Jessica stepped forward, blocking Mary, and smiled at Sophia. "She was just speaking the truth based on what she saw, and she didn't mean anything else by it. Ms. Johnson, please don't be angry. The staff at my house are all professionally trained and have very high professional ethics. They would never commit theft. Therefore, I believe that Mary couldn't have stolen anything, and I believe in what she just said."
After pausing for a moment, she continued, "Ms. Johnson, if you don't want to be misunderstood, let us all take a look at the bag. If there really is nothing inside, I will apologize to you. And even if there is, I think Mrs. Murphy is a forgiving person. I will intercede for you with her, and I don't think she will hold it against you."
"Ms. Jessica has a broad perspective. Quickly bring out the bag for everyone to see!" Amy praised Jessica and sternly rebuked Sophia.
The others also sided with Mary, as all the witnesses were on her side. They couldn't believe that Mary would baselessly slander Sophia. They were certain that Sophia had stolen the ring.
Sophia thought that these people were really good at pretending, including Jessica.
She said, "Alright, I can let you all search through my bag."
"Since Ms. Johnson is willing," Jessica called someone over.
Sophia interrupted her and said, "Wait, I never said I wanted your people to search my bag."
Jessica's expression stiffened, displeased. "If you won't let my people search, are you going to search it yourself? What if you hid the ring?"
"Yeah, it's your bag, who knows if you'll search thoroughly?" the onlookers chimed in.
Sophia didn't trust Jessica's people; after all, anyone here could have put something in her bag while searching it. Therefore, Sophia had to find someone trustworthy, and that person...
Her bright gaze landed on Victor. Here, the one with the most weight in words and disdain for doing such things was none other than Victor!
Sophia handed him the bag. "Mr. Hastings, can you help me search it?"
Victor raised an eyebrow, exuding a hint of cold indifference at the corner of his mouth. "Why are you asking me?"
"Because I don't trust anyone else," Sophia stated.
Everyone who knew Victor knew that he never touched women's things!
David thought Sophia must be crazy and immediately stepped forward, saying, "Let me do it. Mr. Hastings has a distinguished identity and isn't suitable for this kind of task."
"No, I want him to do it," Sophia insisted firmly. "Besides him, no one else is qualified to search my bag, including you."
"Sophia, don't push it too far! What do you think you are, ordering my man around?" Jessica couldn't hold back anymore and felt that Sophia was blatantly seducing Victor right in front of her. Jessica walked up quickly, preparing to snatch the bag from Sophia's hand, but was stopped by a strong hand.
Victor actually took Sophia's bag in front of everyone!
He should touch that bitch Sophia's bag!
Jessica was so angry she almost exploded; her eyes were so jealous they could spew fire.
Victor's cool face showed no emotion, and he slowly pressed the password lock with his finger, asking, "What's the password?"
"797," Sophia answered.
Victor's pupils shrank, a touch of shock flashed in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it. After entering the password, the bag opened. Victor took out everything inside in front of everyone.
The crowd craned their necks to see and reminded, "There's an inner layer and a compartment..."
Victor searched meticulously, even finding a hairpin stuck in the seam. There was everything inside except for the ring.
Mary, the maid who accused Sophia, said, "It must be there. Look again. I saw her put the ring in the bag with my own eyes."
Victor said coldly, "It's gone."
"Impossible!" Mary's voice was sharp.
Impatiently, Victor handed the bag back to Sophia. At that moment, a clear sound reached everyone's ears. A shiny ring fell to the ground and rolled a few times before stopping at Linda's feet.
"Isn't this my ring?" Linda bent down to pick it up, her eyes filled with astonishment.
Mary said, "It fell out of her bag, I didn't say it wrong!"
Taking advantage of the situation, Jessica accused, "Victor, I didn't expect your assistant to be this kind of person. That ring is Mrs. Murphy's engagement gift. Sophia should not have taken Mrs. Murphy's things. I am so disappointed in her."
"I was wondering how Sophia, as an assistant, could afford a necklace worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Turns out she's a thief," Amy mocked.
The guests in the courtyard also joined in blaming Sophia, saying many hurtful words.
Listening to their insults, Sophia retorted, "Mr. Hastings just checked my bag and clearly stated that there was no ring inside. Are you questioning him for lying?"
Jessica said, "The ring did fall from the bag. Are you still not admitting it?"
Sophia replied, "Your maid said the ring was in my bag, but Mr. Hastings said there was no ring inside, so the ring fell from Mr. Hastings' hand, not from my bag. According to your logic, Victor is the thief."