Tricia smoothed her hair with a satisfied smile, her lips curling upward as she admired her reflection in the mirror. She cast onest nce at the cubicle behind her, then strode out with her head held high.

Tricia hadn’t been back long when Charlotte returned as well.

When the meeting finally wrapped up, Charlotte emerged alongside Jonathan and two highly respected medical experts.

“Charlotte, I heard from Jonathan that you were Professor Carstairs‘st and most promising student. To be performingplex surgeries on your own at such a young age–truly outstanding!” Elder Lockwood praised her warmly.

Charlotte smiled. “You tter me, Elder Lockwood. I owe everything I know to my mentor’s patient teaching.”

Elder Lockwood sped his hands behind his back and chuckled. “You’re ust as modest as your mentor. Always so humble!”

After saying goodbye to the two senior doctors, Charlotte and Jonathan headed downstairs together. A crowd had gathered in the lobby, with Tricia at the center, loudlymenting her missing bracelet and demanding that security check the surveince footage.

Director Winthrop, where exactly did you lose your bracelet?”

Yes, it’s something you always wear–how could you just misce it?”

Tricia looked utterly distressed. Spotting Charlotte, she deliberately aised her voice, “I… I remember going to the restroom. I ran into Dr. Sterling there, and after that, my bracelet was gone.”

The crowd murmured in surprise.

Most of those present were hospital staff who’de for the conference.

“Dr. Sterling? That can’t be right, can it?”

“Yeah, Dr. Sterling doesn’t seem like that kind of person…”

Just then, Evander approached with a few colleagues, his calm gaze sweeping over the group. “What’s going on here?”

“Evander,” Tricia called out, her voice trembling as if on the verge of tears. “The bracelet you gave me–it’s gone.”

Evander’s brow furrowed, but before he could say anything, someone

nearby chimed in, “Director Winthrop says thest person she saw before it went missing was Dr. Sterling…”

All eyes turned to Charlotte.

Evander looked at her too.

Jonathan crossed his arms. “There must be some misunderstanding. Charlotte isn’t the type to take someone’s bracelet.”

He probably meant to help, but his words only seemed to provoke

Evander.

Evander’s expression darkened. “And how long have you known her, Mr. Pembroke? You’re quick to vouch for her.”

Charlotte’s heart plummeted, as if she were falling into an abyss.

She clenched her purse tightly, her knuckles turning white.

She’d always known he wouldn’t trust her. But she never expected he’d question her so publicly, leaving her exposed like this.

Jonathan smiled, unbothered. “Mr. Howard, I simply believe in evidence. We should always look at the facts.”

“That’s easy enough,” Evander replied coolly, fingers idly tracing his watch as his eyes locked on Charlotte. “If we want to know whether she took it, we can check her belongings.”

b20:19 /b

A heavy silence fell.

Tricia lowered her gaze, a victorious glint flickering in her eyes before she forced a troubled expression. “But… Evander, isn’t it a bit much to search someone’s personal things in public?”

He let out a cold, derisiveugh. “Didn’t you say your bracelet was missing? If you suspect someone, you check. What’s the problem?”

“He’s right! If you suspect someone, just check their bag. If you haven’t done anything wrong, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Exactly…”

Charlotte’s face drained of color.

It felt as if a dull knife had slowly carved open a wound in her chest.

Searching her bag in front of everyone–wasn’t that the same as using her of theft?

She took a deep breath, swallowing the ache that threatened to choke her, and fixed her eyes on Evander. “Mr. Howard, I never took her bracelet.”

“If you didn’t take it, why are you afraid to be checked?”

His voice was sharp, but rational.

There was nothing she could say.

But Charlotte wasn’t naive. Tricia wouldn’t dare use her so boldly unless she was certain the bracelet would be found in her bag.

Unless…

Tricia stepped forward, her voice smooth and insistent. “Dr. Sterling, as Evander said, it’s just a quick check. If you’re innocent, what’s there to fear?”

“That’s right,” someone echoed. “It won’t hurt you to let us look. Only someone with something to hide would refuse.”

20:19

Tricia pressed on, “Exactly, Dr. Sterling. That bracelet means a lot to me. If you truly didn’t take it, why not let me check?”

With that, she lunged for Charlotte’s purse.

Charlotte instinctively tried to pull it back, but Evander blocked her.

“Let her look.”

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