CHAPTER 247: CHAPTER 247 THEIF

"I... I must... check your pockets, sir," the guard stammered, his voice breaking slightly.

Leo didn’t move, yet his gaze alone was enough to make the guard’s knees weaken. With slow, reluctant hands, the guard reached forward, patting down the fabric of Leo’s suit jacket. As expected, he found nothing but the whole time, Leo’s presence bore down on him, sharp and suffocating, like the edge of a blade resting against his throat.

Meanwhile, Bella’s heart thudded nervously as the maid approached her. The woman’s fingers were fidgeting, her eyes darting everywhere but Bella’s face as she hesitantly reached for her small purse. Bella forced herself to hand it over calmly, though her palms were sweating.

The maid unclasped it, tipped it slightly—then froze. Her eyes widened, her lips parting in shock. Something heavy and gleaming clinked inside.

The maid’s trembling voice cut through the silence like a whip:

"F-FOUND IT!" she cried.

Instantly, gasps erupted across the hall. Heads turned. Murmurs swelled into an uproar as every guest strained to see.

Bella’s eyes widened in horror. No... no, this isn’t possible! Her blood ran cold as she instinctively stepped back, her gaze snapping to Leo.

Alexa’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction the moment the maid’s cry echoed through the hall. She lowered her wine glass just enough to hide the smirk tugging at her lips. Perfect.

She had known about the jade for weeks. Archer, careless as always, had let slip during a late-night call...

That jade was an ancient piece, rumored to have once belonged to a fallen emperor, said to bring unshakable authority to its keeper. As soon as Alexa heard about it, she immediately contacted Stella. From there, their plan began to weave together like silk threads.

Stella had laughed when Alexa laid out the plan, her dark eyes sparkling with malice. "So we’ll use the jade to frame Bella, make it look like she stole it and then she’s finished."

Alexa smirked at the memory. "Exactly. Leo hates dishonor. If Bella’s name gets tainted even once, he’ll cast her aside like trash. And what’s better than exposing her at Old man William’s birthday? In front of every powerful family, every mafia tie? Even Leo won’t be able to shield her reputation then."

Together, the two women wove the rest of the scheme with precision. They bribed a maids and servent desperate for money and ensured that when the jade went missing, every path would lead directly to Bella.

And this was just the first step.

The jade was only bait—a way to cheapen Bella, to make her look like nothing more than a thief desperate for luxury. Behind this, darker plans were waiting. Plans to corner her, humiliate her, and ultimately rip her from Leo’s side.

In the corner of the hall, Stella’s lips curved into the faintest smile as she caught Alexa’s eyes. Both of them knew they had set the stage perfectly. Now, all that remained was to watch Bella crumble.

"Oh my goodness!!! Bella, I can’t believe you stole that???" Jessica gasped, her voice laced with fake shock. Inside, though, she was delighted—because if Leo believed it, his anger would fall on Bella.

"Yes, Bella, if you wanted something you should have told me," Sam added, his tone sharp, his face twisting with disgust as he glared at her. "Although I am your stepfather, I would have fulfilled it for you."

"Shut up."

Leo’s voice cut through the room like ice. His cold gaze swept over them, silencing the whispers instantly. "Bella would never do that," he said firmly.

"I believe that too," William added, his tone steady.

But his grandsons weren’t convinced.

Jacob stepped forward, his face set with anger. "She’s a thief! You can’t just let her go because she’s Leo’s wife."

Marcus, the second grandson, crossed his arms. "She looks greedy."

And Liam, the youngest, chimed in bitterly, "She should be punished for this."

Leo’s eyes darkened, his presence filling the hall with a dangerous tension. "There is no proof Bella stole anything," he countered, his voice calm but lethal. "And until there is proof, no one—no one—will dare lay a hand on her."

The room fell into tense silence.

"Hah! Leo... I can’t believe you’re so blind when it comes to your wife!" Stella sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "We all know she used to be poor. She didn’t even have two proper sets of clothes back then!" Her laugh rang out, cruel and cutting.

"I agree with Stella!" Alexa added quickly, her tone sharp as a blade. "A poor mentality stays poor. The moment she saw something luxurious, of course she became greedy."

A few guests murmured in agreement, their eyes turning toward Bella with judgment.

Bella’s fists clenched at her sides, her cheeks flushed, but her voice came out steady and strong. "I did not steal!"

"Oh, then how did that jade end up in your purse, huh? Drop the act, Isabella!" Alexa snapped, her voice trembling with forced anger. Her eyes gleamed with triumph as if she had already won.

"I said I didn’t steal!" Bella shot back, her voice rising, anger flaring in her chest.

"Hah!" Sherly, the one who had kicked her earlier, let out a cruel chuckle. "I can’t believe someone can be so shameless. At least pretend better if you want people to pity you."

Bella’s jaw tightened, her nails digging into her palm. The humiliation stung, but she refused to lower her head. Her eyes flickered toward Leo.

Leo stood still, his face unreadable, cold as stone. Yet when his eyes finally met hers, he gave the faintest blink—subtle, but enough to reassure her, silently telling her that he believed her.

Bella’s heart warmed. No matter what venom was being spat around her, Leo’s quiet support was enough to anchor her.

"CCTV footage," Bella said suddenly, her voice cutting across the noise. "We can check it. That will show the truth."

A ripple of surprise went through the guests. For a second, the room grew still.

Then Stella burst out laughing, her tone shrill. "Are you deaf or something, Bella? Didn’t you hear? The CCTV footage is missing!" She shouted the last word, her smirk spreading wide.