The moment Jiang Yue told me to stop being stubborn, I finally understood.
In my previous life, the person who pushed me into the abyss wasn’t only Liang Wanqing.
It was everyone who stood around me…
and decided that I was guilty before I had the chance to speak.
I looked at Jiang Yue.
My boyfriend of three years.
The man who had promised me countless times:
“Tuế Ninh, no matter what happens, I will believe you.”
Those words suddenly sounded ridiculous.
Because now, with dozens of people watching me like a thief…
the first thing he did was ask me to cooperate.
Not:
“Are you okay?”
Not:
“I believe you.”
Just:
“Stop being stubborn.”
I smiled.
A very small smile.
Jiang Yue frowned.
“Why are you smiling?”
I looked at him.
“Nothing.”
“Then open your bag and prove your innocence.”
I stared at him.
“Why do I need to prove something I didn’t do?”
His expression became impatient.
“Because everyone is waiting.”
Everyone.
That word was exactly the same as my previous life.
Everyone waited for me to lower my head.
Everyone waited for me to apologize.
Everyone waited for me to accept the blame so the wedding could continue peacefully.
But this time…
I wasn’t going to save anyone’s wedding.
Especially not the person who planned to destroy my life.
Yao Xueqin crossed her arms.
“Miss Cheng, if you have nothing to hide, why refuse?”
I turned toward her.
“Mrs. Yao.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You know I work in jewelry appraisal.”
“Yes.”
“Then you should know something.”
I pointed at the empty red velvet cloth.
“Professional jewel appraisers don’t randomly touch valuable items without authorization.”
“Especially on the day of a wedding.”
Her expression changed slightly.
But Liang Wanqing immediately interrupted.
“Tuế Ninh.”
Her voice was soft.
Almost pleading.
“Don’t make this worse.”
I looked at her.
“Make what worse?”
Her tears fell again.
“I know you’re upset.”
“Upset?”
I laughed.
“Why would I be upset?”
She froze.
Because she knew.
She knew I had always been the person who protected her.
The person who helped her.
The person who would rather suffer myself than embarrass her.
But that person died once.
I lifted my phone.
“The recording is saved.”
Everyone looked at me.
“The cloud backup has the complete timeline.”
I looked directly at Liang Wanqing.
“From the moment I entered the dressing room.”
“Until everyone arrived.”
Her fingers tightened around her dress.
For the first time…
her perfect expression cracked.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Fu Chengli noticed.
“Wanqing.”
She immediately looked at him.
“What?”
“Why are you so nervous?”
The question made her face turn pale.
“I’m not.”
She forced a smile.
“I’m just afraid the wedding will be ruined.”
I almost laughed.
Afraid?
No.
She wasn’t afraid of the wedding.
She was afraid of the truth.
At that moment, the police arrived.
The atmosphere completely changed.
The guests outside started whispering.
“The police?”
“What happened?”
“Was something stolen?”
Liang Wanqing grabbed Fu Chengli’s arm.
“Chengli…”
Her voice trembled.
“Do we really need this?”
Fu Chengli looked conflicted.
But before he could answer, I spoke.
“She was the one who suggested returning the jewelry if I had made a mistake.”
Everyone looked at Liang Wanqing.
Her expression froze.
I continued:
“So now that the police are here…”
“Let’s find out who really made the mistake.”
The officer asked everyone to remain calm.
“First, we need to confirm who had access to this room.”
Xin Yao immediately provided the list.
Bride.
Bridesmaids.
Makeup artist.
Wedding staff.
And me.
The officer nodded.
“Anyone else?”
Silence.
Then I spoke:
“Yes.”
Everyone turned toward me.
“The bride.”
Liang Wanqing’s face changed.
“What do you mean?”
I looked at the jewelry box.
“The person who knows this box best…”
“Is the person who owns it.”
Jiang Yue pulled me aside.
“Tuế Ninh.”
His voice lowered.
“Enough.”
I looked at him.
“Enough?”
“You’re making things complicated.”
I stared at him.
“Jiang Yue.”
“What?”
“If today happened again…”
A pause.
“Would you still choose to doubt me?”
He didn’t answer.
Because he couldn’t.
The police began checking the room.
Then one officer stopped.
“Wait.”
Everyone looked over.
He pointed at the dresser.
“There is something here.”
He picked up a tiny object from behind the jewelry box.
A small piece of red velvet thread.
Yao Xueqin frowned.
“What is that?”
The officer examined it.
“Part of a jewelry pouch.”
The room became silent.
Because the missing bracelets had been stored in a red velvet pouch.
Liang Wanqing suddenly stepped back.
“No…”
Her voice was barely audible.
Everyone heard it.
I looked at her.
“Why are you scared?”
She immediately shook her head.
“I just…”
“You just what?”
She couldn’t answer.
The officer continued searching.
Then he found something else.
A receipt.
Folded tightly.
Hidden inside the false bottom of the jewelry box.
The officer opened it.
His expression changed.
“Interesting.”
Fu Chengli stepped forward.
“What is it?”
The officer looked at Liang Wanqing.
“Miss Liang.”
“When did you sell this pair of bracelets?”
The entire room froze.
Liang Wanqing’s face became completely white.
Impossible.
She had thought nobody would find it.
She had thought I would become the perfect scapegoat again.
But she forgot one thing.
This time…
I wasn’t trying to prove I was innocent.
I was trying to prove she was guilty.
The officer held up the receipt.
“According to this document…”
“The dragon and phoenix bracelets were sold at a pawn shop three months ago.”
Silence.
Then someone whispered:
“Three months ago?”
“But she was still wearing them in photos last week.”
I looked at Liang Wanqing.
Her tears disappeared.
Her fake sadness disappeared.
Only panic remained.
Then Jiang Yue’s phone suddenly rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
I noticed.
“Who is it?”
He didn’t answer.
I stepped closer.
And saw the name.
Liang Wanqing.
Not the bride standing in front of us.
A saved contact.
With a message preview:
“The plan failed. Cheng Tuế Ninh knows too much. We need to deal with her before tonight.”
I raised my eyes slowly.
And looked at Jiang Yue.
Because suddenly…
I realized something even more terrifying.
Liang Wanqing had planned to destroy my reputation.
But she wasn’t working alone.
TO BE CONTINUED…
