Love In Disguise: Rebirth of the Heiress
Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Chapter 63

The guard raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Why should you get to see the manager?" he sneered. "Caught red-handed, and now you think you have a say?"

The receptionist glanced over, her eyes full of contempt. "Yeah, what a nerve. As if the manager’s going to entertain a thief," she scoffed.

Brianna, finally stepping forward, put on her best innocent act, clasping her hands in mock concern. "I was the one who reported it," she announced loudly, her voice dripping with feigned sincerity. "I saw her with that wallet. Just couldn’t believe it myself." She shook her head, casting me a look of exaggerated pity.

I couldn’t help but laugh, meeting her gaze with a raised eyebrow. "And, by any chance, did you happen to check the CCTV?"

Brianna’s smug expression faltered for a split second before she composed herself, the guards shifting uncomfortably as they exchanged looks.

"Actually," the receptionist said, crossing her arms with a self-satisfied smirk, "we don’t have CCTV in that particular area."

"Oh, of course not," I replied, dryly amused. "No CCTV in the area, no evidence to back your claims, and yet here we are, playing judge and jury over an item I never touched. What fantastic service."

Someone nearby scoffed, giving me a disgusted look. "Who do you think you are to talk down to them? You’re just a thief."

Another bystander chimed in. "Calling the police might be the only way she learns."

I felt the anger bubble up, but I kept my voice calm. "I’m not going to stand here and be humiliated for a ’shitty thing’ someone else planted in my bag. Now, I’d like to see the manager—unless, of course, you’re all content with dragging someone’s name through the mud based on hearsay?"

The crowd’s whispers grew louder, a mixture of suspicion and curiosity flickering across their faces. The guards looked hesitant, but they held their ground, clearly determined not to let me off the hook.

And then, just as the tension reached a peak, a voice cut through the commotion. "What’s all this fuss about?"

Heads turned, and there stood the manager, her sharp eyes scanning the scene. She took in the sight of me, the guards, Brianna, and the wallet in question. Her brows furrowed, then suddenly relaxed in recognition. "Miss Williams?"

Both Brianna and I responded at once.

"Yes?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes?" Brianna echoed, clearly taken aback.

The manager blinked, glancing between the two of us, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.

The manager cleared her throat, adjusting her glasses. "I meant Miss Kiara," she said, giving Brianna a pointed look that seemed to wipe the smugness from her face in an instant.

Brianna’s mouth fell open in shock, her carefully crafted expression faltering. "W-what? Miss... Kiara?"

The manager turned to the receptionist, eyes narrowing. "Now, would someone like to explain what happened here?"

The receptionist’s face flushed red, but she managed to compose herself enough to say, "Well, uh, she was... found with a stolen wallet in her bag." She gestured vaguely at me, her voice faltering as I let out another scoff.

The manager’s expression darkened with disbelief. "Are you suggesting one of our biggest shareholders would steal a mere wallet?"

A ripple of shock ran through the crowd as murmurs spread among the onlookers. The guards, who had been so eager to usher me out moments ago, looked away uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze.

I crossed my arms, fixing the manager with a steady look. "I invested here," I said, feeling both irritated and embarrassed by the scene, "because I believed this store had the potential to be one of the best. But now I’m questioning it. Not only are there no cameras in certain parts of the store, but the staff... well, let’s say professionalism seems to be lacking."

The manager paled slightly, taken aback by my words. "Miss Kiara, I assure you, we do have CCTV coverage throughout the store." She looked sharply at the receptionist and the guards. "So why was that not mentioned?"

The receptionist’s face crumpled, and without warning, she dropped to her knees, her hands clasped together in a pleading gesture. "Please, miss, I... I’m sorry! Brianna paid me to say that you stole the wallet. Please don’t let them fire me! I... I need this job to support my family."

The guards shuffled uncomfortably, their gazes fixed on the floor, clearly regretting their involvement in this mess.

I raised an eyebrow, my gaze sliding over to Brianna, who stood there wide-eyed, her face drained of color. "Brianna," I said slowly, drawing out her name as I took a step closer, "anything you’d like to say?"

Brianna opened her mouth, but words failed her. "I... I... what... this isn’t..."

Joselle took a step back, looking at Brianna as if she were something foul. "Just so we’re clear, I had nothing to do with this," she said, her tone cold and detached, her expression one of pure disdain.

Brianna turned, betrayal flickering across her face. "Joselle, you... you helped plan this!" Her voice was a strangled whisper, as if the words were wrenched from her.

Joselle gave her a withering look, stepping back further. "Plan what? I didn’t make you bribe anyone," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "You brought this on yourself."

The sight of Brianna, abandoned by her co-conspirator and looking utterly defeated, was almost laughable.

The manager straightened, her face tight with anger as she looked down at the receptionist still kneeling on the floor. "You’re dismissed. Your actions today were absolutely unacceptable."

The receptionist’s eyes widened, tears brimming as she stammered, "Please, ma, I’m so sorry! I swear, it was only because I was... desperate. My family..."

I let out a sigh, holding up a hand. "Let her stay."

The manager looked at me, surprised. "Miss Kiara?"

I gave him a steady look. "It’s fine. Everyone makes mistakes. Besides..." I shot a glance at Brianna and Joselle, who were both watching the scene with barely concealed outrage, "I think this whole ordeal has embarrassed her enough."

The manager hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "If that’s what you wish."

I turned to the cashier and said, "I’ll be paying for that wallet now." Without waiting for a response, I pulled out my card and paid the full amount, feeling every eye in the room on me as I did so. I handed the wallet to the cashier and nodded. "Ring it up, please."

With that, I tucked the receipt into my bag, turned on my heel, and caught Brianna’s eye, flashing her a smirk. Then, with a little flair, I raised my middle finger in her direction, savoring the shock that rippled across her face. Joselle looked equally scandalized, her mouth dropping open as I breezed past them, my head held high.

I didn’t stop to listen to the whispers or the stunned silence that filled the store as I walked out. The only thing I could hear was my sneakers against the polished floor as I made my way to the door, leaving them all in my wake.