Chapter 368:
It gnawed at Bella, this uncanny ability of Yelena’s to always seem in the right place at the right time, uncovering the truth with what seemed like effortless precision. Was it luck? Coincidence? How could Yelena stumble into these moments and come out on top every single time?
Stella’s voice cut through Bella’s thoughts. “How long has this been going on? Was it a one-time thing, or have you been doing this for a while?”
Yelena stood silently to the side, observing with keen interest. She could tell Stella wasn’t naive. The manager’s demeanor suggested she had long known the bracelet was a fake since before their confrontation. This wasn’t an isolated incident. Heather’s reaction—or lack thereof earlier—spoke volumes.
If this had been Heather’s first time tampering with the goods, her guilt and fear would have been far more obvious from the start. Instead, Heather had been defensive, almost brazen, even after Yelena pointed out the issue. It was clear she had grown accustomed to this deceit, likely having pulled similar stunts many times before.
Heather’s gaze flickered nervously, darting away from Stella. She couldn’t bring herself to meet her boss’s eyes, and her words stumbled, a jumbled mess that lacked any real meaning.
Stella’s expression hardened, her eyes narrowing with a sharpness that betrayed her calm exterior. Though Yelena and the others lingered in the room, Stella wasn’t about to let Heather slip by this time. If she allowed this moment to pass, it would be much harder to regain her footing in front of her employees.
“Heather,” Stella said, her voice low and steady. “I’ve given you every opportunity. If you don’t come clean now, you know what will happen.”
Stella might have seemed poised and easygoing, but beneath that polished surface, she was a woman who had fought tooth and nail for her position. She wasn’t born into it—she was the daughter of a servant in the Loftus family. Step by step, she clawed her way up, eventually marrying the eldest son of the family and later gaining control of this store.
These days, she was the one calling the shots at Sterling and Grace, and her authority was something others coveted—and secretly plotted against.
She was no stranger to the pressure of watching her back. She knew there were always eyes on her, waiting for her to slip, waiting for her to make a mistake so they could tear her down and replace her.
The crown might be heavy, but Stella wasn’t about to let it slip from her head.
Heather knew all too well what Stella was capable of. In an instant, the words tumbled out of her.
She had once been a diligent, honest worker, but life had a way of throwing curveballs.
Her husband had gotten himself tangled up in risky bets, chasing quick money that only led to disaster. He lost big, borrowing from loan sharks to cover his growing debts.
The situation escalated fast, and before Heather knew it, the debt collectors were knocking at her door.
Those dangerous people weren’t playing around. If Heather didn’t come up with the money, they threatened to break her husband’s hands and sell her off. It was no idle threat—they meant every word.
Heather had been backed into a corner, with no way out. Desperation led her to steal from the store.
At first, it was small items, nothing too noticeable. But once she tasted the rush of getting away with it, she grew bolder, moving on to more valuable pieces.
She was clever about it, mixing in the fake with the real, and with Sterling and Grace’s impeccable reputation, it was easy to hide in plain sight. For a long time, no one noticed the deception.
If Yelena hadn’t walked in today, Heather might have gotten away with it forever.
Stella’s face darkened, her fury simmering just below the surface. Her voice erupted, sharp and cutting. “How dare you!”
Heather collapsed to the floor with a thud, her sobs echoing in the room. “Mrs. Loftus, please! I’ll never do it again, I swear! I was misled, and I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Please, forgive me!”
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