hapter 410
55 Vouchere
Zara knelt on the floor, her face pale as a ghost. She was too scared and ashamed to even glance in Bette’s direction.
Hayley drew in shaky breath and followed suit, dropping to her knees. She looked up at Harris, her voice trembling as she pleaded.
“Harris, Zara is my daughter. If she’s done wrong, it’s all my fault for not teaching her better…”
Seeing Hayley trying to shield Zara from the consequences, Bette got up from the couch, walked over, bent down, and tried to help her up.
Bette said, “Hayley, what are you doing?
“Everyone in the Zamora family knows Zara wasn’t even born into the family. She was only adopted later on, right?”
“This isn’t about you failing as a mother. She’s got bad genes. There’s nothing you could’ve done.
“Even with all the care and attention you gave her, she still hasn’t learned a thing. She even went and messed up things that were way above her station.”
Hayley’s expression froze.
Bette continued, “Hayley, don’t beat yourself up over this. It’s not your fault. Please, get up.”
Bette’s words left Hayley completely speechless.
Hayley lifted her gaze to Bette.
Bette’s lips curled into a gentle smile, her expression warm and kind.
Hayley took a deep breath, bowed her head, and stubbornly remained on her knees.
Hayley said, “Bette, you don’t have to say anything. Since I brought Zara into this family, it’s on me to see it through. I’ll take responsibility for her, no matter what.
“Taking the ring out of the Zamora family was Zara’s biggest mistake, but she must’ve had her reasons…”
Bette cut Hayley off again, not letting her get a word in.
“Hayley, Zara’s been living with us for years. I always thought she had some sense. Turns out, all this time, she was putting on an act. Pretending to be sweet and obedient whenever we are around.
“If she meant well, why would she sneak off to the side courtyard and go through my mother’s keepsakes?
“Or maybe after staying here so long, she actually thinks she’s part of the Zamora family now. So she figures my mother’s things are hers to help herself, too?”
Hayley was left completely speechless by Bette’s words.
Zara, on the other hand, shook her head desperately, looking nervous and anxious as she glanced at Bette.
“Bette, you know I’d never think like that,” Zara said, her voice trembling.
Bette let out a cold laugh, her face cold and emotionless as she stared at Zara.
1/4
9:14 am
Chapter 410
PXX.
Bette said, “Do you think I wouldn’t know what you’re thinking?
“Grandpa, let the investigators look into it.”
Harris frowned and was about to nod when someone burst in from outside.
“Sir, we’ve found the ring!” the person shouted breathlessly.
Hearing this, Zara looked up at Hayley.
Hayley’s expression stayed calm, but there was a flicker of resentment in her eyes.
Marina glanced toward the door and saw Hayley’s driver rushing in, his forehead glistening with sweat.
He clutched the ring in his hand, hurried over, and handed it to Harris.
Harris took the ring with a calm gaze and asked, “Where did you find it?”
Zane quickly replied, “It was in the underground garage.
“I think when the ring dropped, it probably rolled pretty far and got stuck in a crack, so nobody could find it.”
Harris nodded coolly and said, “Appreciate it.”
Zane scratched his head with a sheepish grin.
“No trouble at all, sir. You’re too polite,” he replied.
Harris didn’t answer Zane immediately. Instead, he took his time inspecting the ring.
Zane just stood off to the side, waiting quietly.
After a moment, Harris handed the ring to Bette.
“Check it out. See if there’s anything off about it,” he said.
As Harris finished speaking, Hayley and Zara both bowed their heads, avoiding his gaze.
Zane stood silently to the side, not reacting at all to Harris’s words.
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55 vouchers
Bette took the ring from Harris and gave it a careful once–over. After confirming it was fine, she nodded and said seriously, “It’s fine, Grandpa.”
Bette glanced up at Zane.
Her voice was icy as she said, “Funny, isn’t it? Grandpa had a whole team searching for the ring, and nobody found it. But Hayley’s driver managed to find it so fast.
“Isn’t that just a little too convenient?”
Zane kept his head down, not even bothering to deny Bette’s suspicion.
Now that the ring was found, the cops glanced at Bette, asking. “So, should we bring the suspect in, or…?”
Ring or not, Zara still broke the law.
2/4
2:14 am
Chapter 410
It could blow up, or it could just be swept under the rug.
If the Zamora family decided not to press charges, the cops wouldn’t haul anyone in.
If the Zamora family decided to press charges, the cops could arrest Zara on the spot.
Zara felt her heart seize with panic as she heard the officers speak.
55 vouchers
Take her in. She stole something this valuable and nearly lost it forever. That’s a major offense. She needs to be punished,” Bette said.
There was no doubt in Bette’s answer.
Zara clung desperately to Hayley’s arm, her grip tight and full of panic.
Hayley lifted her gaze to Harris, as if hoping he’d step in.
Harris gave a slight nod, but stayed silent.
Hayley spoke up, “Harris, I’m begging you. Please, for my sake, give Zara one more chance to make things right.”
Harris frowned at Hayley.
He said coolly, “Hayley, when a kid messes up, they have to be punished.
“This time she snuck off with the ring. If we let her off, who knows what she’ll try to take next?
The Zamora family’s too big. We can’t have someone watching her every minute of the day, can we?”
With those words, Harris was basically saying Zara wasn’t family to him, not even a little.
Zara’s face went ghostly pale.
She’d always thought that after living with the Zamora family for so many years, she was practically one of them.
Harris had always been kind to her.
She figured that even though she was adopted by Hayley and couldn’t take the Zamora name, Harris still saw her as part of the family.
However…
It turned out Harris never saw her as family, not even from the very start.
Zara bit down hard on her lip.
Hayley drew a deep breath, her eyes flashing with determination.
Hayley said, “Harris, whatever Zara’s done, she once saved Daron’s life.
“Have you forgotten? That year when Daron was struck with sudden appendicitis, it was Zara, a little girl back then, who managed to haul him, even though he was way bigger than her, all the way out of that wilderness to get help.
“If Daron knew about this, there’s no way he’d let the cops take Zara away.”
As soon as Hayley said that, Harris’s eyes narrowed.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
