My mind went blank. "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have anything you're looking for. Get out!"
Charles ignored me completely and turned to his bodyguards. "Search the place. Whoever finds it first gets double the bonus."
Several of them barged in and began ransacking the room, rifling through every corner.
With a clear conscience, I rounded on Charles. "We've known each other for ten years. Have you really lost even that most basic trust in me? Do you honestly think I'm the kind of person who would—"
Before I could finish, one of the bodyguards ran out of the bathroom, holding up an exquisite diamond ring. "Found it! Mr. Sanchez, Miss Pruitt, take a look. Is this the one?"
Prudence's eyes lit up. "Yes! That's it!"
Charles fixed me with a piercing stare. "Louise, I never imagined you were this kind of person. You've truly disappointed me."
The disappointment in his eyes flickered and was gone. A dull ache pressed hard against my heart, and I wanted to explain that I hadn't taken it at all.
But then my gaze caught the look Prudence traded with the bodyguard, and the words stuck in my throat.
It was useless.
No matter how I explained, Charles would never believe me.
"Hmph. If you can't keep your hands to yourself, then we'll break them."
The instant the words left Charles's mouth, a bodyguard stepped forward and pinned my arm down, then drove his heel into it. The sound of bone shattering rang out at once.
I didn't even have time to beg before my right hand was bent into a grotesque shape.
The pain in my body wasn't a fraction of the pain in my heart.
I drew in a deep breath, my voice muffled, carrying a fragility that bordered on despair. "Charles, you know perfectly well my right hand… is meant to teach those children piano. Why would you ruin it too?"
Charles held Prudence's slender waist, his face expressionless. "You took what Prudence cares about most, so naturally I'll destroy what you care about most."
"From now on, don't stoop to petty thieving. It's beneath you."
"Charlie, don't be angry. Maybe she's just never seen a ring like this and wanted to admire it. After all, she crawled out of some slum, so of course she's never laid eyes on anything nice."
Prudence covered her mouth and laughed softly, the mockery in her eyes all but spilling over.
I watched the two of them walk away, Charles's words still echoing in my ears.
The dull ache in my heart twisted into a sharp knife, churning until I couldn't breathe.
Once the cast was set, I grabbed the doctor's arm and pleaded, "Could you check the surveillance footage? I want to prove my innocence. I really never stole anything."
During the treatment, the doctor had already rolled his eyes at me no fewer than twenty times.
He shook my hand off, his face taking on an amused look. "Ma'am, mind your manners."
"You can have the footage. Add me as a contact first, and I'll send it to you in a bit."
I'd noticed earlier that there was a camera directly across from my door, angled to catch the footage.
Maybe it was the only thing that could prove my innocence. Even if Charles would never believe it, I wanted to try.
After adding him, I waited anxiously, the minutes slipping away one by one, and still no video came from the doctor.
Instead, what came was Charles storming in, seething with rage.
He held down his fury and demanded, "Louise, have you really sunk this low? You and I are only divorced for the time being, and you've fallen so far you'd sell your own body?"
His words rooted me to the spot. "What do you mean?"
"Charlie, don't be angry. Maybe she was just lonely and wanted to find a man to pass the time, or maybe she just wanted to rile you up so you'd come coax her. Oh, a girl's little schemes never amount to much." Prudence had caught up by now, hooking her arm through Charles's, her voice all smiles.
"If you're going to say something, you'd better have proof!" I said sharply.
