The Heiress Who Came Back To Ruin Everyone

Seven years ago... The Veyne mansion was usually filled with laughter, music, and the quiet footsteps of servants moving from one room to another. Tonight, it was silent. Arabella Veyne stood in the center of the enormous living room, staring at the necklace displayed inside a transparent evidence bag. Her brows slowly furrowed. The necklace was expensive. Very expensive. A delicate diamond pendant surrounded by tiny emerald stones. Isadora's favorite. And apparently, it had been found inside Bella's bedroom. Bella looked at the necklace. Then at the people surrounding her. Her father stood near the fireplace with an expression she had never seen directed at her before. Disappointment. Her mother sat beside Isadora, one hand resting protectively on the girl's shoulder. And Adrian stood near the window. Her boyfriend. The boy she had trusted since childhood. Bella looked at him for several seconds. “Are you seriously going to stand there?” Adrian's jaw tightened. “Bella...” “No.” She raised one hand. “Don't say my name like you're about to give me a funeral speech.” Isadora sniffed. “I didn't want this to happen.” Bella slowly turned toward her. “Then why did it?” Isadora's eyes became watery. “I told them what I saw.” Bella laughed. “You saw me enter your room. That's it.” “I saw you looking around.” “Because I was looking for the book you borrowed.” “You were alone in my room.” “And?” Bella crossed her arms. “Am I supposed to knock on the door every time I enter my own family's house?” Isadora lowered her head. “I don't know where the necklace went after you left.” Bella stared at her. Then she looked at her father. “That's your evidence?” Victor's expression hardened. “The necklace was found in your wardrobe.” Bella blinked. “My wardrobe?” “Yes.” “Did you search it?” “We searched your room.” Bella's lips slowly curved into an incredulous smile. “Without me there?” Victor didn't answer. Bella looked around the room. “So let me understand this.” She pointed at the evidence bag. “Her necklace disappears.” She pointed at herself. “And somehow it magically appears inside my wardrobe.” Nobody spoke. Bella nodded. “Wow.” Isadora looked at her. “What?” Bella smiled sweetly. “I'm impressed.” “By what?” “By your imagination.” Isadora's face stiffened. Bella walked toward the table and picked up the evidence bag. She examined the necklace through the plastic. “This thing is ugly.” Isadora's eyes widened. “Bella!” “What?” Bella looked genuinely confused. “You're crying over this?” “My grandmother gave it to me!” “Then your grandmother had questionable taste.” A servant standing nearby quickly lowered her head, hiding a smile. Isadora's cheeks turned red. Victor slammed his palm against the table. “Enough!” Bella looked at him. “I'm trying to understand why I'm being accused of theft.” “Because the evidence is in your room.” “And because she's crying?” Victor's expression darkened. “Watch your tone.” Bella tilted her head. “Why?” She stepped closer. “Because she's your favorite?” The room became completely silent. Selene stood. “Bella, that's enough.” Bella turned toward her mother. “No, Mom. It isn't.” Her voice remained calm. Almost too calm. “You know me.” Selene looked away. “You know I've never stolen anything.” “I know.” Bella's eyebrows rose. “Then why aren't you defending me?” Selene's lips parted. No answer came. Bella stared at her. That silence hurt more than the accusation. She turned toward Adrian. “Fine.” Adrian looked at her. “You.” She pointed at him. “You know me too.” He swallowed. “Bella, I—” “Do you believe I stole it?” Adrian hesitated. That was enough. Bella gave a small laugh. “Wow.” She nodded slowly. “That's actually worse than I expected.” “Bella, please,” Adrian said. “Just apologize and let this end.” Bella stared at him. “Apologize?” “Yes.” “To her?” Adrian glanced toward Isadora. Bella followed his gaze. Then she laughed again. “You've got to be kidding me.” Isadora wiped her tears. “I don't want her apology if she doesn't mean it.” Bella smiled. “Don't worry.” She stepped toward Isadora. “I don't mean it.” Isadora's expression changed. Bella leaned slightly closer. “But since everyone already decided I'm guilty, let's at least make this interesting.” Isadora frowned. “What are you talking about?” Bella picked up the evidence bag again. “If I stole your necklace, I would have hidden it somewhere you couldn't find.” She raised the bag. “Leaving it in my own wardrobe?” She shook her head. “That's embarrassing.” Isadora's face paled. Bella smiled. “Whoever framed me did a terrible job.” Victor's eyes narrowed. “Are you accusing someone else?” “I'm saying you're terrible investigators.” “Bella!” “What?” She shrugged. “If you wanted me to look guilty, you should have at least made it convincing.” Victor's face turned red. “Apologize to your sister.” Bella stared at him. “No.” The single word echoed through the room. Victor stepped forward. “What did you say?” “I said no.” Bella placed the evidence bag back on the table. “You've already decided I'm guilty. Why should I apologize for something I didn't do?” “You're my daughter.” Bella's smile vanished. “Exactly.” She looked directly into his eyes. “That's why this is pathetic.” Victor went silent. Bella looked at her mother. Then Isadora. Then Adrian. Her family. The people she had spent her entire life believing would protect her. She suddenly felt strangely calm. “Fine.” She turned toward the staircase. Selene frowned. “Where are you going?” “To pack.” Victor's voice became cold. “If you walk out of this house, don't expect me to beg you to return.” Bella stopped. She slowly turned around. For one second, she looked at him without saying anything. Then she smiled. “Don't worry.” She picked up her suitcase from beside the staircase. “I wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself.” “Bella!” She continued walking upstairs. Twenty minutes later, she returned carrying a single suitcase. Nobody had followed her. Nobody stopped her. Nobody apologized. Bella walked toward the front door. Adrian finally stepped forward. “Bella.” She stopped. He looked miserable. “I'm sorry.” Bella looked at him. “Are you?” “Yes.” She studied his face. Then smiled. “Good.” Adrian looked relieved. Until she continued. “Live with that.” She walked outside. Rain began falling almost immediately. Bella stood beneath the mansion's enormous entrance for a moment, staring at the place she had called home her entire life. She could still turn around. She could still beg. She could still cry. Instead, she picked up her suitcase. Behind her, the mansion doors remained open. Nobody called her back. Bella stepped into the rain. Her heels splashed against the pavement as she walked toward the waiting car. She didn't cry. Not because it didn't hurt. But because she refused to give them the satisfaction. Before getting inside the car, she turned toward the mansion one last time. Her eyes hardened. “Fine.” She smiled bitterly. “If this is the family you chose...” She opened the car door. “Then I'll choose myself.” The car drove away. Bella never looked back. Seven years later, she would return. But she wouldn't be the sixteen-year-old girl carrying a suitcase. She would return with money. Power. A successful empire. And a very long memory. And the people who had thrown her away would soon discover one very inconvenient truth. They had made the biggest mistake of their lives.