Chapter 4

Sarah slumped to the floor in terror, her entire body trembling.

In high society, where one's name and reputation were everything, stealing the host's property, particularly a family heirloom, was a serious crime. Once confirmed, her entire life would be ruined, and the Carter family would be shamed as well.

"It wasn't me! It truly wasn't me!" Sarah lunged forward to hug Henry's leg. "Henry, save me! You know I didn't steal the ring! It was—"

Henry's expression abruptly changed when he realized that she was about to spill the truth. Without any hesitation, he raised his hand and landed a ringing slap across her face.

"Sarah, you've truly disappointed me!" He put on a pained expression, and even the finger he was pointing at Sarah was shaking. "I treated you like a friend and brought you here to attend this banquet out of the kindness of my heart, hoping that it would broaden your horizons. Yet, you… You actually stole my family's property!"

"I didn't!" Sarah cradled her throbbing cheek as she stared in disbelief at the man before her.

"Still denying it? You've been caught red-handed!" Henry refused to give her a chance to speak, quickly turning to Dad. "Dad, I'm sorry. I failed to see what sort of person she was and brought her here. I suggest we immediately call the police or kick her out of here. Besides that, from now on, we should cut off all connections with the Carter family!"

The commentary in my vision was silent. Clearly, Henry was too panicked and anxious to remember to use his "high-tech" tool.

As I watched the drama unfold, I found it all so ironic.

In my past life, Sarah had betrayed me for Henry's sake, poisoning me and eventually killing me. Now, however, she was being discarded like a piece of trash by the man she loved most.

"Hold it," I piped up lazily.

Henry stiffened before shooting me a wary look. "Leonard, the truth is already out in the open. What else do you want to say?"

I approached Sarah and loomed over her, but my words were for Henry. "Earlier, you sounded so certain that I was the one who stole the ring. Now that it has been found in Ms. Carter's bag, you immediately accuse her of being the thief. That sure was a quick change in attitude.

"Due to that, is it not reasonable for me to suspect that you two colluded to put on this act in hopes of framing me for the theft? Only for something to go wrong instead?"

"No! That's absolutely not true!" Huge beads of sweat dotted Henry's forehead. "Leonard, don't you go around accusing others! Why would I team up with an outsider against my own family?"

Although Dad was getting on in years, he was certainly not a fool. He gazed thoughtfully between Henry and Sarah before finally focusing on Henry. There was a level of scrutiny and disappointment in his eyes that was never there before.

"That's enough," he stated sternly. "Today is a happy occasion, and we shouldn't spoil the good mood by causing a huge fuss over this matter. Please escort Ms. Carter out and inform her family to come and take her away. As for Henry…"

He paused briefly before continuing, "As a son of the Suther family, you weren't careful enough when making friends and almost wrongfully accused your brother for something he didn't do. Go kneel in the family chapel for two hours and reflect on your actions!"

Upon hearing that, Henry relaxed. Sure, he was being punished, but at least he hadn't been kicked out of the family. Bowing his head to hide the malice blazing in his eyes, he answered, "Understood, Dad."

Sarah was dragged away by the bodyguards, all the while glaring hatefully at Henry.

Kiara came over with two glasses of red wine, one of which she handed to me. Then, she leaned against the railing beside me, her red dress snapping around her as the wind tugged on it.

With a small smile curving her lips, she said, "You seized the chance during the chaos earlier to slip the ring into Sarah's bag, didn't you? Nice move."

I accepted the glass and didn't bother to deny her words. "I could say the same for you. You stomped on Henry's foot just now when he wanted to interrupt me, didn't you? That was a seamless move that worked in my favor."

Kiara let out a tinkling laugh before clinking glasses with me. "Looks like we're the same sort of people. Leonard, I have no idea what you went through in the past, but since we're on the same team now, I definitely won't let you lose."

Tipping her head back, she downed the wine in one gulp, her every move exuding a proud air.

For a moment, I stared at her as a current of warmth flowed through me.

In my past life, I missed out on such an outstanding teammate. This time around, I was certainly not going to let go of her.

I reached out to wrap my arm around her waist and pull her closer to me. "Don't worry. I won't lose."

Just then, from the corner of my eye, I spotted Henry standing in a dark corner as he watched us with a sinister gaze.

Once again, the overlay appeared in my sight.

"Leonard, don't fall for Kiara's tricks! This is nothing but a trap she's setting up for you! During your engagement party, she'll climb into bed with Henry and betray you! Sarah, in her attempt to protect you, will end up being drugged by Kiara and taken advantage of by other men! You have to protect Sarah at your engagement party!"

I narrowed my eyes, realizing that a good show was about to unfold.