Chapter 3 Grandma's Bank Statements

"It's me!"

I shouted the words loud and clear, my heart racing. Just yesterday, I told my two closest colleagues to call the police if any strangers came looking for trouble at the office.

"Kaelyn, are you sure you want to do this? Calling the cops is just asking for trouble," Jasmine stammered, her facade cracking for a moment before she switched to a pleading tone.

Joziah was nearly frantic. "Stealing 300 thousand isn't just some childish game, Kaelyn. You can't talk your way out of this. Hurry and tell the officers it's all a misunderstanding, and—"

"Get lost!"

I shoved past the people blocking my way and strode straight to the police, ready to lay everything out.

"I called the police. My cousin Jasmine stole 300 thousand meant for my grandmother's surgery and framed me for it. She's been pressuring me to pay her back and causing a scene at my workplace!"

Joziah grabbed my arm. "Kaelyn, stop being so stubborn. Why do you always pin your mistakes on Jasmine?"

I shook him off, my patience wearing thin. "Cut the crap! The cops are right here. They'll figure out who actually stole the money!"

Then, I turned to the officers and continued, "Officers, there are cameras at my grandmother's house. If you check the footage, you'll see who actually took the money."

The officers nodded and asked my aunt and Jasmine for the footage.

My aunt's gaze shifted nervously. She rambled on, avoiding the request to produce the footage.

The older officer frowned, raising his voice as he demanded, "If you refuse to show the footage, are you admitting, as this young lady claims, that your daughter is the actual thief?"

My aunt, clearly intimidated, went pale under the officer's scrutiny.

"Officer, you're mistaken. It was my cousin who was caught stealing while she was naked! We deleted the video to protect her reputation from being ruined," Jasmine sighed dramatically.

I shot her a cold look. "Are you sure about that?"

"Of course," she replied, feigning innocence.

I took advantage of Joziah's momentary distraction and snatched my phone back, quickly pulling up the video.

"Alright, everyone, take a look. Let's see who really stole the bank card!"

I had logged into the camera system yesterday and backed up the footage of Jasmine taking the bank card from beneath my grandma's pillow. I had anticipated this moment.

The video played, showing Jasmine sneakily swiping the card.

My colleagues were stunned into silence.

"Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black?"

"She's got no shame!"

"She accused Kaelyn of stealing while she was nude, claiming the video wasn't available... and now she's caught red-handed?"

For the first time in her life, Jasmine found herself on the receiving end of so much criticism. Her face flushed with humiliation.

She opened her mouth to argue, but the police swiftly took her into custody while I was taken along for questioning.

Joziah, clearly worried, followed closely behind.

My wailing aunt followed us to the police station with a whole troop of relatives in tow.

She stood her ground, saying, "Just because there's a video doesn't mean my daughter is a thief. It's Kaelyn who pressured her into stealing money to buy a car!"

Her loyalty to her daughter left me speechless.

Just then, Joziah chimed in, his expression filled with concern. "Officer, you really shouldn't arrest Jasmine. I know my girlfriend well; she's got a history of bullying her cousin. This time, she pressured Jasmine to do this for the sake of buying a car. I will pay the money for her!"

I clenched my teeth. "Joziah, didn't I warn you to stay out of my business?"

He gazed at me earnestly. "But I can't just stand by and watch you go down the wrong path! Kaelyn, why can't you see I'm trying to help?"

Trying to help?

In my previous life, I had put too much faith in his so-called kindness. I endured his favoritism toward Jasmine time and again. In the end, I ended up in a situation I couldn't escape.

Fury rendered me speechless.

My relatives echoed my aunt's sentiments. "Kaelyn has always been trouble, but at least she found a decent boyfriend who's willing to speak up for Jasmine."

Joziah shrugged in resignation. "It's the least I can do. I can't just let her bully others even if I'm a boyfriend."

Jasmine sniffled as she blubbered, "Joziah, with a boyfriend like you, why doesn't Kaelyn learn any of your good qualities?"

Joziah frowned. "I've done my best to keep her in line. I just don't understand why she has so much malice toward you."

I pulled out the surveillance video, and my coworkers immediately grasped the situation.

Yet, to Joziah and my relatives, Jasmine remained a pristine, innocent girl. They clung to her claim that I forced her to steal money for a car even with such undeniable proof shoved right at their faces.

I had long lost faith in their judgment, but I still believed the law would restore my reputation.

So, I approached the officers and asked, "Excuse me, have you managed to pull up my grandmother's bank statements? Shouldn't it be clear now that Jasmine is the thief?"

The officer scrutinized me. "The statements have indeed been retrieved, but they show that the 300 thousand was used to purchase a car registered in your name."