Chapter 8
Finally, it was Saturday, the day of the signing
ceremony. Once the contract was signed,
Cheryl and I could go home.
This was a major inter–state partnership, and
many prominent businesspeople attended the
ceremony.
Just as everything was finalized, Jessica burst
in with a group of people.
I recognized them as the colleagues who had
ostracized and mocked me five years ago.
Ethan had fired them after I left. I was
impressed Jessica had managed to track
them all down after so long.
Г
Jessica pointed at me. “Sarah Matthews is a thief! How dare your company employ her?
Aren’t you afraid she’ll steal from you?”
Her posse chimed in. “Yeah, she stole
Jessica’s diamond bracelet!”
“We’re all witnesses. Sarah Matthews is
dishonest. Any company that hires her is
asking for trouble.”
“Employing a known thief? This company
must be shady too. Everyone, let’s investigate
this company!”
I noticed one of them was live–streaming on
their phone.
Jessica’s plan was clear: ruin my reputation in
<
front of this influential crowd, making me
unemployable.
The whispers started, eyes turning towards
- me.
Cheryl spoke up, “I believe Sarah. There must
be a misunderstanding.”
Jessica had deliberately told Cheryl about the
“theft” in the conference room, hoping to
discredit me.
Cheryl had asked me about it later.
I’d simply said I wasn’t a thief and had never
done anything illegal or immoral.
It was up to her to believe me or not.
She’d said she believed me.
I thought it was just lip service, but now, she
was defending me publicly.
It warmed my heart.
Jessica scoffed. “She was caught red-
handed! There were many witnesses! Your
belief means nothing!”
“Fire Sarah Matthews, or I’ll expose your
company online!”
Cheryl stood firm. “We have nothing to hide.
We’re not afraid of your threats.”
“You say Sarah is a thief. Prove it! Otherwise,
you’re slandering her.”
<
Jessica’s group insisted they were witnesses.
Cheryl countered, “You’re all Jessica’s
friends. You could be lying. Your words have
no credibility.”
Jessica turned to Ethan. “If they’re not
credible, then Ethan is. He was there.”
“Ethan, tell everyone. Did Sarah Matthews
steal my bracelet?”
All eyes turned to Ethan. Once again, my fate
rested on his words.
But this time, I wasn’t helpless. I had the
video ready to play.
Ethan frowned. “Jessica, you’re being
irrational. Leave, or I’ll have security escort
<
Jessica pressed him. “You’re not denying it.
Because Sarah Matthews is a thief!”
Ethan snapped, “Jessica, enough! Sarah
made a mistake, but the bracelet was
returned. What more do you want?!”
He seemed to be defending me, but his words
still implied my guilt.
Before Jessica could gloat, I played the video
on the large screen.
It clearly showed Jessica slipping the bracelet
into my bag, then accusing me and dumping
out my purse.
The truth was out. My name, tarnished for
five years, was finally cleared.
<
The whispers now targeted Jessica.
She stared at me, panicked. “How do you have that video? I unplugged the camera!”
“You did, but the camera had a backup battery. Everything you did was recorded.”
“If you had the video, why didn’t you show it
before?”
“Jessica, I wasn’t going to show it. Ever. You
gave me $50,000 when my mom was sick.
You saved her life.”
“I repaid you, with interest. But you wouldn’t
let it go. You kept pushing me.”
“So she was the thief all along!”
r
“Such a young woman, but so vicious!”
“Whoever marries her is in for a world of
hurt.”
Jessica, pampered her whole life, couldn’t
handle the criticism. She fled.
Ethan looked at me, guilt in his eyes. “Sarah,
I’m so sorry. I was wrong. I never imagined
Jessica would do that.”
He never imagined Jessica would frame me,
yet he readily believed I was the thief.
I didn’t want to talk to him anymore. It was
pointless.
“Mr. Miller,” I said, smiling, “let’s sign the
contract.”
After the signing, I couldn’t leave fast enough.
Cheryl and I flew back to Boston that
afternoon.
Ethan flew to Boston every week, begging for
my forgiveness.
He was convinced his persistence would win
me back.
But I’d started dating Cheryl’s son, David.
On my wedding day, a disheveled Ethan
showed up at my door.
He held out a red string bracelet, a symbol of
marriage in Chinese culture. “Sarah, I got this
last night. Please don’t leave me. Don’t marry
Г
David.”
I took the bracelet. Hope flickered in his eyes.
Then I tore it to pieces.
“Ethan Miller, our fate is over. Please stop
harassing me.”
“Harassing?” He couldn’t believe I’d use that
word.
“Yes, harassing. Ethan, I’m getting married.
What else would you call this?”
He stared at me for a long time, then left,
defeated.
I happily married David.
L
Much later, I learned that after Ethan left my
apartment, Jessica confronted him.
In a fit of rage, he’d driven his car into her,
leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.
He went to prison for ten years.
I felt a pang of sadness when I heard the
news.
But mostly, I was grateful to be free from
their toxic drama.
I had a happy family now.
The End.
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