Chapter 88: You’re the One Who Stole It

Hayley’s POV:

As I caught a glimpse of the sheer shock and terror on Mandy’s face, a smug smile crept onto my lips. I replied, taking my time, “Are you surprised?”

Mandy, clearly flustered, looked away and defiantly shot back, “What’s surprising about this?”

She tried to walk away, but I seized her arm, keeping her from escaping. “Hold on! You’re the one who stole it, aren’t you?”

Despite her protests, her anxiety grew stronger by the second. “What are you talking about? What stealing?”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “If you didn’t take anything, why did you bolt when everyone was about to check for fingerprints? And why did you rush over here when you heard someone mention checking the security footage?”

Mandy stood her ground. “I was just passing by.”

I shrugged dismissively. “I knew you wouldn’t confess, but the facts are clear. What do you think will happen if I give this evidence to the police?”

Her complexion turned ashen. “What evidence? Where did you even get any?”

I regarded her as if she were a performer failing miserably at a comedy act. “Everyone slips up, Mandy. Do you truly believe I’m just making this up?”

As I spoke, I noticed sweat trickling down her forehead; she was genuinely panicking now.

“I had initially intended to give you a chance, but since you won’t admit it, I might as well forget any friendship we had as classmates. I’ll take this evidence straight to the police,” I declared.

Her eyes widened in horror. In a heartbeat, her expression morphed from fear to fury, her teeth bared like a predator as she growled, “Hayley, if you even think about turning in that evidence, I’ll make you pay!”

I regarded her with a mixture of amusement and disdain, waiting for her next words. “Did you forget that, despite being an Omega, I’m a guest of Benjamin’s family from the Midnight Pack? Do you really think that if you harm me today, you and your family will escape unscathed?”

At my words, sheer terror flickered across Mandy’s face.

“Hayley, just tell me what you want!” she pleaded, desperation thick in her voice.

“It’s just the two of us here now. You didn’t run straight to the police with the evidence and came to me instead, so it’s obvious that you want to negotiate.”

“What are your terms? Just tell me,” Mandy replied, her eyes fixed on mine. I offered a faint smile. “So, you’re admitting you’re behind this all along.”

Mandy begrudgingly admitted, “If you ask, I can give you what you want. But I hope you’ll hand over all the evidence to me.”

Reason for doing it? And when exactly did this happen?

Mandy glanced around, reassured by the solitude. Taking a deep breath, she confessed, “I did take that watch and put it in your backpack. I just wanted to drive a wedge between you and Trista. I seized the opportunity when I could.”

I let out a chilling laugh. “You’re surprisingly straightforward!”

Mandy shrugged as if it were no big deal. “Now that you know, why should I hide anything from you? Just tell me what I need to do to get the evidence.”

I paused, contemplating my response for a moment before saying, “Actually… I didn’t have any evidence, but now I do.”

Her expression shifted dramatically, anger igniting in her eyes as she was about to attack me.

But right after I spoke, the door to the security office burst open, revealing a group of classmates led by Trista and Lillian. Without a word, Trista slapped Mandy hard across the face, leaving her utterly stunned.

Lillian continued viciously, “I knew it was you! I could overlook your petty tricks, but stealing? That’s downright disgusting.”

“Seriously, how could I ever associate with someone like you for Math Olympiad training? You’re completely shameless!” other classmates chimed in, one after another.

Mandy attempted to defend herself, feigning ignorance. “What are you all talking about? I don’t understand!” But Trista coldly interjected, “Stop pretending! We all heard what you just said.”

I looked at Mandy as if she were the punchline of a bad joke, then calmly pulled a voice recorder from my pocket. “All our conversations are right here. This is the real evidence.”

Mandy’s face drained of color, panic flooding her expression. “Hayley, you tricked me!”