Chapter 153: Is It Really That Unfathomable?

Isabella's unexpected accusation visibly incensed Linda. Her expression clouded over instantly. Javier was, after all, profoundly cherished; almost the crown jewel of her life.

"What are you babbling about? How could my godson possibly be the thief?" Linda snapped, her voice laced with disbelief. Isabella pouted. "It was your godson!"

The Quirks found the exchange amusing, but Linda, misinterpreting their laughter as mockery, bristled. "Are you all suspecting my godson, too?" she retorted sharply. "Is there anything I wouldn't give him that he'd need to steal?"

"He's spoiled, but he wouldn't dare ask you," someone (presumably Selena or another Quirk) commented. "Doing so would alert Mrs. Pearson to his gambling habit—a secret he'd never reveal."

Selena interjected calmly, "Linda, don't get upset. Police suspect everyone. It's reasonable to suspect Javier, since Isabella doesn't know him. Do you have any evidence proving he wasn't in your jewelry room?"

Linda was taken aback. She had been in the room with Scarlett and Javier, focusing on showcasing her generosity to Scarlett. She couldn't recall what Javier had been doing.

After a moment's reflection, Linda exclaimed, "Fine, you don't believe me, let's talk facts. Scarlett was carrying a bag and wore clothes that could conceal items. Javier was in a simple basketball outfit. How could he have stolen my necklace under everyone's watchful eyes?"

The Quirks considered this. A long pearl necklace would surely create a noticeable bulge, wouldn't it? Everyone had frantically searched after the theft; no one was blind. If it were on Javier, it would have been obvious.

Their curiosity piqued, and with no other suspects, they relied on Isabella to solve the case. Isabella, being quite curious herself, began to think intensely, startling the Quirks.

"Holy smokes! Oh my God!" she exclaimed.

The Quirks were puzzled. Isabella's gaze darted between Linda's necklace and her hand, which frequently fondled pearls. Her pupils seemed to tremble.

The series of glances nearly drove the Quirks to distraction. Isabella's inner monologue, filled with relief, was audible only to her: "We were so lucky! Thank goodness Linda was arrogant enough to skip the handshake. Otherwise, we'd need to bleach our hands…"

The Quirks were bewildered. The thought of the necklace's location unsettled them.

"There's no way Javier is gay, right? He's so inscrutable." This sparked shock and disbelief amongst the Quirks. "Wait, what? All of those pearls—about twenty or thirty—the size of coins! Impossible!" Isabella mused, relieved.

Everyone sighed in relief. How could a man go to such lengths for a necklace? They assumed Isabella must be mistaken. The sheer volume of pearls couldn't be hidden in ordinary ways; it must have been strapped to the body.

They recalled Linda mentioning the necklace was warm when found, suggesting more than just body heat. Their gazes fell on Linda's necklace, noticing a yellowish sheen.

Linda, sensing their unease, demanded, "What do you mean? You still don't trust Javier?"

Linda's refusal to believe her godson was capable of theft mirrored a parent's denial. The Quirks looked at her with sympathy. Linda's confusion deepened as they continued to stare at her necklace. She touched it, eliciting a collective gasp.

Their sympathy intensified, especially Selena's, who had known Linda for years. They couldn't warn her, only silently grieve for her.

The necklace had been bought by her ex-husband. During their divorce, she wanted to keep it, so he stipulated she couldn't fight for custody of their daughter. She agreed.

The Quirks' sympathy waned, learning this hidden history.

Linda, finally fed up, asked, "What's your deal? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Selena replied casually, "There are countless ways to hide things. One can't assume someone with light clothing has nothing to conceal."

David interjected, "Anyway, we weren't there, so we can't judge."

Christopher added impatiently, "Since they've broken up, there's no need to bother her."

Linda argued, "She must have broken up because she felt guilty for stealing! Javier was so smitten with her, preoccupied with her to the point of losing his appetite…"

She continued, mentioning Javier's gambling debts and his dependence on her. This information was secondhand; she desired to speak with Javier to verify it.