Mystey
Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ashley grabbed Sara’s arm, sobbing, “Mom, please don’t be angry with Selina. I don’t think she meant any harm. Maybe she just snapped, you know?”

Sara’s anger cooled a bit. She hadn’t been fair, making a scene and labeling Selina a thief without proof in public.

“Alright, if you’re innocent, then I owe you an apology” Sara wasn’t one to dodge responsibility. If she was wrong about Selina, she’d say she was

Selina shot Saraan ley look but said nothing. She followed a store clerk to be checked out.

Ashley’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Mom, do you think maybe Selina’s different now?”

“Sweetie, I’ve seen enough. She’s been away for 21 years, not raised by us. At Erst, she tried to fit in and be humble and likable. But sooner or later. everyone’s true self comes out, for better or worse. Ashley, you have to remember that Selina may be a Harvey, but you’re the real pride of the Harvey family, Stay away from her bad influences”

It was Sara’s worst fear come to life. Selina calling her by her first name, acting indifferent to Ashley. She had felt that Selina was holding back; now, showing her true colors so soon was unsettling.

Tears rimmed Ashley’s eyes. She shook her head as she said, “I can’t believe Selina would steal I just can’t”

With a sigh. Sara stroked Ashley’s hair. “You’re too good and too innocent. We’ve sheltered you too much.”

Seeing Ashley like this made Sara’s resentment toward Selina grow. She even wondered if bringing Selina back was a mistake. They were works

Selina came back with the store manager, who was apologizing to Sara “I’m sorry, Mrs. Harvey. We didn’t remove a security tag correctly, and that’s on us. We’ll make this right with compensation..”

“What?” Sara was taken aback. Out of all the scenarios, a faulty tag hadn’t crossed her mind.

Losing her usual composure, Sara said. “This is a serious error

“We’re so sorry… It won’t happen again..”

Ashley’s eyes flickered with hidden panic She murmured to herself, it’s supposed to be!

A glance from Selina made Ashley’s heart race, and she blurted out. Thank goodness this mess is sorted. I told you Selina wouldn’t do something like this, right”

Cornered. Sara mumbled, “L. I apologize, Selina. I was

“Let’s go home. We need to talk,” Selina declared, beading our first.

Sara glared at the manager. “We’ll discuss your mistake later!”

The manager nearly cried, thinking, “A mistake like this might’ve slid if it weren’t Mrs. Harvey, What bad luck!

After Selina and her family left the store, the air was thick with tension inside the car, Ashley, hoping to smooth things over, cautiously started. “Selina, don’t be upset, okay? Mom really didn’t mean to

Ashley, what were you thinking, slipping those Chanel lipsticks into your bag at the store? Selina cut her off with an icy tone

Ashley turned ghostly white. “L. No, I didn’t.”

Before Sara could djump in, Selina grabbed Ashley’s purse and emptied it on the seat Two limited–edition Chanel lipsticks rolled out. She pointed at them and said, “Explain these”

shley slammered, panic–stricken. “They… I don’t know how they got there.

Sara wrapped her arm protectively around her. “Selina, you can’t just throw around accusations. If those are Ashley’s, then why didn’t the alarms go off when we left the store?”

“Because those are samples, not for sale. They don’t have security tags. Looks like Ashley’s got expensive taste. Selina’s words were drenched in sarcasm, and Sara took the bait, defending her other daughter Bercely. That’s enough, Selina! It must have been an accident. We’ll return them, no harm done. You’re not going to push Ashley around.”

“Pushing around! You called me a thief at the first buzz of an alarm. But with Ashley, it’s a mistake? If it was so accidental, why are there two? You’re incredible, Mrs. Harvey. You always have an excuse ready for Ashley

2:30 PM

Chapter 3

“Selina! We give Ashley plenty of things like that every season. She wouldn’t need to steal them. And she’s been with us all her life, treated right,” won’t let you smear your sister’s name, not in my house,”

Selina just shrugged. Watching Sara defend Ashley so blindly was absurd. Sometimes Selina wondered if there’d been some mix–up, but no, the DNA test didn’t lie. She was the genuine Harvey child, just as much as Ashley. Yet the double standards were crystal clear. A simple suspicion forced Selina to beg forgiveness, but Ashley was trusted, no questions asked. To Selina, the irony was almost funny. Well, after today, it wouldn’t be her problem anymore.

She discreetly stopped the recording on her phone and stared blankly out the window,

“Mom, I swear I don’t understand how this happened.” Ashley, tears escalating, clung to Sara while throwing a wary look at Selina.

Sara squeezed Ashley’s hand, consoling her. “5th, it’s alright, I believe you. You wouldn’t do something like this.”

When the luxury car pulled up at the Harvey residence, a cheerful voice called out, “Mom, Ashley, did you have fun shopping?” Just like that, the speaker brushed past Selina as though she wasn’t even there

SEND GIFT