We Were Family Until the Jewelry Went Missing

When Cheryl called me to come back to the company, I was instantly labeled as a damn thief.

Just because, apparently, I was the only one around before the jewelry mysteriously went missing. Oh, and what a coincidence—the only security footage they had was of me going into my uncle's office.

I was panicking explaining myself, almost hyperventilating.

But they just wouldn't believe me.

Even Cheryl—who I thought was my ride-or-die—almost stabbed my nose with her finger, yelling at me to "cut the crap" and "just hand over the damn jewelry!"

This couldn't be happening!

But then she crossed her arms and looked at me like I was some criminal. Said I'd always sneaked things around and was obsessed with that jewelry. So, if I didn't take it, who else did?

I was two seconds away from showing my savings to prove I didn't need to steal a damn thing—when suddenly, my boyfriend walked in, back from his business trip.

Thank God, I thought—finally, he's here to defend me!

But instead? He slapped me. Full force, right across the face. I hit the ground before I even knew what the hell happened.

"You know, I let it slide every time you took my stuff, or whatever from your family. Nothing expensive, so I thought it wasn't worth fighting over."

"But this? You actually stole from the company? A piece of jewelry worth over 13 million?! For God's sake, do you even realize what kind of hell this puts your uncle in? Adaline, are you out of your fucking mind?!"

"Your family warned you over and over—this was gonna end with you behind bars if you didn't stop! But no, you really just don't listen!"

"Now you better pay for that jewel—every damn cent! Or I swear to God, I'm gonna break up with you here! No way I'm dragging myself down over your crap!"

He was shaking his head, acting like I was the worst thing to ever happen to him.

His devastated reaction only convinced everyone. They're all looking at me like I was some shady criminal. Like I was just rotten to the core.

I was struggling to breathe, my asthma kicking in.

But to that crowd, my asthma attack was proof of my guilt. So I tried to explain...

Just as I tried, my aunt stormed over, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and started slapping the life out of me!

"You selfish little rat! Did you even think about your uncle before you did this? They entrusted those things you stole from him, and now he's gotta pay for your mess! He could face legal charges!"

"You've always been a pain in the ass, and we've tolerated it! But this? You're digging our graves! Where the hell do you expect us to get millions to fix your mess, huh?!"

My uncle always treated me like his daughter and looked out for me at work, but when he came forward, he kicked me over.

"My god, what did I do to deserve this? All these years we didn't have kids, raised you as our own, and did everything for your sake! But this is how you repay us? You're really gonna ruin our entire family?!"

My colleagues were watching, some of them recording, others cursing.

I was getting dizzy and my vision blurring from all the accusations.

But I had to clear my name. So I dug my nails into my palms, forcing myself to grab my phone and call the cops.

When they arrived, my devastated uncle took them to the surveillance room. Clear as day, I was caught red-handed.

There it was: me, on screen, stealing the jewelry and taking confidential files.

And just when I thought it couldn't get worse, I even took a book and dropped it on my best friend's desk to frame her.

"You've got to be kidding me! Stealing's one thing, but framing your best friend?"

"Yeah, she's too scared to admit she robbed her uncle's safe, and now he's gonna lose everything. Over 13 million dollars!"

"What a dangerous woman! Damn, she's a whole level of crazy! She's got no shame!"

"Her parents must've raised her to be a thief from day one. A born criminal! They should be accountable for this too!"

"I heard her parents died young. I bet they died because of her!"

The insults flew from all directions, and some coworkers even started to throw things at me.

Someone shoved me to the floor, and my inhaler fell out and rolled away into the crowd.

The air was thick, and I could barely catch my breath. I begged them to give me my inhaler.

But someone stepped right on it, their heel crushing it to pieces as I watched. I suffocated right there until I died.

And in those final moments, I couldn't stop thinking—why would the people I treated as family betray me like this?

How did covering for a friend's shift turn me into this scapegoat, a hated thief?

I couldn't take it. I couldn't stand being falsely accused, and I couldn't stand the idea that my parents were being dragged through the mud even though they were gone.

If I ever get a second chance, I'll be damned if I don't clear my name.

Well, the universe gave me that chance. This time, I'm gonna find out why the hell they did this to me.

And those bastards are gonna pay in ways they can't even imagine!