Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

Chapter 263

Ines asked directly, "Do you have a star-shaped blue diamond earring?"

"Yeah, it was the first gift Aiden gave me. I've always loved it," Emma replied instantly.

"Do you still have it?"

"Yeah, I do. But I haven't worn it since I got pregnant. I keep it in my jewelry box and haven't touched it in a while. Why?" Emma asked, feeling puzzled.

Ines said with a poker face, "After dad's accident, someone found your earring by the stairs. You know our house is cleaned three times daily. They wouldn't miss something so noticeable. It must have fallen after the incident."

With her earring found at the scene, it all started to make sense. Emma turned pale. She had a hunch, but it still stung when it was confirmed. Her mom did wear her earrings that night. Maybe others didn't notice because her hair covered them, but they were her favorite, and she could recognize them instantly.

She really had the guts to do it.

Normally, her belongings were locked, and only herself knew the password. But recently, Shirley said she was laughed at for looking old when she went out to play cards and wanted to borrow her jewelry.

So Emma gave Shirley the password without a second thought.

Hunter had been cold to her but was always generous materially, bringing her gifts every time he returned from a trip. Knowing she loved jewelry, every piece that he gave her was unique. Over the years, she had amassed a box full of jewelry.

It was unknown whether her mom planned to frame her or had other motives. It were the former, it was truly heartbreaking.

The more Emma thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed. No, it must have fallen accidentally. Why would she deliberately leave evidence?

There was silence on the phone. Ines frowned and said seriously, "Emma, this is no time to be clueless. If you know something, tell us. Dad has never mistreated you. Don't let him..."

Before Ines could finish, Emma hung up. Ines called again, only to find the line busy.

"Officer Lin, what do you think?" Ethan asked.

"Emma must know the truth and she might be close to the perpetrator."

"Besides her mom, Shirley, no one else would touch Emma's stuff. It's either her or her mom," Ines said calmly.

"Don't worry, we'll bring Shirley in for questioning immediately," Alan Lin said.

After hanging up, Emma immediately called Shirley, but couldn't get through. A sense of foreboding surged in her heart, and she called home again. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

The housemaid answered, "Miss, I haven't seen the madam all morning. I knocked on her door at lunchtime, but there was no answer. I think she may have gone out."

Shirley should have taken her phone if she went out, but no one answered despite her repeated calls. "Can you check her bedroom?"

The maid hesitated, "I'm not sure. If the madam is in the room, she might scold me." Shirley had a bad temper, and everyone in the house generally avoided upsetting her.

Emma, anxious, raised her voice, "I'm the head of this house now. Do as I say. If there's any problem, I'll take responsibility. She won’t do anything to you."

While waiting, Emma was anxious. After a while, the maid said nervously, "Miss, the madam is not in the bedroom. Her room is a mess. I don't know what happened."

Emma's heart sank. She didn't hesitate, took a taxi home immediately, and saw the maid waiting for her.

"I don't know what happened. You can go up and see for yourself."

Emma rushed into the house. Seeing her rushing in with her pregnant belly, the maid had to remind her to be careful.

Emma seemed to hear nothing. She was particularly anxious and hurried upstairs to Shirley's bedroom first. Just one glance and she felt like a bucket of cold water poured over her. The room was a mess, all the drawers were opened, and Shirley's jewelry and bank cards were gone. She rushed to her bedroom and found her belongings were also gone, including her most precious diamond, her bank cards, and even the bank cards left by her father. Her ID and other documents were also missing. She left home at six in the morning, and it was already half past three in the afternoon. That was plenty of time to commit the crime. She quickly checked her account balance, only to find a small amount left.

Emma felt weak, cold, and sat on the bed helplessly.

She never wanted to believe that a mother could treat her own child like this. In the taxi, she was still making excuses for Shirley, saying perhaps she messed up the room because she was upset. But the reality was right in front of her, leaving her no room for doubt.

Her mother, after killing her father, had run away, taking most of her property with her. Had she ever considered her predicament? Her relationship with her in-laws was bad, her husband didn't care about her, she was pregnant, and she might have to take care of Jasmine alone in the future. She even took her property. How was she supposed to live now?

"Are you okay?" The maid noticed something wrong with Emma, and was at a loss.

Emma was stiff and couldn't recover from the shock for a long time. No matter how the maid called her, she just stared blankly at the wall.

Until she felt something wrong with her belly, which scared her back to her senses. She said to the maid with a trembling voice, "I don't feel well. Call an ambulance." Hearing this, the maid hurried downstairs to make the call.