"What happened after that?"
"Then I called an ambulance," she continued through her sobs. "After they carried you away, I ran home... only discovered the bracelet was missing when I got there..."
"Why didn't you come forward all these years?"
"I was terrified!" She nearly shouted. "You were covered in blood—I was afraid those people would hurt me... Later when I heard someone was searching for the bracelet's owner, I became even more frightened that it was for revenge... By the time you'd identified Noelle, I didn't dare speak up..."
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I was afraid you wouldn't believe me... and besides, you'd already married her... I was afraid of destroying your happiness..."
I stared at her, studying her tear-streaked face.
Every detail aligned with that night in my memory.
The alley.
The injury.
The ambulance.
The lost bracelet.
So Noelle knew I was searching for Isabella. But she hadn't told me the truth. She was gambling—gambling that I would believe it was her.
"Go home for now." My voice turned glacial. "This requires investigation."
"I understand..." She nodded through her tears. "But please don't blame Noelle—she truly is a good person..."
I silenced her words. I pulled out my phone and pressed the intercom.
"Dmitri."
Moments later, Dmitri appeared in the doorway.
"Escort Miss Vance home."
"Yes, boss."
Isabella hastily gathered her belongings, cast me one final pleading glance, and followed Dmitri out.
The greenhouse fell silent once more. Only the crackling of logs in the fireplace and my increasingly heavy breathing remained.
I stood there, clutching the bracelet tightly, its metal coldness biting into my palm.
I pulled out my phone and called Dmitri again.
"Deploy every resource we have. I want every detail about that Christmas Eve three years ago. Every person who might have been near that alley, every possible witness, every potential lead."
"Boss, you..."
"Focus on Isabella Vance," I interrupted. "Her family background, everywhere she went three years ago, her social circles. Find the brand of this bracelet and all records of who might have purchased this particular batch back then."
I paused, my voice growing even colder.
"I want the truth. At any cost."
"Understood, boss. I'll oversee this personally."
I ended the call and collapsed onto the sofa, elbows on my knees, face buried deep in my hands.
