You orchestrated this entire situation. You came here with the intention of creating a scene so you could manufacture some excuse to break our agreement. Brooke appeared at her father’s side. Her red dress wrinkled and her makeup slightly smeared from tears of rage. He planned this whole thing, she said, her voice shaking with fury.

He probably isn’t even really insulted. He’s just trying to She stopped mid-sentence, her hand flying to her wrist. Wait, where’s my bracelet? She looked down at her bare wrist with theatrical shock then began scanning the ground around her feet. My diamond bracelet is gone. The one grandmother left me. It was right here on my wrist during the luncheon.

Renata rushed over, her face a mask of concerned motherly worry. Sweetheart, are you certain? Maybe it fell off somewhere else. No, I had it when that man was sitting next to me, Brooke said, pointing directly at Isaiah. It’s It’s family heirloom, worth more than most people make in a year. One of the security guards, a tall man with a shaved head and cold eyes, stepped forward. “Mr.

Harlan, we should check the area where the gentleman was seated earlier.” Conrad nodded grimly. “Do it.” The guard walked over to where Isaiah’s chair had been removed from the Harlan family table. He bent down, appearing to search carefully through the grass and around the table legs. After a moment, he straightened up with something glinting in his palm.

“Found it!” he announced, holding up an elaborate diamond bracelet that caught the afternoon sunlight. “It was right here, tucked under the edge of the tablecloth near where his coat was hanging.” Renata gasped audibly, pressing her hand to her chest in a gesture of shock that was perfectly timed for the cameras still recording nearby.

“Oh my goodness, how could it have ended up there?” Several guests turned to stare at Isaiah, their expressions shifting from curiosity to suspicion. Whispered conversations rippled through the crowd as people began drawing their own conclusions about what they thought they were witnessing. Conrad stepped closer to Isaiah, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper that still carried to the watching crowd.

“So, now we add theft to your list of crimes. You stage a public humiliation, cancel a legitimate business deal, and steal from my daughter, all in one afternoon.” Isaiah looked at the bracelet in the guard’s hand, then at Conrad’s face, then at the crowd of wealthy donors who were now watching him with growing hostility. His expression never changed.

“Interesting timing,” he said quietly. “The timing is evidence,” Conrad shot back. “You created a distraction with your little speech so you could pocket something valuable. Classic con man behavior.” Brooke stepped forward, tears now flowing freely down her cheeks. Though whether from genuine distress or calculated performance was impossible to tell.

That bracelet belonged to my great-grandmother. It’s irreplaceable. How could you do something so cruel? The crowd’s mood was shifting rapidly. What had begun as sympathy for Isaiah after Brooks’ initial rudeness was now transforming into suspicion and disapproval. Several guests shook their heads in disgust. A few began moving away from Isaiah as if his presence might contaminate them.

Conrad sensed the change in atmosphere and pressed his advantage. Ladies and gentlemen, what you’ve witnessed here today is not a principled stand against injustice. It’s an elaborate extortion scheme. This man came to our event with the specific intention of manufacturing a crisis so he could break a legal contract and damage my family’s reputation.

He turned back to Isaiah with the look of righteous anger. But you made one crucial mistake. You got greedy. Canceling the deal wasn’t enough for you. You had to steal something too. And that theft, witnessed by dozens of people and captured on multiple cameras, proves that everything else was premeditated fraud.

Isaiah remained perfectly still as Conrad’s accusations washed over him. He didn’t deny anything. He didn’t defend himself. He simply watched and listened as if he were taking notes on a fascinating but ultimately predictable performance. My lawyers will be filing charges first thing tomorrow morning, Conrad continued.

Theft, fraud, breach of contract, and intentional interference with business relationships. Mercer Dominion Capital will be sued for every penny it’s worth. And you personally will face criminal prosecution. The security guards shifted slightly closer, not quite touching Isaiah, but making it clear that any attempt to leave would be physically prevented.

The photographers and reporters pressed forward, sensing that the story was far from over. Isaiah looked directly at the event photographer, a young woman with short blonde hair who had been documenting the entire afternoon. I hope you haven’t deleted any of the footage from today. She blinked in surprise at being addressed directly. No, sir.

Everything’s still on my cameras. Good. Please don’t delete anything. And make sure you have backup copies stored in multiple locations. Conrad laughed harshly. Planning to destroy evidence now? That’s another crime to add to the list. Isaiah ignored him and turned to address the security guards surrounding him. I’d like your names, please.

All of you. The bald guard who had found the bracelet crossed his arms. We don’t have to tell you anything. Actually, you do. Isaiah said calmly. Since you’ve accused me of a crime in front of witnesses, I have the right to know whom my accusers are. State law is quite clear on that point.

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