Rebirth vs. Rebirth Tragedy to Triumph by Violeta and Zelena [[Chapters 551, to 560]] – Daisy Novels  

Chapter 551

“Got it. You can leave now.”

“Alright.”

Once the makeup artist left, Zelena was left alone in the dressing room, scrolling through Twitter.

Suddenly, the lights began flickering erratically, and with a loud bang, the door slammed shut, plunging the room into darkness.

“Ah!”

Startled, Zelena leaped from her seat and dashed to the door, only to find it firmly jammed. No matter how hard she pulled, it wouldn’t open.

She grabbed her phone and dialed her assistant.

With her assistant out for a meal, Zelena was left in darkness, and the seconds dragged on painfully as she waited for the call to connect.

“Hello, Ms. Blake?”

Finally, the call connected.

Zelena quickly said, “You need to come back immediately. The lights have gone out, and I can’t get the door open!”

Her assistant, who had barely touched her meal, set down her utensils and replied, “I’m on my way right now. Just hang tight, Ms. Blake.”

The call stayed connected as the assistant hurried back to the dressing room and struggled with the door.

“Ms. Blake? Ms. Blake?”

Hearing her assistant’s voice from the other side brought Zelena some relief. “I’m here. Can you check what’s wrong with the door? Is there a power outage on set?”

The assistant answered, “There’s no power outage. Just hold on; I’ll get someone to help open the door.”

Soon, the assistant arrived with a crew member carrying a flashlight.

They discovered that the door’s lock had been glued shut, preventing the key from fitting. The only option was to dismantle the door.

The power outage in the dressing room was due to someone cutting the wires.

Zelena’s confinement caused a twenty-minute delay in the night shoot.

Being locked in a pitch-black room had left Zelena shaken. When she finally emerged, her face was ashen.

The assistant draped a coat over Zelena and angrily said, “The wires were cut and the lock was glued shut? This was clearly deliberate!”

The director, frowning, turned to the crew member. “What happened here?”

The crew member, looking puzzled, replied, “This is unprecedented. Could a disgruntled fan have sneaked in?”

The director snapped, “Conduct a thorough investigation!”

The crew member nodded. “Understood.”

However, resolving such incidents proved challenging.

With so many people, formal staff, informal workers, extras- coming and going, identifying the culprit was nearly impossible.

In a law-abiding society, most people wouldn’t dare commit such acts.

Those who would are likely adept at covering their tracks, making them difficult to trace.

Among the crowd, Jenny, observing Zelena’s distress, couldn’t hide her satisfaction. She smirked before heading into Evelina’s dressing room.

As Jenny turned, Zelena spotted her.

Zelena’s expression darkened, and she muttered through gritted teeth, “Evelina?”

How dare that b*tch cause such trouble on set!

Is she crazy?

What kind of person would sabotage a shoot like this?

The assistant asked, “Ms. Blake, what did you say?”

Zelena adjusted her coat. “Nothing. Let’s just go into the dressing room.”

“Alright, I’ll get you a glass of water.”

The incident of Zelena being locked in the dressing room for twenty minutes quickly spread and trended online that evening, with hashtags such as #Suspected #HaterIntrusion On Set and #ZelenaTrapped In #DressingRoom.

After a six-month hiatus, Zelena was in desperate need of publicity.

This trending topic sparked widespread discussion among netizens.

“A hater? That’s more like a terrorist! This is outrageous!”

“Cutting wires and gluing locks? That’s terrifying.”

“To think something like this could happen on a set. Being a

celebrity isn’t something just anyone can handle. I’d be scared out of my mind.”

“Lucky Zelena doesn’t have claustrophobia, or the crew would be in big trouble.”

“There’s no sympathy here. If I were making that much money

in a day, I’d endure being locked up, haha.”

Elsewhere in Jasonville, Aster remarked, “Ms. White, it’s

frightening that Zelena was locked in a dressing room and had the lock glued shut. These haters are going to extreme lengths!”

Chapter 552

Violeta was reclining comfortably, her eyes shielded by a thin, translucent mask as she scrolled through Twitter with her phone held at arm’s length.

Aster sat beside her. “Poor Zelena.

“It’s outrageous that a hater would intrude on the set like that.”

Violeta glanced up from her phone. “Is there any evidence that this was actually the work of a hater?”

Aster shook her head. “What? If it wasn’t a hater, then who could it be? People have done crazier things before. Remember Nolan’s car chase? And there are stories of stalkers breaking into celebrities’ homes and rummaging through their trash.”

Violeta set her phone down and gently touched the delicate eye mask on her face.

She closed her eyes thoughtfully. “The paparazzi chase celebrities for personal gain. Stalkers act out of an obsessive fascination with their idols.

“There’s always a motive behind such actions. This person blocked the lock and cut the wires. What could their motive be?”

Aster considered this. “Yeah, it doesn’t seem to add up.”

Violeta’s gaze became more intense. “Someone who would go to these lengths must be trying to scare Zelena. But why would a hater want to intimidate Zelena? Is it to push her out of the industry?”

Aster frowned. “Getting onto the set isn’t easy. Though there are many people, everyone is familiar. A stranger would definitely stand out.”

The set of The River’s Breeze, while not as tightly secured as The Golden Age, wasn’t accessible to just anyone.

Aster’s realization hit.

“Ms. White, are you suggesting that this wasn’t the work of a hater but someone who knows the set?

“Someone wanted to scare Zelena, to teach her a lesson?”

Violeta nodded in approval. “Exactly, Aster. They’re clashing.”

Aster looked puzzled. “Who’s clashing?”

Violeta’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction. “Zelena and Evelina.”

The more intense their conflict, the better.

The stage is set.

Hattie is completely taken in by Harvey.

Zelena and Evelina are at odds.

Violeta observed with detached amusement.

Evelina’s scheme was designed to remind Zelena not to underestimate her.

Zelena, having pieced things together, suspected Evelina was behind the sabotage.

Though neither side had openly declared war, the tension on set was palpable.

Yet, neither dared escalate the situation, as it would only hinder the shoot and affect everyone involved.

Zelena aimed to use The River’s Breeze to relaunch her career, while Evelina saw it as a chance to advance her own standing.

Fortunately, drama shoots are shorter than films.

The River’s Breeze’ had a filming period of three months.

Once that was over, Zelena didn’t even attend the wrap party. She ensured that the hashtag #EvelinaSabotage trended,

pushing Evelina to the top of the trending list.

Zelena was not going to remain a passive victim.

Evelina is just a minor player compared to me!

The hashtag #EvelinaSabotage quickly gained momentum, sparking widespread discussion among netizens.

One marketing account revealed a bombshell scoop: The incident of Zelena being locked in the dressing room during the filming of The River’s Breeze was indeed orchestrated by Evelina.

The motive was Evelina’s resentment after Zelena slapped her on set. Evelina had her assistant exact revenge, causing delays in the night shoot.

Rumors spread rapidly.

The details were murky but seemed convincing enough.

Evelina’s reputation took a hit, and as the year-end approached, the scandal became a hot topic online.

Content creators enthusiastically analyzed the situation, amplifying the story’s reach as their videos hit millions of views.

With a third of The Golden Age filming completed, Violeta prepared to celebrate the New Year on set.

On New Year’s Eve, Irene and Anton visited their in-laws.

While enjoying their New Year’s dinner, they made a video call to Violeta.

Surrounded by friends and barbeque on set, Violeta turned her camera to introduce her parents to her crew.

Irene shared some exciting news with Violeta.

Chapter 553

“I have some exciting news, Vio. You’re going to be an aunt soon. Elaine is expecting,” Irene announced.

“Really? That’s amazing! Mom, that’s one less worry for you,” Violeta replied, her face lighting up with delight.

Irene was overjoyed. As she approached retirement, she looked forward to spending time at home with her grandchild.

Niall, now in his thirties, was about to become a father, and the baby would surely become the Whites’ cherished little one.

Violeta shared the enthusiasm, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new family member.

Filming was paused for the New Year, and the crew had set up a projector to show the Spring Gala.

Even though only a few people watched, the festive spirit was what mattered.

Wrapped warmly in layers, Violeta lounged on a chair beside Kaylee. Kaylee was munching on cashews while Violeta used her fan account to send gifts to her followers.

The sudden flurry of activity from her previously quiet supporters caused quite a buzz among her fans.

After sending out the gifts and exchanging New Year’s wishes, Violeta quietly slipped away.

Kaylee commented, “Vio, I see Tracy is also performing in this year’s Spring Gala.”

Violeta glanced at the screen. “Oh, she is.”

Tracy was performing with a group of sketch comedy actors. The performance was lackluster; the jokes seemed somewhat awkward.

Kaylee continued, “Her show, Sea Breeze, did really well. I heard you swapped scripts with her.”

Violeta nodded. “Yes, the script was swapped with ‘The Island’.”

Kaylee sighed. “That’s a pity.”

Violeta shrugged. “That’s how it goes-gains often come with losses.”

Kaylee asked, “When is our film supposed to come out?”

Violeta replied, “I think it’s set for National Day.”

Although Violeta was taking a break from the big screen, she still had a film awaiting release, which was a rare opportunity for exposure.

Kaylee said, “I’m curious about how it will perform. I hope it does well.”

While Kaylee wasn’t overly ambitious, a successful film would help her gain much-needed recognition. Despite being in the industry for several years, she still hadn’t landed a standout role.

Violeta reassured her. “Don’t worry; it won’t be too bad. Kay, if the film does well, what’s next for you?”

Kaylee smiled. “I’m not sure. I suppose I’ll just keep acting.”

Violeta probed further, “Don’t you have any ambitions to win the Best Actress Award?”

Kaylee laughed. “Of course, every actor dreams of winning awards. But it’s not easy. I’m not expecting the Best Actress award-just getting Best Supporting Actress would be wonderful, haha.”

As they chatted, Kaylee’s phone rang.

She picked it up and saw a New Year’s greeting along with a sizable transfer.

The sender’s profile picture looked familiar.

Violeta glanced over and teased, “Wow, Zoren’s quite generous. I should have him send money transfers in the group chat.”

Kaylee blushed. “Vio… “

Zoren’s career was thriving, and his pet food collaboration with the family’s chain stores was booming.

A small transfer was nothing for him.

Violeta stirred up the group chat, urging Zoren to send money transfers.

Before long, Zoren joined the chat, typing, “Vio, do you really need these small amounts from me?”

Violeta responded, “Of course! Who wouldn’t want a bit more money?”

Prompted by Violeta’s playful nudging, Zoren sent a money transfer to the group chat.

Thinking it was boring to do such a thing alone, he tagged several others.

“Hey, hey, hey, stop being so quiet. Get in here and send some money transfers too!”

At Hillside Villa, situated at the foot of a picturesque mountain, Jasper reclined in a chair, engrossed in his phone.

Evelina, wearing an apron, meticulously arranged a fruit platter.

She skewered toothpicks into the apples, then glanced at Jasper, who was absorbed in his phone. She pursed her lips and approached him with the fruit.

“Jasper, would you like some fruit?” she asked gently.

Jasper didn’t look up, still focused on his phone. “Just leave it on the table.”

Evelina set the platter down, hesitating as she tried to find the

right moment to speak. Jasper’s indifference made it challenging to start a conversation.

Taking a deep breath, Evelina sat down next to Jasper. “Jasper.”

“Hmm?” he replied, barely glancing up.

Chapter 554

Evelina’s eyes drifted over to Jasper’s phone screen.

She had assumed he was busy with company affairs, but she was surprised to find him deeply engaged in a group chat.

It seemed he was actively sending and receiving money transfers.

Jasper’s intense focus on his phone meant he barely acknowledged Evelina’s presence.

Evelina lowered her gaze and spoke softly, “Jasper, there’s a lot of negative chatter about me online. Can you help? Those are just rumors. There’s no way I could be involved in something like that.”

Her voice was barely audible, and Jasper, still engrossed in his phone, didn’t hear her.

Zelena’s team had a reputation for stirring up online controversies.

Years ago, they had orchestrated a smear campaign against Tracy, alleging her acting skills were subpar.

Now, it seemed they were targeting Evelina, and the persistent negativity was harming her reputation.

“Jasper!”

When her voice grew louder, Jasper finally looked up from his phone.

He set it aside and, with a deliberate motion, brushed a strand of Evelina’s hair away from her forehead. His dark eyes betrayed no emotion.

“If your manager can’t handle this situation, what good is she?” he asked.

Evelina was caught off guard and quickly retorted, “No, it’s not Winona’s fault. Zelena hired online trolls to spread these rumors.”

Jasper picked up a slice of apple. “If I remember correctly, Tracy faced similar issues but managed to rise above them.”

Evelina had no response.

Jasper took a bite of the apple, found it too sour, and placed it back on the platter.

“If you can’t handle a bit of criticism, how can you call yourself a star? You only accept praise but can’t deal with criticism?”

Evelina attempted to argue, “But the things being said online–“

Jasper interrupted her. “If you can’t sort this out yourself, let the company handle it. What do you think Tracy’s team would do in your place?

“Tracy used her work to prove her critics wrong over the years.

Why can’t you follow her example? Or is it that you lack confidence in your own abilities?”

Jasper’s words left Evelina speechless.

Despite this, she tried to defend herself. “But Jasper, I didn’t do any of these things. People are accusing me of actions I didn’t commit, and I feel so unjust.”

Jasper patted her gently on the head. “Rumors don’t just appear out of nowhere. If you’re truly innocent, why worry about what people are saying online?”

“I … “

“Enough,” Jasper said, standing up from the sofa. “I don’t want to discuss this right now. It’s New Year’s Eve, let’s watch some TV.”

With that, he headed upstairs.

Evelina watched him leave, her eyes slightly closing.

She relaxed her grip on her hands, feeling weak.

People often said that no woman stayed by Jasper’s side for more than a month.

Yet, Evelina had been with him for over a month.

She thought she was different from those other women, but aside from spending a bit more time with Jasper, she felt no real distinction.

Jasper never introduced her to his friends or social circles.

Their relationship seemed rather shallow, limited to occasional business opportunities.

Despite this, Evelina was reluctant to let go. She had invested so much in this relationship, and if it ended now, it would feel like a waste as she hadn’t gained anything.

No, she thought, this wasn’t enough.

She had passed the one-month mark and believed she could face even more challenges.

She was determined to persist.

Jasper would eventually see who truly cared for him.

Upstairs, Jasper changed into a new outfit.

His phone rang unexpectedly it was Cynthia.

He answered with a sigh. “Mom.”

Cynthia Weekley’s voice came through clearly. “Come home for dinner tonight.”

Jasper replied, “Mom, I can come for dinner, but I’m not meeting those women.”

Cynthia shot back, “What do you mean by ‘those women”? Tina is far better than the women you usually meet. She’s a well-bred lady. You’re getting older, I want you to settle down!”

Jasper replied, “Aren’t I stable enough right now?”

Cynthia snapped, “Do you think this is how a mature adult should behave?”

Getting Jasper to return from Wiltonshire was just the first step.

The next step was to push him into an arranged marriage.

Chapter 555

Jasper pressed his fingers against his forehead in frustration. “I don’t want you meddling in my life. If you keep this up, I might just head back to Wiltonshire! And if she’s truly a high-society lady, why don’t you ask her if she’s willing to be my mistress?”

Cynthia was taken aback. “What on earth are you talking about? Jasper, you’ve really grown bold, haven’t you?”

Jasper responded, “I’m seeing someone now. I’m hanging up.”

He ended the call abruptly, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

Cynthia did not call back. She was wary of pushing her only son too hard.

If Jasper decided to run away abroad again, bringing him back would be even more challenging.

And now, he actually had a girlfriend?

She needed to investigate further before introducing the Sanders’ daughter to him; otherwise, it would be a complete embarrassment.

As night fell, Violeta returned to her hotel to rest.

In Jasonville, fireworks and firecrackers were banned, leaving the streets unusually quiet, with only the lanterns strung from streetlights providing some illumination.

The festive atmosphere was further subdued when she was away from home.

Violeta shut the curtains, took a shower, and settled onto the bed. After doing a few glute bridges, her phone rang.

It was Hayden.

“Hello.”

Violeta sat up cross-legged, pausing as she answered. “Oh, the rooftop? Now? Okay, I’ll be right up.”

She quickly changed into more appropriate clothes and took the elevator to the hotel’s rooftop.

When she pushed open the door, she saw Hayden standing against the wind, his coat billowing. He greeted her with a warm smile, his eyes clear and kind, and opened his arms for a hug.

Violeta hurried over and embraced him.

“So, you’ve figured things out this time?” she asked, knowing that waiting downstairs might have attracted paparazzi.

Hayden had chosen the rooftop for their meeting, a much less likely spot for anyone to notice them.

Hayden released her from the hug. “Since you’re not going home for the New Year, I came to find you.”

Violeta chuckled. “You just show up without any notice. Are you secretly a detective?”

Hayden grinned. “Do you have work tomorrow?”

Violeta shook her head. “Yes. I already rested today. I don’t get much downtime. Let’s go inside; it’s freezing out here.”

Hayden took her delicate wrist and gently pulled her back. “No need to rush.”

“What’s going on?” Violeta asked, puzzled as Hayden slowly pulled a box of sparklers from his coat pocket.

Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Wow, where did you get these?”

Hayden smiled. “We’ll light them on our way back and make some New Year’s wishes.”

Violeta beamed. “That sounds great!

“If this wind makes me catch a cold, you’ll have to take responsibility,” she teased.

Hayden handed her a lighter, saying with affection, “Alright, I’ll take responsibility. How would you like me to?”

Violeta took the lighter and selected a sparkler from the box.

“Offer yourself to me? But you’re already mine.

“Well then, how about you give me all your assets? Isn’t there a saying that where a man’s money is, his heart is?” she joked, not taking it too seriously.

As she lit the sparkler, its crackling light illuminated her face.

She looked happily at the sparkler in her hand and then quickly placed it between Hayden’s fingers. With their hands together, she closed her eyes and made a silent wish.

Hayden said, “If you delay any longer, it’ll burn out.”

Violeta fluttered her lashes. “Almost done, almost done.”

She had originally closed her eyes to make a wish but suddenly opened them and declared loudly, “I wish for happiness and success in everything!”

As the sparkler fizzled out, Hayden sighed. “Haven’t you heard that if you say your wish out loud, it won’t come true?”

Violeta blinked and smiled. “Of course I know. But I don’t think the heavens won’t grant my wish, so saying it out loud won’t make a difference.”

Hayden raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Violeta picked out another sparkler from the box. “There are so many people making wishes every day. How could the heavens keep track of all of them? I bet the heavens can’t hear my wish, but you can.

“Make my wish come true, Hayden. I’m wishing to you.”

Hayden paused for a moment.

The second sparkler was lit.

Violeta took out her phone, linked her arm with Hayden’s, and leaned in close to his face to take a selfie.

Chapter 556

After spending the night at the hotel, the next day dawned.

Violeta headed to the film set first. She had received Hayden’s bank account details and password through WhatsApp-just two strings of numbers.

Violeta examined the numbers carefully and responded with a message, “Aren’t you worried about online fraud? Who taught you to share passwords like this?”

Hayden replied, “Honesty is the best policy.”

He added, “I saw it online.”

Violeta wrote back, “Alright, alright, I’ll take it.”

She wasn’t one to pass up a free gift, so she accepted it without hesitation.

Before the shoot started, Violeta took a moment to sort through her photos and posted the ones from the sparkler shoot where her face was not visible on Twitter.

The caption read, “Wishing for happiness and success in everything.”

Her surprise gift-giving to fans the day before had also trended on social media.

She had distributed ten gifts, each valued at about 6,000.

The significant amount led many netizens to complain, “It’s more than my year-end bonus. How unfair!”

Jasper had yet to address the online scandal involving Evelina.

However, celebrity gossips have an expiry date.

Once the current drama fades, new stories take its place.

Evelina managed to weather the storm.

The show Spring in Moon City had aired, featuring Zelena in a supporting role as a character who sacrificed herself for love. Reviews were mixed. Some viewers found her character’s obsession with romance off-putting.

However, Zelena’s fans defended her, arguing, “If the character isn’t likable, it’s not the actor’s fault.”

The impact of Spring in Moon City was a double-edged sword for Zelena.

While it drew attention-whether positive or negative, it still generated buzz.

Zelena, who had high popularity, attended a promotional event for a top-tier brand. and ran into Polly

Although Polly had debuted before Zelena, she had always kept a low profile and stayed out of the fashion limelight.

This time, Polly was there as a brand ambassador, while Zelena was the spokesperson.

Among the celebrities present, Zelena’s popularity stood out.

To emphasize her status, she wore an extravagant diamond necklace.

Zelena had long held a grudge against Polly for her association with Nolan and had been seeking an opportunity to get even.

With time on her hands and the chance presented at the same event, she decided to make the most of it. Before the event began, she quietly gave her assistant some discreet instructions.

The assistant’s eyes flashed for a second before she nodded.

Half an hour later, just before the event was set to start, chaos erupted in Zelena’s dressing room.

“Oh, no! The jewelry is missing!”

The event manager was frantic when he heard the news.

The diamond necklace Zelena wore was worth 6 million dollars!

If it was simply misplaced, there might still be hope of finding it, but if it had been stolen… they would be in deep trouble!

Who could afford to replace such an expensive item?

The event was delayed as the backstage area was sealed off and a search began for the missing necklace.

The stylist responsible for Zelena’s look was so shaken she could barely speak. “I saw the necklace on Ms. Blake’s neck before I started styling her. How could it disappear so suddenly? This is really strange. I don’t know what happened. This can’t be my fault, can it? I can’t afford to pay for it!”

The manager, drenched in sweat but still composed after twenty years in the industry, said, “Don’t panic. Security is handling the situation, and we’re reviewing the footage. Ms. Blake, can you recall the last time you saw the necklace? Could it be that you accidentally left it somewhere and forgot?”

Zelena, clearly distressed, furrowed her brows. “I don’t know. I only remember going to the restroom and then touching up my lipstick when I noticed it was missing.”

The manager quickly instructed, “Check the restroom immediately!”

Outside, the commotion continued.

Polly had just finished washing her hands and was leaving the restroom when she noticed a crowd pushing in and even inspecting the trash cans.

“What’s going on?” Polly asked.

An assistant approached Polly, lowering their voice. “It’s serious, Ms. Tillery. Zelena’s diamond necklace is missing. It’s worth over 6 million dollars.”

Chapter 557

“The necklace is missing?”

Polly’s face turned serious.

“How could such a noticeable piece of jewelry just vanish? This is unbelievably careless.”

The assistant nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. We don’t even know what Zelena was doing at the time. If it has ended up in the wrong hands, dealing with it will be a nightmare.”

The restroom was too packed to search effectively.

Polly said to the assistant, “Let’s head back. I’m not sure if the event will start on time at all.”

Outside, a large crowd of fans had assembled.

With the event postponed, it was unclear how the organizers were communicating with the fans.

If they were left waiting too long, there was a risk that they might get frustrated and turn the issue into a trending topic.

The staff had been combing through the restroom for quite a while with no sign of the diamond necklace.

The event manager, now a bundle of nerves, had sealed off the entire venue. No one was allowed in or out.

Even if someone had taken the necklace, getting it out of the venue would be almost impossible now.

They also discovered a troubling fact: There were blind spots in the surveillance footage, areas that the cameras could not cover.

YWR

The event had been set up at the last minute, so having any cameras at all was fortunate.

No one had anticipated that someone would have the audacity to steal such valuable jewelry during the event!

The manager was in a state of panic.

At this point, Zelena’s assistant suggested, “Since it’s not in the restroom, we should conduct a thorough search of the entire venue. It’s the simplest and most effective approach.”

The manager agreed. “Yes, that’s the only choice. Quickly, have the security team search every room! Oh, right, have the police been called?”

A nearby staff member nodded nervously. “The police have been contacted. This thief is incredibly bold!”

The manager said, “Good. Let’s begin the search right away. We need to find that necklace as soon as possible.”

The staff swiftly organized the security team to search every room in the venue.

Meanwhile, Zelena waited in the lounge with her assistant.

Once the room was empty, Zelena turned to her assistant and asked, “Where did you place the items?”

The assistant replied, “I put them in the makeup bag. Don’t worry. It will be easy to find if they search.” Zelena smiled with satisfaction. “Perfect.”

If the diamond necklace were discovered in Polly’s makeup bag, Polly would be under suspicion.

Once accused of theft, Polly’s career would be ruined, and she wouldn’t have the chance to get close to Nolan again.

Nolan was meant to be hers!

Soon, the staff and security team arrived at Polly’s dressing room.

Polly and her assistant were inside.

The staff knocked and entered, apologetically saying, “Sorry, Ms. Tillery, but we need to search this room. We hope you will cooperate.”

Polly nodded. “Go ahead.”

The staff and security team quickly searched the room but found nothing.

“Ms. Tillery, may we inspect your bags?”

Polly frowned.

The assistant said, “Isn’t this a bit too much? We’re guests here, not criminals.”

The staff member apologized, “I understand it feels invasive, but this is a serious situation. We can’t afford to overlook anything. The police are on their way. Would you prefer they handle the search?”

The assistant was about to protest further.

Polly said, “Never mind. Search away. I have nothing to hide.”

Polly gave the assistant a look, and they reluctantly handed over the bags.

One was a large bag with various items, such as an umbrella and a water bottle, which the assistant carried for emergencies.

The other was Polly’s personal handbag from a mid-tier luxury brand.

The final item was the makeup bag on the vanity.

After examining the two larger bags, they focused on the makeup bag on the counter.

The assistant, clearly frustrated, said, “This bag is full of makeup. Let me dump it out for you!”

The assistant stepped forward and emptied the contents of the makeup bag.

Suddenly, something shiny fell out of the compartment.

Chapter 558

Everyone focused on the item. It was actually the diamond necklace!

The crowd gasped in astonishment when the diamond necklace tumbled out.

“Isn’t that the missing diamond necklace?”

“It’s the necklace! We found it!”

“So, you’re the ones who took it? I never would have guessed.”

The dazzling diamond necklace lay quietly among the scattered cosmetics. The assistant was in shock.

How could the necklace have ended up in the makeup bag?

Who put it there?

This is impossible!

The assistant stared at Polly, utterly confused. “Ms. Tillery, what is going on?”

Polly sprang up from the sofa. “How could this happen?”

A staff member swiftly grabbed the necklace and rushed out of the room, shouting down the corridor, “Found it! Found it! It’s in Polly’s room!”

The event manager, who had been checking an adjacent room, hurried over. “Really?”

Seeing the necklace, the manager was nearly overwhelmed with relief.

The joy of recovering something lost was immense.

“You stole it!?”

The assistant immediately protested. “We can’t possibly have stolen it! We don’t even know how the necklace ended up here.”

Polly frowned, equally puzzled. How could the diamond necklace have inexplicably appeared in the makeup bag? It’s absurd.

This must be a setup!

The event manager said, “It’s fortunate the necklace has been found. We can’t deal with anything else at this moment. The police are on their way. You’ll need to speak with them!”

In the background, Zelena and her assistant arrived, slightly behind schedule.

Upon seeing them, the manager approached and said, “The necklace has been located.”

Zelena’s face brightened with relief. “Really? That’s great news. I can’t imagine what would have happened if it hadn’t been found!”

Given the necklace’s high value, Zelena, as the one wearing it, would have faced severe consequences if it were lost.

The event manager, as an employee, wouldn’t escape blame either.

Zelena’s assistant looked at Polly with barely concealed sarcasm. “It’s surprising how appearances can be deceiving. Who would have thought the thief would turn out to be you?

“Ms. Blake went to the restroom earlier, so that would have been the perfect time to make a move.”

Polly almost laughed in frustration. “Why would I steal the necklace? And how would I have done it in the restroom? I’m an actress, not a master thief. The necklace was clearly around her neck. How could I have stolen it without anyone noticing?”

Polly’s logical explanation swayed some of the onlookers.

“Yes, if the necklace was around her neck, how could it have been stolen without anyone noticing? It’s practically miraculous.”

Polly’s assistant added, “Exactly. And even if we were thieves, would we really be foolish enough to hide the necklace in our own makeup bag? Is there such a thing as a thief that stupid?”

Upon reflection, it did seem a bit strange.

Moreover, Polly was a well-known actress.

She could easily earn millions and wasn’t exactly in dire need of money to risk everything for a necklace.

The event manager, deep in thought, realized that wrongly accusing a celebrity was a serious matter.

Seeing the situation turning against her, Zelena signaled her assistant. The assistant noticed a group of police officers approaching from a distance.

Initially, only two officers were expected to respond.

However, due to the report of a missing item worth millions, five officers had been dispatched instead.

The assistant said loudly, “The police are here. Just hand everything over to them; there’s no point in continuing this discussion.”

The manager snapped back to focus. “Yes, we need to get the event back on track. Otherwise, the fans outside will be left waiting.”

The police pushed through the crowd and asked, “What’s the situation here?”

The manager explained the sequence of events related to the necklace’s recovery.

At this point, Polly and her assistant were the main suspects, as the necklace had been discovered in their room, hidden in a personal makeup bag.

Chapter 559

“Have you checked the surveillance footage?” The police officer inquired.

“We have.” The person in charge, Gilbert Covington, replied,

“But unfortunately, there are blind spots, so nothing was visible.”

Celeste, standing beside Zelena, couldn’t suppress a smug smirk upon hearing this.

She had exploited those very blind spots to execute her plan.

Polly was destined to be the scapegoat, and there was no escaping that fate.

After further discussion, the event was cleared to proceed, and the fans in the front row were already buzzing with anticipation.

The police agreed to take Polly and her assistant, Margot Wagner, back to the station for questioning.

But Polly was adamant.

“I’m not going!” she exclaimed.

As a celebrity, being escorted away by the police in front of her fans would irrevocably damage her career.

This couldn’t be the end.

She had done nothing wrong and refused to confess to a crime she didn’t commit.

The person in charge was taken aback. “Huh?”

“I didn’t do it!” Polly shouted. “Why should I go with the police? Someone else deliberately planted the necklace in my makeup bag!”

The staff member who had searched the bag stepped forward. “Do you have any evidence?”

“Indeed, Ms. Tillery,” the police officer calmly echoed, “do you have any evidence to prove that someone framed you?”

Evidence, huh?

A sinister gleam flickered in Zelena’s eyes.

How could Polly possibly have any evidence?

This was likely just a desperate last stand.

“Of course I have evidence!”

Polly declared righteously.

Zelena was stunned.

“If you have evidence, then show it quickly,” the person in charge urged.

“Yeah, show it now,” the police officer agreed.

Polly said, “I had prepared this just in case, but I didn’t expect it would actually come in handy.”

Margot was equally shocked.

She had been terrified of being taken away with Polly, but it seemed Polly was more prepared than she had thought.

Slowly, Polly removed a plush doll from her bag strap.

“This is the evidence!”

Zelena was the first to express her disbelief. “Are you kidding? How can this be evidence?”

Others echoed her sentiment, “Well, what is this? Is she just saying random things because she doesn’t want to go with the police? Isn’t this just a doll?”

Polly smirked. She unzipped the back of the doll and retorted, “This thing looks like a doll on the outside, but it’s more than meets the eye!”

The black plush coal doll in her hand was actually a gift from Violeta.

When they wrapped up filming for Island Homecoming, Violeta had specifically given this gift to Polly.

When Polly first received the gift, she also thought it was just an ordinary coal doll.

But after Violeta demonstrated it to her, Polly realized that it was actually a miniature recording camera.

It didn’t have much memory and could only record about five minutes of video.

The memory card could be inserted into a computer to view, or it could automatically upload to a phone.

The doll’s pitch-black eyes were actually the camera lenses.

At the time, Polly was quite surprised and asked, “Vio, why did you give me this? It’s pretty interesting.”

Violeta smiled faintly and said, “I thought it looked fun, so I bought it. You can hang it on your bag as a charm. Keep it. If you ever get a chance to meet or work with Zelena, make sure to use it.”

Polly didn’t understand what Violeta meant and looked puzzled.

She asked, “Zelena? What do you mean? Why would I need to use this when working with Zelena? Is it to guard against her?”

Violeta replied, “Exactly.”

Violeta had given Polly a heads-up.

She had clearly warned Polly that Zelena was not to be underestimated and that she should always be on her guard around her.

But at that time, Polly hadn’t taken Violeta’s words seriously.

Firstly, she hadn’t had any conflicts with Zelena yet.

Secondly, she didn’t think this little gadget would really be of much use.

However, since the coal doll was cute, she decided to keep it as a charm and hang it on her bag strap.

Chapter 560

It was a stroke of luck.

Before Polly’s bathroom break, Celeste wasn’t in the room.

If Polly left, the room would be empty.

But with the event about to begin, nature called.

As Polly headed out, she remembered Violeta’s earlier advice- Zelena was indeed on the guest list.

Although Polly had been skeptical, it wouldn’t hurt to try.

So, she activated the recording feature on the plush doll and strategically placed her bag on the small table facing the door.

Polly remained oblivious to the impending disaster even after returning from the restroom.

It wasn’t until she saw the diamond necklace fall out of her makeup bag that she felt as though she had plunged into an icy abyss.

She had been framed!

Had it not been for Violeta’s prior warning, Polly’s career and life would have been utterly ruined.

With trembling fingers, Polly extracted the tiny memory card from inside the plush toy.

She exclaimed with a shaking voice, “This recorded everything that happened in the room earlier!

“I also have a backup video on my phone, but I haven’t had a chance to check it yet.

“You all accused me of stealing the necklace, calling me a thief?

“Fine, let’s see what really happened in the room just now!”

Gosh!

Polly actually had this up her sleeve!

Margot was elated. “Thank goodness, Ms. Tillery, we’re saved!”

Zelena, standing at the doorway, froze for a split second.

“Ms. Blake-” Celeste panicked.

Zelena quickly regained her composure and said sternly, “Don’t panic. Let’s leave first.”

The two discreetly exited the room and stepped into an empty corridor.

“What should we do?” Celeste was frantic, looking anxiously at Zelena.

She was the one who had done it. If she were discovered, she would be finished!

Zelena’s expression was grave as she carefully considered their options. “When you went in, you did wear the mask and hat like I told you to, right?”

Celeste nodded. “Yes.”

“Then there’s no need to worry,” Zelena assured her.

“But Polly caught it on video,” Celeste said.

“So what?” Zelena countered. “As long as your face isn’t visible, she can’t prove it was you.”

Even so, Celeste was still extremely nervous.

Zelena patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry. As long as you don’t admit to it, there’s no evidence that can point to you.”

“But what if they investigate the fingerprints on the necklace-“

“So many people just searched the room, and many touched the necklace,” Zelena interrupted. “Are you sure your fingerprints are still on it?

“Besides, you’re my assistant. If you were helping me with the necklace and your fingerprints were on it, would that be strange?”

Hearing Zelena’s words, Celeste calmed down a bit.

“What were you wearing when you went into her dressing room?” Zelena inquired. “The same outfit you have on now?”

Celeste shook her head. “No, I was worried about being caught on camera, so I took off my jacket in the blind spot of the surveillance.”

There were blind spots in the surveillance, but there were still areas that weren’t.

Celeste had been cautious enough to remove her jacket in the blind spot, enter to plant the necklace, and then put her jacket back on.

Additionally, Zelena had instructed her to wear a hat and mask.

“If that’s the case, then even if Polly did capture something, it wouldn’t prove it was you.”

Zelena was much calmer than Celeste. “Don’t worry, I doubt she’ll make a big deal out of this.”

After all, Polly was a celebrity.

The event had already been delayed, and the fans outside were getting impatient.

Today’s headlines were set.

There was no direct evidence to prove that the person who placed the necklace was Zelena’s assistant, Celeste.

The video recorded by the plush toy could be considered evidence.

But whether the person captured on video was Celeste would still require further investigation by the police.

Investigations take time.

If this matter blew up, the first impression among netizens would be “Polly is suspected of theft.”

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