Chapter 25 Checking the Surveillance Footage
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Hannah clung to Benedict’s arm, her voice dripping with indignation. “You saw that, right? She’s so arrogant! She doesn’t respect you at all.”
Clearly, she was trying to rile him up, hoping he would take her side without needing an explanation.
But Benedict stayed surprisingly calm. “I just want to hear the whole story. What really happened?”
Francesca gave Hannah a sharp, unimpressed look. “Why don’t you ask your sister why I kicked her out?”
Then, Hannah froze, stammering for an excuse. After three years of watching her over–the–top performances, Francesca knew her tricks all too well and wasn’t about to waste energy on them.
“Good thing we have security cameras these days,” Francesca said with a wry smile. “Otherwise, it would be my word against hers, and that’s exhausting, don’t you think, Mr. Landon?”
She opened the car door and pulled Nina inside.
“I already talked to the restaurant manager. The footage is all there if you want to check. And don’t worry, this time, the cameras didn’t mysteriously stop working.” Her tone was razor–sharp as she got into the driver’s seat.
Benedict stood there, watching her car pull away, his expression unreadable. This wasn’t the Francesca he used to know.
Back then, she had been quiet, walking on eggshells around him, always careful to avoid conflict. Even when he had lost his temper, she’d kept her head down and never said a word against him.
Now, she didn’t hesitate to stand her ground or throw jabs at him. The mocking smirk she wore seemed to cut deeper than her words.
He had so many questions but couldn’t seem to ask any of them. Every time they met, the frustration got the better of him, leaving the real conversations unsaid.
Meanwhile, Hannah wasn’t done. She stomped her foot, her voice shrill. “We can’t just let her get away with this!” But Benedict raised his hand to stop her.
“Benedict, come on! I’m your sister. Who is she anyway?” she whined.
Suddenly, Benedict turned to her, his gaze sharp. “Hannah, where did you get that bag?” His eyes flicked to the necklace she was wearing. “And that necklace–when did you take it?”
Hannah froze, her bravado evaporating. “I … uh …” she stammered, shrinking under his stare.
“Benedict, what are you doing? Your sister was bullied, and you’re worried about some necklace?” Ellen huffed, stepping in to defend Hannah.
“That necklace is Francesca’s. Did you even ask before taking it?” Benedict’s tone was steady, but his glare said otherwise.
He knew the necklace well. Back in their third year of marriage, after Mabel’s health improved, she had nudged him to do something nice for Francesca. So, he’d gone all out, getting her a custom jewelry set.
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Chapter 25 Checking the Surveillance Footage
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Two years ago, when everyone thought Francesca was gone for good. Ellen had tossed out her cheaper things and sold off anything valuable.
But Benedict had stopped her from taking this particular set, locking it in the safe instead. And now, here it was hanging around Hannah’s neck
Prancesca is alive, but you two are divorced, Hannah said, shrugging like it was no big deal. “This necklace belongs to the Landon family now. Why would I need her permission to wear it?”
However, seeing Benedict’s face darkened, Hannah’s eyes welled up instantly. Her tears flowing like she’d been gravely wronged
“It’s just a necklace! Ellen snapped. “That ungrateful brat didn’t even care about it. I never saw her wear it. Honestly, spending that kind of money on her was a waste. She’s not part of this family anymore, so who cares”
Benedict stayed quiet for a beat, his jaw tightening. It looked like he wanted to say something but held back. Let’s check the surveillance footage,” he said instead, turning toward the restaurant.
Hannah’s face froze, her crocodile tears falling even faster now. Ellen grabbed her arm as they followed Benedict, grumbling under her breath.
“No need for all this Ellen muttered. “That woman’s probably got some sugar daddy now. She doesn’t care about us or that stupid necklace.
Ellen kept rambling, but Benedict’s face darkened, his expression turning icy. “Shut up,” he snapped.
Both women froze. Hannah and Ellen exchanged uneasy glances but finally went quiet, trailing behind him.
The manager was already waiting by the time they arrived. Without needing any prompts, he pulled up the surveillance footage.
From the moment Francesca and Nina entered, the video made everything crystal clear. Hannah’s every insult, every cutting remark, every entitled glare, it was all there for everyone to see. Ellen chimed in too, hurling her share of disdain like it was second nature.
It wasn’t hard to tell this wasn’t a one–off incident. Their attitude screamed practice, like bullying Francesca was a daily routine.
If this was how they acted in public, it was easy to imagine the hell she endured behind closed doors.
This was how the Landon family had been treating Francesca all along. Not just random moments of anger, but an ongoing, daily humiliation.
They had gotten so used to putting her down that when she finally stood up for herself, they immediately ran to Benedict, trying to twist the situation and get sympathy.
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