The Inescapable Celibate Heir Chapter 90: Who is the Thief?

Jasmine glanced over and spotted Mira, the girl who had had a conflict with them last time. "Is something up?" she asked.

Lila smirked, "Victoria's not with her today. Mira must be wearing those hideous, old, beat-up shoes again. I can't believe she's even in our class."

Ella stayed quiet but noticed the box in Mira's hand looked familiar. Could it be new shoes? She shrugged it off since Victoria wasn't around, and she didn't care much about Mira. 

She shook her head and said, "Never mind, I must've been mistaken. My maid said she put my new shoes in locker number 9, and it wasn't locked." With that, she walked straight to the locker and opened it.

But the locker was empty! Ella was stunned and checked the photo her maid had sent her. It clearly showed a pink, elegant shoe box in locker number 9.

Jasmine asked, "Ella, where are your shoes? Are you sure they were in here?"

Ella showed her the photo, and they all opened the nearby unlocked lockers, but the shoes were nowhere to be found. 

Jasmine said, "Those shoes cost twenty grand. If you had to get them through a personal shopper, they'd be even more expensive. Could they have been stolen?"

Natalia and Lila were wide-eyed with shock. They knew Ella's family was wealthy, but they didn't realize she could spend as much on a pair of shoes as their parents made in a year!

Ella remembered the box in Mira's hand and became more convinced. She turned sharply and shouted at Mira, "Stop right there!"

Mira stopped, confused, but only glanced back at Ella before continuing to walk. She didn't feel the need to listen to Ella. 

Suddenly, Natalia and Lila rushed over and blocked Mira's path. "Didn't you hear Ella tell you to stop? Are you feeling guilty because you stole something?"

Mira shook off their hands impatiently. "I need to go to the bathroom. Why are you stopping me?"

Ella said, "Sorry, but when we came in, it looked like you were holding a pink box. As soon as you saw us, you hid it in a locker."

Jasmine quickly added, looking at Mira with disdain, "It was the exclusive Christian box, just like the one in Ella's photo."

Mira replied, "Christian? I don't know what you're talking about. These are shoes someone gave me, from a small brand."

Lila exclaimed, "I get it! You're so shameless! You saw Ella's shoes here and tried to steal them, pretending they're from a small brand. You probably don't even know what Christian is, do you?"

Natalia reached for Mira's locker key. "Hand over the key and take out the shoes! Those are Ella's shoes. What right do you have to take them?" 

Mira, who often played snooker and was stronger than Natalia, easily pushed her away. 

But Lila also jumped in, and the two of them held her down while Jasmine tried to grab the key from her pocket.

Victoria walked in and saw the scene. She rushed over, grabbed Jasmine's hand, and pushed Natalia and Lila away. "What are you doing?" she demanded, then turned to Mira. "Are you okay?"

Mira shook her head. "I'm fine. They're just being ridiculous!"

Lila, hands on her hips, snapped, "Victoria, do you even know what's going on? You're defending her, but your good friend Mira is a thief! You're covering for her! She stole Ella's shoes, and we have proof!"

Victoria laughed coldly. "That's absurd. She has shoes to wear. Why would she steal Ella's? What proof do you have?"

Ella stepped forward and said softly, "But my shoes are missing, and I have a photo. Mira was the only one in the lounge. If she didn't steal them, why won't she let us check her locker to prove her innocence?"

Jasmine added, "Exactly. If you get caught stealing, just return the item, and we might let it go. But if you keep denying it and we take this to Ms. Gray, you'll face school discipline."

Mira angrily said, "I didn't steal anything. Victoria gave me these shoes!"

Lila scoffed, "Who are you kidding? Victoria can't afford such expensive shoes. If she gave you such pricey shoes, why wouldn't she tell you the brand? If you're not guilty, open the locker and let us check."

Victoria retorted, "Why should we let you check? Do you think you're the police? Fine, let's go to Ms. Gray. We're not the ones in the wrong."

Ella's eyelid twitched. Victoria seemed so confident. Could it be a misunderstanding? Maybe Mira didn't steal her shoes? 

Jasmine, pulling Ella along, said angrily, "Then let's go to Ms. Gray. Ella, don't worry. I won't let them bully you again!"

They all went to find Azalea. Azalea looked at them and sighed, "You again? What's the issue this time?"

After hearing both sides, Azalea thought for a moment. "There's no surveillance in the lounge, so it's hard to investigate. But Ella, how can you be sure it was Mira who stole your shoes just because of a box? It might just be a similar box."

Jasmine confidently said, "Ms. Gray, the Christian box is very distinctive. Ella wouldn't mistake it. Plus, she has a photo. Her maid clearly put the box in the locker, but it was gone when we arrived."

Ella recalled the box she had glimpsed and confirmed, "I didn't mistake it."

Azalea looked at Mira and Victoria. She knew Victoria's parents were on the school board, but Ella and Jasmine's families were also influential. 

She didn't want to offend anyone. Reluctantly, she said, "Maybe they bought it themselves?"

Natalia laughed, "No way, Ms. Gray. Do you know those shoes cost twenty thousand dollars? Mira's family can't afford that. She doesn't even know the Christian brand!" 

Actually, Natalia had only learned this from Jasmine today. Her family was also middle-class, but she mercilessly mocked Mira, feeling like she was wealthy by association with Ella.

Azalea, feeling a bit annoyed, sighed. She couldn't afford such expensive shoes either, but she couldn't upset these rich girls. 

"Since the amount is so significant, Mira, you should open the locker and let them check. It will clear your name."