Upper East Side Secrets

hapter 152 The Ones Closest To Us

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Upon seeing Linda's evident frustration, Selena straightforwardly asked, "You say there's something wrong with

Scarlett's character. What exactly is the issue?"

Linda paused briefly, then mused aloud, somewhat hesitantly, "Isn't she rumored to have evaded taxes?

Selena seemed momentarily speechless, her reply laden with skepticism. "Do you really not go online? If a

celebrity was actually evading taxes, they basically wouldn't be able to continue working in the industry. The fact

that she's still active and thriving in the entertainment industry demonstrates that she's not in any legal

trouble."

"How could that be!" Linda exclaimed, her confusion evident. seem to recall Javier mentioning that she even

went back to pay her taxes!"

Christopher quickly clarified, his tone firm, "That issue was actually related to her family's agency and happened

without her knowledge. As soon as she discovered it, she took immediate action to resolve it."

He went on to explain that this information had been widely shared online, establishing Scarlett's reputation as

someone who not only addressed her tax issues promptly but also set a positive example for other celebrities by

auditing her own taxes, unlike swho were reluctant to settle their dues.

It's hard not to feel sorry for Scarlett. It seems tothat the reason she fell so easily for Javier's charm was due

to her unfortunate family background. Her agency was completely controlled by her mother and uncle, who often

carried out shady operations behind her back, causing her immense distress. They disregarded her hardships,

constantly pushing her to take on more work to make money.

Even Hayden once mentioned that Scarlett was severely exploited. If it wasn't for her family holding her back,

her potential co

could have been harnessed even better. After finally finding a boyfriend, she almost got dragged into another

The Quirk family members listened, their frustration growing with the complexity of Scarlett's situation.

Meanwhile, since Linda's argument had been effectively refuted, she could only mutter, "Regardless, she has

issues.

Impatient and unconvinced, Selena retorted, "You just simply don't like her, do you?"

Smothers-in-law simply didn't like their daughters-in-law, almost as if they felt their sons had been stolen

from them. However, this was not the case with Freya; instead, it was Linda who seemed unwell.

Linda's face darkened, her hand subconsciously reaching for the necklace around her neck as she decided to

divulge more. "This is such a hassle, fine, I'll tell you, but you must keep it a secret. | promised my godson not to

reveal this. He's a good kid, loyal and sentimental. Even after breaking up, he doesn't want to embarrass the

other party. But now, if Javier is still so infatuated, | have to intervene. However... | hope when you deal with

Scarlett in the future, you won't expose what I've told you."

The Quirk family could see how much Linda cared for her godson, fearing that another woman might come

between her and her beloved

"Because there was this one twhen Javier brought her to visit me, she actually tried to swipe this necklace of

mine!" Linda exclaimed, her face flushing with anger as her hand rested on the pile of large. lustrous pearls.

"Such greed! Are these petty thieves devoid of any morals?" she added incredulously.

"How could this he?" Selens. svelnimed in chock reflecting the centiment of the entire Quirk familu who

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Chapter 152 The Ones Closest To Us

knew Scarlett as a grounded, hardworking person with a reputation for abiding by the law and pure character.

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possessing a

Linda, still upset, recounted the incident, "I had initially planned to show off my necklace to that woman, so |

brought her into my jewelry room. However, during dinner, my housekeeper mentioned that the necklace was

missing. | had the entire household help search for it, but it was nowhere to be found. Just as | was about to call

the police, the necklace suddenly appeared in the bathroom. | had personally checked that place before; how

could it suddenly reappear? It must have been her, scared and returning it. When I got it back, it still had body

warmth on it!"

"Back then, | wanted to call the police on her, but Javier stopped me. After they broke up, | stayed out of it. Little

did | know that my naive child would want to reconcile with that thief. | shudder to think how she might covet my

jewelry. That thief absolutely cannot be with Javier, Linda concluded with righteous indignation, insisting that the

incident had indeed occurred, leaving the Quirks to ponder the possibility that the young lady might have acted

out of confusion and resorted to theft, though it felt incredibly unbelievable. Is that really true? | can't believe it, |

need to check it out.

As Isabella took action, the rest of the family engaged more actively in the discussion. "Did she admit to stealing

it?" Rosalie asked anxiously.

Linda responded,

-Without catching her red-handed, she will never admit it"

"So there's no evidence linking her to the crime. Could it possibly be someone else?" Evian also asked.

Linda quickly countered, "Are you suggesting the household staff? They've been loyal tofor unthinkable that

they could be involved!"

years;

it's

Christopher, pondering another possibility, speculated aloud, "Is it possible that you might have accidentally

taken it to the bathroom yourself?"

Linda, visibly agitated by the suggestion, snapped back, "Do you really think I'm that forgetful?"

At this juncture, Alexander, who usually remained more reserved, began to methodically analyze the situation,

"The act of stealing such a distinctive piece of jewelry doesn't make much sense. It's too conspicuous, especially

for someone in the public eye. The only plausible reason for stealing it would be a desperate need for money

leading to its sale, but given her financial status, that seems improbable. Alternatively, it could be a compulsive

desire to collect unique items, yet the risks involved make this scenahighly unlikely as well." No sooner had

Alexander finished his analysis than he sensed Isabella turning to look at him. When he met her gaze, he saw her

eyes sparkling with admiration, which made his heart skip a beat.

Wow, Alexander is so impressive!

Alexander, a bit taken aback by the unexpected praise, felt his cheeks warm slightly.

The rest of the Quirk family, meanwhile, had their interest piqued and subtly watched the interaction between

Alexander and Isabella.

Isabella, however, was simply staring at Alexander, her emotions a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings.

The analysis was spot on; it was indeed stolen to be sold!

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Chapter 152 The Ones Closest To Us

The room fell silent for a moment, the family trying to process the revelation.

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However, it turns out the thief wasn't Scarlett, nor any of the household staff-it was Javier, the last person Linda

would have ever suspected.

The Quirks, shocked but somewhat relieved, found this explanation strangely fitting.

It becclear why Javier had been so vehement against Linda pushing the issue further; he wasn't just

defending his girlfriend out of loyalty, but was fearful of his own misdemeanors coming to light.

Still, there were oddities in the story. Linda had always pampered him, yet he still resorted to theft. If he really

needed money, why didn't he just ask her?

As the Quirks were pondering. Isabella finally pieced together the full story.

Because Mdm. Pearson was such a strict disciplinarian, Javier had very limited access to funds. Moreover, Mdm.

Pearson would meticulously check the amounts Linda gave him, which seperely restricted his spending. That's

why he resorted to stealing. He initially didn't even consider taking the most valuable pearl necklace

Who could blhim? His gambling debts had reached significant amounts. But he didn't just want to clear his

debts; he aimed to recoup his losses and make a big comeback at the gambling tables. That's why he targeted

the most valuable asset-the pearl necklace. The Quirk family members took a collective deep breath.

It turned out Javier was not just a gambler; he was adept at hiding his addiction.

He had brought Scarlett along mainly as a cover, knowing Linda's penchant for displaying her jewelry. He was

confident she would showcase her collection, giving him a chance to steal. If discovered, he could argue on

behalf of his girlfriend, relying on his Linda's affection to avoid pressing charges, or he could try to win back the

losses. He hadn't anticipated being caught so soon, which derailed his plan

As the Quirks grappled with this new understanding, their insights deepened.

Oh, | understand now. His the plan failed, so he had to grit his teeth and borrow money from Scarlett, pretending

it was for capital for a concert.

Speculations arose among the family. Could this be related to an outstanding debt?

Soon enough, Scarlett realized that there had never been any concerts. After sprivate investigations, she

discovered. he toas a chronic gambler who had borrowed extensively. She understood that her money was lost

forever, particularly since there was no formal IOU. Recognizing the unlikely prospect of a gambler changing his

ways, she wisely decided to cut her losses and left him.

The Quirks couldn't help but marvel; Scarlett was a decisive girl who knew when to let go.

But ten million! He got off so easily! She really is a naive girl! Every t| see it, it makesfurious! He even

had the audacity to think about getting back together. He probably wants to use her again, doesn't he? Pay back

the money first, you brat!

At this point, Linda is still doubting Scarlett. The mere thought of it was frustrating. Maybe...

After all that talk, we still haven't discussed Javier. Does he have an alibi? Mdm. Pearson, it's always the ones

closest to us we need to watch out for, isn't it?"

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Reading Juicy Gossip in Her Mind

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