Lynn also thought Shannon was just panicking because she’d lost her gold bracelet. "Shannon, just calm down for a second."

"That’s not it." Shannon shook her head without further explanation. She stared intently at Renee Jennings. "Please, you have to help me."

Renee met Shannon’s pleading gaze and raised a delicate eyebrow. Her clear, melodious voice held a hint of a smile. "I am already helping you."

Shannon froze. A flicker of confusion crossed her panicked face before realization dawned.

’If it weren’t for her, I probably still wouldn’t have realized my gold bracelet was missing.’

"You’re right. I only realized it was gone thanks to you." Shannon stood up, her expression serious as she looked at Renee. "So, can you help me again?"

"Of course." Renee said calmly. "I heard Husky say the gold bracelet was stolen by a woman with blonde hair."

"A woman with blonde hair?" Shannon frowned, wondering who that could be, when she caught sight of Pip out of the corner of her eye.

’Doesn’t she have a head of flashy blonde hair?’

Shannon turned to look at Pip.

Lynn followed her gaze to Pip.

Sensing their stares, Pip’s eyes flickered. "What are you looking at me like that for?" she demanded indignantly. "So I dyed my hair blonde. What does that prove? Are you saying I stole it?"

Shannon opened her mouth, but hesitated.

’She’s Lynn’s friend. I can’t be too direct.’

’What if I’m wrong? That would be so awkward.’

Lynn, also worried about wrongly accusing her friend, quickly said, "Pip, don’t be angry. Shannon and I didn’t mean it like that."

Renee said slowly, "You may not mean that, but I do."

She looked at Pip, who was using anger to mask her guilt. Her bright eyes were sharp, and a cryptic smile played on her lips. "You stole Shannon’s gold bracelet, didn’t you."

Shannon’s eyes flew open, and she stared at Pip in disbelief.

Lynn frowned, her tone full of displeasure. "What is wrong with you? Stop spouting nonsense! Pip would never do something like that!"

Shannon pressed her lips together, her brow furrowed. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflict and hesitation.

’A moment ago, this woman said Husky told her the gold bracelet in my bag was gone.’

’I checked my bag, and the gold bracelet really was gone.’

’Now she’s saying Pip stole it, and I’m inclined to believe her.’

’But she’s Lynn’s friend, and there’s no proof that Pip stole it...’

"How can you accuse me like this?" Pip’s eyes welled with tears, her voice full of grievance. "Shannon is Lynn’s friend, which makes her my friend too! Why would I ever steal a friend’s gold bracelet?"

Renee watched her deeply humiliated act and arched an eyebrow. "Since you’re so sure you didn’t steal it, then open your bag and let us have a look. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize."

"Who wants your apology?" Pip’s eyes were filled with hostility, her posture arrogant. "Why should I let you search my bag? I didn’t steal anything. This is an insult, and I won’t stand for it!"

At that, Renee smiled. "Are you afraid of being insulted, or are you afraid someone will see Shannon’s missing gold bracelet in your bag?"

The other customers in the BBQ restaurant started to look over, their curiosity piqued.

"Just show them what’s in your bag! If they’re lying about you, call the police!"

"Yeah! If it were me, I’d show them my bag and then slap each of them across the face!"

"One slap wouldn’t be enough!"

Hearing the murmurs around her, Pip grew frantic. Fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.

She pressed her lips together, forcing a calm expression. "This is a violation of my privacy!"

Renee said calmly, "You can just show your friend. We’re not interested in your privacy. We just want to help Shannon get her gold bracelet back."

Pip was seething with anxiety and anger. She stared at Shannon, her voice choked with emotion. "Shannon, are you really just going to stand there and let her slander me?"

Now mostly convinced that Pip had stolen the bracelet, Shannon saw Pip’s defiant attitude as a clear sign of guilt.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I’m sorry, Pip, but could you please just let me take a look inside your bag?"

"You..." Pip was furious. She turned to Lynn, her tone accusatory. "Lynn, look at how she’s treating your friend! And you call her your good friend? It looks to me like you’re the only one who thinks so!"

She was trying to drive a wedge between them.

"Well..." Lynn frowned, caught in the middle and clearly conflicted.

After a moment’s thought, she said with a sigh, "Why don’t we just call the police? Let them handle it."

Shannon had no objection, of course. She nodded. "Okay."

The moment she heard "call the police," Pip panicked.

She dropped her gaze, her eyes filled with anxiety.

"Ouch—" Pip doubled over, clutching her stomach. "My stomach really hurts."

"What’s wrong?" Lynn asked with concern.

"I don’t know, maybe something’s wrong with the baby. My stomach just hurts so much." Pip’s brow was deeply furrowed, her face a mask of pain.

Lynn’s eyes widened in shock. "You’re pregnant?"

"Yes," Pip said. "I’m not three months along yet, so I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone. I feel awful. Lynn, can you please take me to the hospital?"

"Okay!" Lynn said, looking frantic. "Shannon, I’m going to take Pip to the hospital."

’Shannon didn’t want to think the worst of someone, but she had a strong feeling this sudden pregnancy and stomachache was just an excuse.’

"Are you really pregnant?" Renee asked.

Pip snapped, "Don’t you go too far! Why would I need to lie about something like this?"

The other customers at the restaurant started speaking up for her, too.

"Yeah, that’s going a little too far."

"Stomach pain during pregnancy is serious. You should get to a hospital quickly."

"..."

Renee blinked, her gaze landing on the cocktail next to Pip’s plate. "You’re pregnant, yet you’re drinking?"

Shannon immediately caught on. "That’s right! You were the one who suggested we order these. You drank the most out of all of us. Aren’t you supposed to be pregnant?"

Lynn found it strange, too.

Pip’s expression faltered, a flash of frustration in her eyes. "I... I forgot I was pregnant. No wonder my stomach hurts so much now."

She clutched her stomach, bending over even further. "It really, really hurts..."

"You can forget something like that?" Renee laughed.

"It’s my first pregnancy, I don’t have any experience. Isn’t it normal to forget?" Pip said, then grabbed her bag to leave.

Sawyer stretched out an arm to block her, his voice cold. "You can’t leave."

"Why can’t I leave?" Pip demanded, furious. "If something happens to my baby, can you take responsibility for that?"

Sawyer produced his badge. "We have reason to suspect your involvement in the theft of a gold bracelet. Please cooperate with our investigation."

Pip’s pupils contracted. A powerful wave of dread washed over her. "You’re the police?"

"Yes," Sawyer said calmly. "My colleagues have already gone to review the security footage."

"Re-review the security footage?" Pip stammered. "What security footage?"

Sawyer smiled faintly. "The footage of you stealing your friend’s gold bracelet."

Just as he finished speaking, Henry Stark and Kyle Morgan arrived with the restaurant manager.