Chapter 481 The Mystery of Origins
Finnegan's heart sank a bit as he left. He also saw Ophelia's pocket watch, which was precisely as Mina had described.
If this had been really searched for, it would have been hard to explain.
After Mina finished describing, seeing that Ophelia and Finnegan's expressions were off, she became even more confident that Ophelia had stolen the pocket watch. She reached out to grab the bag, saying, "Open your bag and let me see."
Quick on her feet, Ophelia covered the bag and said, "Miss Mina, please describe again. Was there a picture inside the pocket watch? What did the picture look like?"
Ophelia had to point out the differences between the two pocket watches, or it would be hard to explain later.
Mina said, "There's a photo of me inside the pocket watch, a photo of me when I was eighteen. I know the pocket watch is in your bag. Madam, please open your bag. Our royal family has invited you to visit. If you act like a thief, our royal family won't welcome such people as guests."
Upon hearing that the photos were different, Ophelia breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, I'll open the bag."
After exchanging a glance with Finnegan, Ophelia unzipped the bag and took out everything inside, including the pocket watch.
When Mina saw the pocket watch, she exclaimed, "This is my pocket watch! You did steal my pocket watch."
Seeing this scene, the guests began to whisper among themselves.
Ophelia and Finnegan looked so elegant and upright, but the pocket watch was found in Ophelia's bag, providing conclusive evidence.
Mina reached out to take the pocket watch, but Finnegan grabbed it first. He couldn't let Mina's fingerprints get on the pocket watch, or else Ophelia would be suspected.
Finnegan calmly said, "To confirm if this is your pocket watch, we need to open it again and take a closer look. You must be certain."
Mina was already convinced that it was her pocket watch because the appearances were identical. The pocket watch was a royal item from the last century, with only two in existence, which Ophelia couldn't possibly have.
But as Mina confidently reached for the pocket watch, Finnegan opened it and saw a different photo inside. Mina's face instantly changed. "How is this possible? You must have switched the photos."
Finnegan had anticipated Mina's reaction. Holding the pocket watch, he showed it to the guests and then said to Mina, "If you still insist that this is yours and refuse to back down, we'll have to resort to fingerprint identification. This pocket watch belongs to my wife, untouched by Miss Mina. If there are no fingerprints of yours on it, then it's clear that this isn't yours."
It was then that Ophelia realized why Finnegan had grabbed the pocket watch first when Mina tried to take it. It was to prevent Mina's fingerprints from getting on it.
Fingerprint identification took time to be done.
Annoyed, Mina said, "Your wife is a thief. This pocket watch is mine. You've swapped the photos, and your wife couldn't possibly have this. This is an item from the royal family of France. By delaying like this, you're trying to take advantage of the situation. Such behavior is despicable. I'm helping you see the true character of your wife. You should thank me."
Finnegan's face darkened. "You should be grateful you're a woman."
Otherwise, he would have taken action.
Ophelia's expression soured, feeling even worse, facing Mina's unreasonable behavior.
"Mina." a noblewoman approached. "What are you doing here?"
"Mother." Mina, seeing her mother, Vera, gained more confidence. "This thief stole the pocket watch you gave me and refused to return it."
The noblewoman was Vera, Mina's mother and Wilder's younger sister.
Vera looked at Ophelia, then at the pocket watch in Finnegan's hand. Initially thinking it was the one she had given her daughter, seeing the photo inside, her expression changed drastically. She looked at Ophelia. "How do you have this photo?"
'The man in the photo, wasn't that how Wilder looked when he was young?' she thought.
It was his appearance before the accident and plastic surgery. As Wilder's sister, Vera had almost forgotten what her brother looked like over the past twenty years.
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