06

"Do you know who it was?" Noa asked, confused.

The manager of the bank shook his head. "I apologize, but that is private. We are unable to disclose such information.”

“But—“

"I'm sorry, we cannot."

Noa gazed at him, trying to piece things together.

It had to be a powerful person without her knowledge and the bank wouldn't reveal who accessed it.

The Holland family didn't need the money, even though Czar had deceived her. It wasn't him since he wouldn't give a damn about such amount when he had more much than that.

Although the Streep family also didn’t need the money because they were a part of the city’s elite, they would only take it to punish her. They constantly desired everything that belonged to her.

They now had the money and her grandmother's emerald jewelry.

Noa took a cab and went directly to the Streep estate.

"Who are you? What do you want? Get out now, or I'm calling the police!" yelled the house keeper, who wore a red silk dress. This was not the house keeper Noa knew before she was arrested.

It was understandable that the house keeper didn't know Noa because she hadn't visited here in a long time.

However, even so...

She glanced at Sarah, who was wearing exquisite makeup, jewelry, and four-inch heels. She didn't resemble a housekeeper at all.

"I’m Noa, where's my dad?"

Sarah looked up and down at Noa for a moment before a scowl formed on her lips. "Oh, it’s even you, the Noa. I thought you were still in jail?”

She began to shut the door. "Sir is not at home. Return at a later time.”

"If he's not here, I'll just wait for him."

After kicking open the door with her foot, Noa pushed past Sarah and barged into the house. Joshua Streep wasn't actually home because the living room was empty.

Ready to wait it out, Noa settled down on the couch. Sarah sprang forward. "Seating around like you own the place, who do you think you are? Take your prison stench with you and go out!"

Sarah’s drama was too much for Noa to handle. She pushed Sarah away just as she wanted to touch her.

"This isn't your family to—"

Her gaze focused on the earrings hanging from Sarah’s ears. They resembled the ones her grandma had given her exactly.

"Where did you get those earrings?" Noa demanded as she drew Sarah in closer to examine them.

With a remorseful expression, Sarah attempted to back away. "I bought them myself."

"You purchased them? Those earrings belong to my grandmother."

Noa had assumed Mya might have taken them out of jealousy, but she had no idea Mya would give them to their house keeper.

It was painful to realize that something so valuable to her had been thoughtlessly given to a maid like useless trinkets.

She lost her temper. "Give them back!"

"Noa, did prison mess with your head?" Sarah retorted, swearing. “Nothing in this place is yours.

So get lost!”

Noa became enraged over everything that had happened recently. "I should get lost?" she exclaimed as she pulled on Sarah’s ears so forcefully that blood was drawn.

With a scream, Sarah pushed her away.

Noa didn't care that she stumbled and collided with something behind her. She was concentrating on retrieving her grandmother's memento when a derisive voice interrupted.

"Oh, Noa. Have you become so desperate while incarcerated? Fighting over jewelry with employees? Simply ask Czar to purchase anything you desire. The Holland’s are able to purchase anything you want.”

Noa spun around at the sound of that familiar voice. Lucky Streep, her second brother, stood smugly leaning against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets.

He put on an overdone expression of realization before Noa could say anything. "Oh, I see. Czar isn't interested in you, I forgot. Why would he purchase anything for you?”

His comments made Noa’s heart tighten.

Lucky approached the couch and spoke in a chilly tone. “Do you truly like stealing things that aren't yours, sister? It will never be yours, even if you steal it.”

Then he looked at Sarah. "Sarah, dressed up like that—going on a date?"

Sarah forced a laugh, not daring to offend Lucky. "I'm much too old to go on dates. Just experimenting with some new attire."

After snorting, Lucky turned back to Noa. "Why are you still in this place? Do you want me to summon security to take you outside?"

Noa was jolted back to reality by his taunt. She walked over to Sarah and extended her hand. "I'm very attached to those earrings. Give them to me; I won't ask how you got them."

Lucky’s expression changed a little when he looked at the earrings. He opened his mouth to say something, but a heavy, firm voice came from outside.

"You own nothing in this family. Noa, don't start causing trouble as soon as you get out of jail."

It was Joshua Streep, their father.

Sarah rushed to Joshua’s side and whimpered, "sir, thank heavens you're here! This murderer accused me of stealing her earrings and hit me—look, my ear's bleeding! I promise that I didn't steal anything from her.”

Lucky simply laughed to himself and lit a cigarette as if he were setting down for some amusement.

Noa now realized why Sarah, a simple cleaner, had the audacity to act so rudely. She must be having an affair with Joshua.

To be honest, though, she didn't want to be involved in the drama surrounding the Streep family.

"My grandmother owned the earrings. Return them." Noa strode toward Joshua. "I also want the $400,000 that my grandmother left in the bank. Neither the money nor the jewelry are necessary for this household. Is harassing an orphan over something so trivial really worth your time?”

Anger marred Joshua's face. "You an orphan? We're still here! Do you want us dead? Avoid us if you despise this family so much.”

He gave Sarah a quick flip of his hand. "You can leave."

With a nod, Sarah turned to walk away, but Noa stopped her. "You're not going anywhere."

"What on earth do you think you're doing, Noa? You don't give commands here; this is my home." Joshua yanked Noa’s hand away and gave her a fierce look. "When you got out, we even wanted to ask you to supper, but what did you do?You made a scene at Mya’s opening ceremony on your first day out. Everything was reported by the media, who wrote negative things about Mya. Who knows what might have occurred if Czar hadn't intervened?

"And now you're here stirring up problems once more, accusing our family of stealing your money and earrings. Did you go insane in prison, Noa? Have you forgotten where you are?”

Joshua gestured toward the door. "Leave my sight! I don't have an embarrassing daughter. Never return.”

Noa felt a weight on her chest that she was unable to shake, her nails digging into her palms.

Her eyes burned with tears even though she believed she would be accustomed to Joshua’s harsh words after all these years.

They had set her up, forced her to take Mya’s place. She was merely a stain on Mya’s impeccable record to them?

"Mr. Streep, then tell me—why does my son call Mya 'Mom'? My husband is with her, why? Why is my daughter no longer with me? Why is Sarah in possession of my grandmother's belongings? And what happened to the $400,000? Don't you dare forget who I went to prison for!" Noa yelled between gritted teeth, pushing back tears.

Slap!

Joshua’s hand struck her face forcefully. "You unappreciative brat! Is there danger here? You ought to have gone to prison for Mya since she is your younger sister! Besides, Mya wouldn't have had that accident if you hadn't taken Czar from her. You shameless whore.”

Her whore?

"Our family was ruined by you, Noa. Leave!"

Noa’s heart was numb and frozen, but her face hurt.

How did she ruin the family but Mya didn’t?

Ha. She ought to have realized that Joshua wouldn't develop a conscience.

She wiped away her tears and extended her hand once more. "I have no desire to discuss anything else. Just return the jewels and the four hundred thousand to me."

Lucky extinguished his cigarette. “Do you have any evidence, sister? Without proof, you cannot simply accuse us of stealing. What will happen next? Will every Berg city’s resident who misplaces something show up at our door demanding cash?”

Noa had no evidence. However, the only person who could have taken her belongings from Apple villa was Mya.

At that moment, Mya’s lovely voice could be heard outside, followed by the sound of an engine. "Czar, you're the best! This weekend, let's take Li to the theme park."

"Alright, whatever you want." Czar responded.

Noa had never heard the softness and gentleness of Czar’s voice before.