Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

Chapter 236 Kaylee Stole the Money

Facing their questioning, Violeta could only say, "I didn't touch the class funds. They got stolen, but I'll try to get them back."

"Get them back? How are you gonna do that? It's cash, and who knows when it disappeared. Someone could've already spent it!"

"Yeah, this is messed up. Should've skipped today. Could've grabbed my share this morning, then we wouldn't have lost the class funds in the afternoon."

"Violeta, you're gonna take full responsibility for this!"

"If we can't recover the class funds, you'll have to cover it with your own money."

Everyone was buzzing with chatter.

In a corner, Zelena, changing quietly, smirked slightly.

The drama's started!

Soon, someone informed the counselor about what had happened.

The counselor hadn't seen this coming. He had trusted Violeta, so why did this happen right after handing her the money in the afternoon?

But he didn't suspect Violeta of using the money herself, especially because she wasn't short of it.

It seemed more likely that someone had stolen it.

"We'll need to search the entire girls' changing room. Did anyone leave during your physical education class earlier?"

"Yes," Gillian eagerly interjected, "I remember Kaylee went out!"

Kaylee widened her eyes. "I went to the restroom. I also saw Zelena and Candy go out together! Why didn't you mention that?"

There were no surveillance cameras in the girls' changing room, making it difficult to determine who stole the money.

At most, they could only check the hallway surveillance, but even that wouldn't prove much since many people passed through the hallways. Zelena stepped forward and said, "I have nothing to hide. I wouldn't stoop to stealing 900 dollars. You can check my locker first."

Seeing Zelena so proactive Violeta remained calm, but her brow was slightly furrowed.

Nine hundred dollars wasn't a lot, it wasn't a small amount either.

Besides, stealing money was a serious matter.

The counselor would definitely thoroughly investigate the girls' changing room.

Zelena, unafraid of it, insisted on being checked first.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Accommodating her request, the counselor walked directly to Zelena, opened her locker, and began the inspection.

There wasn't much in the locker, so it would have been easy to find 900 dollars.

After searching through it once, they didn't find the money.

The counselor said, "It's not here."

Zelena crossed her arms. Her tone carried a hint of disdain as she said, "Nine hundred dollars wouldn't even buy me a hair accessory."

The counselor pursed their lips and looked at everyone. "Please take out your lockers and bags. If we can't find the class funds, we'll have to report it

to the police. If anyone knows anything that could help, you can tell me privately. If a student has gone astray but is willing to turn back, I won't hold it against them."

...

The counselor tried to persuade them.

But everyone remained unmoved at the scene.

Thus, they had no option but to proceed with searching the lockers.

Violeta stood silently nearby.

Quietly, Kaylee said to Violeta, "Vio, think again about where you might have lost the money."

Violeta responded, "It was always in my bag. It hasn't left my side except when I came to PE class."

Kaylee said, "Indeed, besides the changing room, there's nowhere else it could be. We'll have to search and find out who stole it."

Violeta quietly waited for the results of the search.

Twenty minutes passed.

The counselor approached Kaylee's locker. "Kaylee, please take out your things."

"Sure," Kaylee replied.

Kaylee took her bag out of the locker, but as soon as she removed it, several red banknotes fell out, scattering on the floor. What?

Everyone in the changing room was stunned.

Kaylee was bewildered.

What's going on?

How could there be so much money in my bag?

Just then, Gillian rushed over and tugged at Kaylee's bag. After a quick peek inside, she exclaimed, "Wow! Mr. Ecton, there's money allo over-easily several thousand!"

οι

Taking the bag, Gillian scooped up a handful of hundred dollar bills.

Though she didn't count, it was clear to anyone that there was probably 800 or 900 dollars. And most importantly, inside her bag was the white envelope the counselor given Violeta earlier for the class

funds.

had

The counselor frowned. "Kaylee, how do you explain this? Why do you have so much money in your bag?"

Kaylee panicked, "I don't know ... How did the money end up in my bag?"

She turned to Violeta, "Vio, I really don't know."

Kaylee had no reason to steal class funds, and it seemed unbelievable that she would boldly stash money in her own bag, even keeping the white envelope intact.

So Violeta trusted her.

But what good was Violeta's trust when everyone was watching and they found the money in Kaylee's bag? It was like catching her in the act.

People around started gossiping right away.

"My goodness, they found the class funds in Kaylee's bag. Did she really steal it?"

"She was playing innocent just now. If they don't find the money now, she'll never admit it."