Amelia Sterling’s perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched in cold triumph.
“Evelyn, you demanded proof. Now you have it. What is your explanation?”
She paused, letting the silence press down on the gathering.
“If you are wise, you will return the necklace now.”
Her voice dropped, laced with a threat. “Otherwise, my patience will expire.”
Evelyn’s fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms.
She knew the truth. This was a meticulously laid trap.
Amelia had conspired with the household staff to fabricate this entire scenario.
When Evelyn met Amelia’s gaze, she saw it—a flicker of smug victory masquerading as righteous indignation.
Evelyn drew a slow, steadying breath.
Her voice was clear and firm, cutting through the murmurs. “That video is a forgery. I have never set foot in that lounge. I have never seen that necklace.”
Miriam Croft seized the moment, her eyes gleaming with false outrage.
“Still denying it, Evelyn? Before the evidence was shown, you accused us of slander. Now that the proof is before everyone, you call it fake?”
She let out a derisive laugh, slow and deliberate. “So you simply refuse to admit your guilt, is that it?”
“I am innocent,” Evelyn stated, her jaw tight. “I swear I have stolen nothing from the Sterling family.”
“You swear?” Amelia’s scoff was sharp and dismissive. “What value does your oath hold? If a criminal’s word was sufficient, we would have no need for courts or law enforcement. How utterly absurd.”
Amelia turned her back on Evelyn, addressing the assembled guests with a projected voice.
“Each of you is here tonight as my honored guest, celebrating my birthday. I ask you now, how should this matter be resolved? Should I place my faith in Evelyn’s hollow denials?”
She swept her gaze across the crowd. “More importantly, where is my missing necklace?”
A wave of agitated whispers circulated before several voices rose in agreement.
“Evelyn must return the necklace immediately! And she should provide appropriate compensation to Miss Sterling!”
“I concur! This thief has ruined Miss Sterling’s birthday celebration. It is a disgrace!”
Madeline Fitzgerald, who had defended Evelyn so fiercely moments before, stood utterly silent.
She glanced at Evelyn, her expression a turmoil of confusion and dawning doubt.
Had her judgment been so profoundly wrong?
Had Evelyn truly stolen from the Sterlings?
A cold wave of regret washed over Madeline. She felt a sting of frustration.
She had hoped this incident would undermine Amelia, but instead, she had only succeeded in making Evelyn appear deceitful and Amelia, the wronged victim.
The other guests who had initially sided with Evelyn shifted uncomfortably.
Was it too late to retract their earlier statements of support?
Evelyn observed the shifting allegiances in the room, her heart sinking.
Satisfaction glimmered in Amelia’s eyes. In mere minutes, public opinion had turned completely.
The wary skepticism directed at Amelia had transformed into outright contempt for Evelyn.
This was the exact outcome she had orchestrated.
The considerable effort and expense to have the surveillance footage expertly altered had been worth it.
As a Sterling, she had access to the best technicians money could buy—specialists who could manipulate video so seamlessly no one would ever detect the forgery.
The atmosphere grew heavy with condemnation.
Evelyn stood alone against the accusing stares, the fabricated evidence hanging in the air like a death sentence.
Amelia had won this round. But the game was not over yet.