Chapter 2 - THE MISSING NECKLACE
Vanessa rushed toward him.
“Give me that phone.”
David stepped back.
“No.”
“You don’t understand what you’re watching.”
“I understand enough.”
The video showed Vanessa opening the maid’s small bedroom drawer. She placed a diamond necklace inside, then looked directly at the camera.
The maid covered her mouth.
“I told you I didn’t steal it.”
David pressed pause.
Vanessa’s lips parted.
“That footage was edited.”
“The timestamp is from this morning.”
“Anyone can manipulate a camera system.”
David gave a cold laugh.
“You told me last year that the system was impossible to hack.”
Vanessa’s anger returned.
“You’re defending her because she’s crying?”
“I’m defending the truth.”
The maid lowered her eyes.
“My name is Lily Carter, sir. I’ve worked here for three months. I never touched anything that belonged to you.”
Vanessa pointed at her.
“She was the only person near the study.”
“No,” David said. “You were.”
Vanessa slapped the phone from his hand.
It struck the marble floor.
The screen cracked.
Lily flinched.
David stared at his wife.
“Did you just destroy evidence?”
“I panicked.”
“You’ve been panicking since I walked through that door.”
Vanessa’s breathing became uneven.
David moved toward Lily and began cutting the ropes with a small knife from his suitcase.
Vanessa blocked his path.
“You are not taking her side.”
“You tied an innocent woman to a column and threatened her with fire.”
“I was angry!”
“You were going to burn her.”
“I wasn’t!”
Lily’s knees nearly gave way when David freed her.
He caught her arm before she fell.
Vanessa watched them, her face twisted with rage.
“You’ll regret humiliating me in my own house.”
David looked at her.
“This is my house too.”
“No,” Vanessa whispered. “You only think it is.”
David froze.
She smiled faintly.
Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded document.
“You should ask your lawyer who owns this place now.”
David took the paper.
His eyes moved across the first page.
The house transfer carried his signature.
May you like
But he had never signed it.
CLIFFHANGER: Beneath the signature was a date from six months earlier—three days after David had entered a coma following a car accident.
