Chapter 2 — The Investigation Changes Everything
Detectives reviewed every security recording inside the Hawthorne estate.
What they discovered shocked everyone.
The necklace had never been Ethan's real objective.
Hours before the gala, he had secretly entered Richard's private office.
He searched through locked drawers.
Photographed confidential financial documents.
Copied files from the family computer.
The stolen necklace had only been a distraction.
If everyone focused on accusing the maid, no one would notice what had disappeared from the office.
One detective approached Richard quietly.
"Sir... this wasn't an impulsive theft."
Richard frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"He planned this for weeks."
Meanwhile, the little boy who had found the phone explained what happened.
"I saw him hiding behind the flowers."
"No one believed me."
"So I recorded him."
The room became silent once again.
Richard slowly knelt in front of the child.
"You were brave."
Then he turned toward the maid.
May you like
"I'm sorry we failed you."
For the first time that evening, tears rolled down her face—not from fear, but from relief.
