Chapter 8

Lily's POV

The tension in the room was suffocating as we all waited for Tyler to return from my room.

I could feel every pair of eyes watching me, observing my reaction, waiting for me to crack under pressure.

"This should be interesting," I thought, maintaining my calm exterior while Elizabeth fidgeted with barely contained excitement.

The housekeeper who had accused me stood nervously near the door, wringing her hands. When I had asked her name earlier, she had stammered out an answer.

"Olivia Johnson," she had said, her voice slightly trembling.

"Interesting. She seems far too nervous for someone who's supposedly just telling the truth," I noted, filing this detail away for later use.

Heavy footsteps echoed on the marble staircase as Tyler appeared at the top of the stairs, his expression grim.

He carried a black plastic bag in his hands that seemed to weigh more than it should.

My heart rate didn't accelerate.

I was genuinely curious to see how this would unfold.

"Sir, ma'am," Tyler announced, his voice carrying clearly through the silent room.

"We found these items in Miss Reed's closet, in the bottom drawer of her wardrobe."

He opened the black plastic bag, revealing its contents: an exquisite jade bracelet, an ornate necklace, and a matching bracelet that sparkled under the lights.

Exactly the jewelry Elizabeth claimed was missing.

"Well, well," I thought, observing the various reactions around the room.

"Someone's been very busy."

A collective gasp arose from the gathered crowd. Even William's carefully controlled expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something—disappointment? surprise?—crossing his features.

Michael's jaw dropped open.

"Holy shit, they were actually in your room?"

Elizabeth's face lit up with vindictive triumph. "Walter!"

She cried out, her voice sharp with satisfaction.

"What do you have to say now? Look at what kind of woman you've chosen for our sons! Bad enough she comes from some backwater town, now we know she's a common thief!"

Walter's face had gone pale, but he still chose to believe in Lily.

"There must be an explanation. Lily would never do such a thing."

His trust in me was touching, even under these damning circumstances.

Fiona, who had remained quietly seated throughout the entire ordeal, finally spoke up.

Her voice was soft and sweet, filled with false concern.

"Perhaps there's some misunderstanding?" she suggested, biting her lower lip in a perfect imitation of worried innocence.

"Maybe someone else put them there?"

"Oh, you're good," I thought, appreciating the performance. "Acting concerned while making sure everyone knows you think I'm guilty."

The confrontation continued, with Walter firmly defending me while Elizabeth trembled with anger at Walter's attitude.

That's when William surprised everyone by stepping forward.

"Father, Mother," he said, his voice cutting through the chaos with calm authority. "Let's have Uncle Jordan examine the fingerprints."

All eyes turned to him. His suggestion was logical and fair.

If I had stolen the jewelry, my fingerprints would be on them.

If I hadn't, this would be the fastest way to prove my innocence.

I realized William wasn't doing this to protect me.

He genuinely didn't want a thief living in the house.

But ironically, his pragmatic approach was exactly what I needed.

Walter considered this, then nodded.

"You're right. I believe it definitely wasn't Lily. I'll call Jordan Gray from the Police Station."

Elizabeth seized the opportunity, malicious satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.

"Fine," she said, crossing her arms. "But if these items were truly stolen by her, she must break the engagement and leave the Sterling family immediately."

The ultimatum hung in the air like a sword.

Walter hesitated, clearly torn between his promise to my father and the evidence before him.

To everyone's surprise, I spoke up. "I agree to those terms."

My calm acceptance seemed to shock everyone in the room.

Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up, while Walter looked at me with concern and confusion.

"Let's see how this plays out," I thought, already several moves ahead in this chess game.

The fingerprint analysis would take some time, so we decided to have dinner while waiting for the results.

As we sat around the massive dining table, I noticed Elizabeth and Walter were still absent, probably discussing the situation privately.

It was then that Michael, emboldened by the apparent evidence against me, decided to strike.

"Miss Reed," he said with a malicious sneer, "this might be your last luxury meal. Enjoy it while you can."

I looked at him with amusement, then replied sweetly: "You enjoy it too, Michael. Because if I'm still at Sterling Manor tomorrow, I'll make sure your father kicks you out immediately."

"You're dreaming!" Michael snapped back, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes.

"He's not acting as confident as he sounds," I observed.

"He knows exactly how much Walter favors me, and he's scared."

Deep down, Michael knew that if the jewelry wasn't stolen by me, Walter's protective instincts toward me could indeed result in consequences for him.

The possibility clearly terrified him.

After dinner, Jordan returned with the fingerprint analysis results.

The room fell silent as he entered, his expression professional but grave.

"I've completed the analysis," he announced. "All of the Tiffany & Co. jewelry does indeed have Lily's fingerprints on them."

The words hit like a physical blow.

Even I felt a moment of surprise, not because I was guilty, but because someone had gone to such lengths to frame me.

Walter's face crumpled with disbelief and disappointment.

"This can't be right. There must be some mistake."

But the evidence was there, undeniable and damning.

Elizabeth let out a cold laugh, her victory complete.

"There it is, Lily. Caught red-handed. I suppose there's nothing left to say, is there? Tyler, pack this thief's things and throw her out."

I slowly stood up, drawing everyone's attention.

"Wait," I said, my voice cutting through Elizabeth's celebration.

"I didn't steal those items. I need to go to my room first."

Elizabeth's laughter became even more vicious. "Go ahead," she said, clearly wanting to watch me struggle in vain.

"Nothing you do now can change the facts."

She made no attempt to stop me, probably enjoying the thought of watching me completely break down.

I walked upstairs to my room, aware that several pairs of eyes were following my movements.

When I reached my door, I carefully ran my fingers along the door handle, feeling its surface.

"Just as I thought," I realized, my suspicion confirmed.

Yesterday, I had noticed a thin, almost invisible film covering the door handle.

I had examined it briefly at the time but hadn't thought much of it.

Now, that film was gone.

"Clever," I thought, piecing together the puzzle. "They used that film to transfer my fingerprints to the jewelry. What an elaborate frame-up."

The discovery was both impressive and infuriating. Someone had orchestrated this elaborate scheme specifically to get rid of me, going to great lengths to ensure it would succeed.

I returned to the dining room where everyone was waiting, Elizabeth still wearing that smug expression of victory.

"Well?" she taunted. "Did you come up with some creative excuse? The evidence is right there for everyone to see."

I smiled, a cold expression that made several people shift uncomfortably.

"Very good, Mrs. Sterling," I said, my voice dangerously soft.

"This was indeed quite an elaborate plan. Too bad you didn't think everything through."

Elizabeth frowned, clearly not expecting this reaction. "What are you talking about?"

Instead of answering immediately, I reached for one of the Tiffany & Co. bracelets on the table.

Walter started to object. "Lily, don't..."

But I had already fastened the platinum bracelet around my wrist.

Almost immediately, under the bright dining room lights, my previously pale wrist began to turn red and swell.

The reaction was swift and dramatic.

Pain shot through my arm as the allergic reaction began, but I kept my expression calm, even smiling.

"Mrs. Sterling," I said pleasantly, holding up my rapidly swelling wrist for everyone to see, "Tiffany & Co. certainly makes exquisite high-end jewelry. Unfortunately, I'm severely allergic to platinum. Even white gold triggers the same reaction. Next time you want to frame someone, you'll need to choose different materials. It might actually succeed."

The room fell into dead silence.

Walter's face filled with concern and fear.

"Child, if you knew you were allergic, why did you put it on? Take it off quickly!"

My wrist had already swollen severely, and the skin was beginning to peel.

My fingers that had touched the bracelet were also breaking out in angry red welts.

I removed the bracelet and smiled sweetly at Elizabeth.

"These symptoms won't disappear for at least three days. So you see, I couldn't possibly have stolen the jewelry."

Elizabeth desperately tried to maintain her narrative, attempting one last desperate gambit.

"Maybe you wore gloves when you stole them!"

I laughed, holding up my damaged hand.

"If I wore gloves, how would my fingerprints be on the jewelry?"

Elizabeth's mouth opened and closed, unable to find a rebuttal.

The logic was irrefutable, and everyone in the room could see it.

I smiled at her, my voice sweet as honey.

"It seems Mrs. Sterling is admitting to something."

The trap had been exposed, and the hunter had become the hunted.