Chapter 91

Gasps rippled through the crowd like wildfire.

Cassandra Blackwood and her two sycophantic friends stood frozen, their jaws slack with shock.

Theodore Winslow lifted the damaged necklace with gloved hands, presenting it before Cassandra. His glacial stare could have frozen molten lava.

"Ms. Blackwood," his voice cut through the tension, "is this the necklace you claimed was stolen?"

Cassandra's face contorted in disbelief. A shrill scream tore from her throat. "My necklace! What happened to my necklace? Who did this?"

The gathered guests craned their necks, murmuring as they took in the shattered remains of what had once been a dazzling diamond necklace.

"Our general manager dispatched me immediately upon hearing of your loss," Theodore explained icily. "After searching the entire presidential suite, we discovered this beneath your sofa. The damage was already done."

Snickers erupted around them.

"Look at her! Making false accusations to extort the hotel!"

"That diamond's the size of my fist! Who wears something so vulgar in public?"

Cassandra's cheeks burned crimson. "Finding it proves nothing!" she spat. "Your maid probably hid it there when she realized she couldn't smuggle it out!"

"I didn't! I swear!" The trembling housekeeper clutched her chest, struggling to breathe through her panic.

Evelyn Carter's gaze sharpened like honed steel. "If this were theft, why destroy such valuable merchandise?" Her voice dropped to a dangerous purr. "Unless someone wanted to humiliate you by provoking this exact scene."

Cassandra stiffened. Her companions shrank behind her like frightened mice.

"The hotel has fulfilled its obligation," Evelyn continued. "But if you insist on pressing charges..." Her eyes flicked toward Amelia and Beatrice. "My secretary preserved the evidence meticulously. The police will conduct fingerprint analysis. Such a large diamond surface should yield excellent prints, don't you agree?"

Murmurs of approval spread through the crowd.

"Fingerprints! Brilliant!"

"Finally, some justice!"

The color drained from the two accomplices' faces. They yanked Cassandra's arms. "Enough! You're embarrassing yourself!"

Cassandra hesitated, then snatched the broken necklace with a haughty sniff.

"Ms. Blackwood." Evelyn's voice stopped her mid-stride. "You've publicly slandered my employee. Don't you owe her an apology?"

"Apologize? To staff?" Cassandra's laugh rang hollow. "I'm a paying guest!"

Disgusted whispers followed.

"Is this really a Blackwood? Such appalling manners!"

"That poor girl was practically groveling earlier!"

Tears streamed down the housekeeper's face as her body trembled violently.

"Complain about service all you like," Evelyn said, stepping closer, "but false theft accusations demand accountability."

Cassandra's nostrils flared. "You expect me to—"

A sudden thud cut her off.

The housekeeper collapsed, limbs seizing, foam bubbling at her lips.

While others froze, Evelyn dropped to her knees, expertly loosening the girl's uniform. "Epileptic seizure! Theodore, call an ambulance!"

"The ambulance is already on its way."

That rich baritone could only belong to one man.

Evelyn glanced over her shoulder to find Nathan Blackwood looming behind her, his tailored suit accentuating his imposing frame. The crowd instinctively parted for him like the Red Sea.

His arrival changed everything.