Chapter 4 - The Sapphire Heirloom Shattered
The interior of the Cave Point manor was a masterpiece of gothic luxury, featuring vaulted mahogany ceilings, roaring stone fireplaces, and priceless neoclassical art.
Vanessa strode through the grand foyer as if she owned the entire estate, barking orders at her subordinates and basking in her simulated authority.
Norah kept a deliberate distance, her eyes scanning the security cameras and architectural layouts to secure additional evidence for her audit file.
Unfortunately, Vanessa’s sharp eyes caught the glint of platinum and deep blue light catching the chandelier overhead.
She spun around on her Louboutin heels and marched directly toward Norah, her gaze fixed entirely on Norah’s left wrist.
There rested the magnificent antique platinum bracelet encrusted with rare blue sapphires that Luca had fastened on her just days ago.
"Where on earth did you get that?" Vanessa demanded, her voice cutting sharply through the murmurs of the surrounding colleagues.
Several employees stopped whispering and turned their attention toward the sudden confrontation unfolding by the marble staircase.
"That piece is a bespoke Castellano heirloom," Vanessa continued, her eyes narrowing with malicious disbelief.
"A low-level administrative auditor and a glorified nanny could never afford a piece like that in a hundred lifetimes."
Norah pulled her wrist back with quiet dignity, her expression chilling as she met Vanessa’s hostile glare.
"Where I got it is none of your concern, Vanessa," Norah replied evenly, her voice devoid of fear.
"Let go of the subject, and let's finish the site inspection."
Instead of backing down, Vanessa’s face twisted with jealous rage, and she lunged forward with unexpected violence.
She grabbed Norah’s wrist with cruel, claw-like precision, her long artificial fingernails biting deeply into Norah’s tender skin.
"Did you steal it from the executive suites during your cleaning shifts?" Vanessa hissed, pulling hard enough to snap the delicate platinum links.
With a sharp, metallic ping, the antique bracelet gave way, and its priceless blue sapphires scattered wildly across the polished marble floor like frozen tears.
Norah lost her footing on the slick surface and tumbled heavily onto her knee and palm, scraping her skin against the hard stone.
A small pool of crimson blood quickly welled up beneath her bruised palm, staining the pristine white marble.
The entire foyer fell into a stunned, suffocating silence, the employees freezing in absolute terror at the violent outburst.
Vanessa looked down at the rolling gemstones and the bleeding woman with a triumphant, sneering smirk.
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"Thief," Vanessa whispered loudly, eager to cement her narrative before anyone could process the reality of the situation.
Before anyone else could draw a breath, the heavy oak double doors at the entrance swung open with a deafening bang.
