Chapter 1 — The Accusation at the Vanity
Beatrice stood over the wooden vanity, staring down at the empty velvet slot inside the jewelry box with a stern look on her face.
Chloe sat at the desk nearby, her shoulders shaking as silent tears traced down her cheeks.
“Where is my necklace?” Beatrice demanded, her voice sharp and ringing off the bedroom walls.
“I didn’t take it!” Chloe cried out, her hands pressed flat against the polished wood of the desktop.
“It was right here not an hour ago,” Beatrice said, pointing a trembling finger at the open container. “And you were the only one who stepped foot in this room.”
Chloe sobbed uncontrollably, gasping for breath as the heavy weight of the accusation settled over the bright bedroom.
The sound of quick footsteps echoed down the hallway.
What happened?
Robert rushed into the room, stepping between them with a worried expression on his face.
He looked from his weeping daughter to his rigid mother standing over the vanity.
Before either of them could speak again, a heavy thump sounded from the doorway as Robert turned his head sharply toward the hall.