Chapter 2: The Necklace in the Red Dress
Andrew refused to leave.
For almost twenty minutes, he shouted at the attorneys, threatened the staff, and demanded that someone call the police.
Mariana allowed him to continue.
She knew the loudest person in the room was often the one who understood his power was disappearing.
When the police arrived, Andrew rushed toward them.
“My wife has broken into my home and frozen my accounts.”
The lead officer looked at Daniel, who handed him the ownership documents.
After several minutes of quiet review, the officer turned back to Andrew.
“Sir, the property belongs to the holding company listed here. Mrs. Escalante is the authorized representative.”
Andrew stared at him.
“You’re taking her side?”
“I’m reading the paperwork.”
Margaret pointed at Mariana.
“She stole a family heirloom. Arrest her.”
The officer looked toward the empty jewelry box.
“Do you have evidence?”
“She was standing near the display room.”
“So were twenty-three other people,” Mariana said.
Brenda shifted uncomfortably.
Mariana noticed.
She also noticed Brenda was still wearing the crimson dress from the night before.
“Daniel,” Mariana said, “please show them the security footage.”
Andrew’s expression changed.
“What security footage?”
“The cameras you believed were disconnected during the renovation.”
Daniel placed a tablet on the coffee table.
The recording began at 7:46 the previous evening.
Margaret entered the private sitting room carrying the velvet jewelry box. She placed the emerald necklace inside, then left to greet arriving guests.
At 8:03, Brenda entered.
She looked over her shoulder.
Opened the box.
Removed the necklace.
Then slipped it into a hidden pocket sewn inside her dress.
The footage continued.
At 8:15, Brenda whispered something to Margaret.
At 8:22, Margaret opened the box in front of the guests and accused Mariana.
No one spoke when the video ended.
Andrew looked at Brenda.
“Tell me that isn’t what it looks like.”
Brenda’s mouth opened, but no words came.
Margaret clutched the staircase railing.
“You told me you saw Mariana take it.”
“I thought I did.”
“You were the one who took it,” Andrew said.
Brenda backed away.
“I was going to put it back.”
“Why?”
Her eyes darted toward Mariana.
“Because she had everything!”
Mariana almost laughed.
Brenda’s voice rose.
“She had the mansion. The name. The money. Everyone treated her like she belonged here, even though she came from nowhere.”
“According to you,” Mariana said.
Brenda’s face twisted.
“You always looked at me like you knew something I didn’t.”
“I did.”
The officer stepped toward Brenda.
“Ma’am, where is the necklace now?”
Brenda placed a hand over the side seam of her dress.
The officer waited.
Slowly, she reached into the hidden pocket and removed the emerald necklace.
Margaret made a broken sound.
The heirloom hung from Brenda’s fingers, glowing beneath the chandelier.
Andrew stared at it as if it were proof of something larger than theft.
Proof that the woman beside him had manipulated him.
Proof that he had struck his wife for a lie.
But Mariana saw no regret in his eyes.
Only embarrassment.
“You made me look like a fool,” he told Brenda.
Brenda’s expression hardened.
“You didn’t need my help.”
Andrew raised his hand.
This time, Mariana caught his wrist before he could touch Brenda.
Everyone froze.
Mariana’s voice was quiet.
“You will never do that again.”
Andrew tried to pull free.
“Let go of me.”
She released him with controlled disgust.
“You don’t get to pretend violence becomes honorable when you choose a different target.”
The officer took the necklace and asked Margaret whether she wished to file a formal complaint.
Margaret looked at Brenda.
Then at the guests who had gathered near the hallway.
For the first time in her life, reputation and reality stood on opposite sides of the room.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Brenda was escorted outside.
As she passed Mariana, she stopped.
“You think you won?”
Mariana looked at her calmly.
“No.”
May you like
She glanced toward Andrew.
“I think we both lost years to the same man.”
