Chapter 3 - The Frame Job
"Arrest her," Camille commanded, pointing a manicured finger at Mara.
Julian stood up instantly, stepping between the police officers and Mara. "What the hell is the meaning of this? Get out of my house!"
"Julian, darling, I’m doing this for your own good," Camille said, stepping into the room with a look of faux sorrow. "After you left the foyer, I went to check the safe in the master bedroom. The Hartwell Heritage Emerald—the five-million-dollar necklace meant for our wedding—is gone. And look what I found in the maid's locker in the staff room."
Camille held up a clear plastic evidence bag. Inside it was a stunning, pear-shaped emerald necklace.
"She stole it, Julian," Camille lied smoothly. "She used her kid as a distraction to scout the upper floors, stole the emerald, and was planning to flee today. That’s why she was so eager to leave when I confronted her."
"That's a lie!" Mara cried out, standing up and pulling Ivy behind her. "I’ve never even been inside the master bedroom! I swear, Mr. Hartwell, I didn't touch it!"
"The evidence speaks for itself, Miss Ellis," the lead police officer said, stepping forward with handcuffs. "Step away from the child, please."
"Touch her, and you lose your badges by sunset," Julian roared, his voice echoing off the glass walls of the sunroom. The sheer authority in his command made the officers hesitate.
"Julian, be reasonable!" Camille snapped, dropping the act. "She’s a thief! The police found the necklace in her locker! Are you going to defend a criminal over your own fiancée?"
Julian looked at Camille, seeing her true, ugly nature clearly for the first time. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was a setup. But he also knew that in the eyes of the law, the Rourkes had deep pockets, and the evidence was currently stacked against Mara. If he fought the police physically here, Mara would still end up in a cell. He had to play this smarter.
He turned to Mara, his eyes softening. "Trust me," he whispered.
He then looked at the lead officer. "Take her in for questioning. But she stays in the private visitor area, not a holding cell. My personal lawyers will be at the station before the squad car even arrives. If there is a single scratch on her or the child, I will buy your entire precinct and fire every one of you."
The officers nodded nervously, carefully escorting a weeping Mara and a terrified Ivy out the side door.
Camille smirked, letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness that trash is out of our lives. Now, Julian, about the wedding invitations—"
"The wedding is off, Camille," Julian said flatly.
Camille froze, the color draining from her face. "What did you say?"
"You heard me. Get out of my house. Pack your things, just like you told Mara to do. You have one hour before my security team throws you onto the street."
"You can't do this!" Camille screamed, losing all control. "If you break the engagement, the Rourke corporation will pull out of the shipping merger! Your stock will plummet! You’ll lose billions!"
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"I don't care about the billions," Julian said, his voice deadly quiet as he held up the silver hummingbird. "I care about the truth. And I’m going to tear your family’s empire to the ground."
HOOK: As Camille is dragged out of the house by Julian's security guards, she pulls out her phone and sends a text to an unknown number: Plan B. The maid didn't break. Eliminate her and the child permanently on their way to the station.
