Chapter 2
Staff members were asked where they had been.
Hallway footage was reviewed.
Then Sophia looked toward the chair near the doors.
At Isabella’s handbag.
“Whose bag is that?”
Isabella answered.
“Mine.”
Sophia walked toward it.
Dante stopped her.
“Don’t touch it.”
Sophia turned.
“Why?”
“Marco handles the search.”
“You said everyone is being checked.”
“They are.”
“Then check her.”
The room went still.
Katarina spoke immediately.
“Sophia.”
“What? The necklace is missing.”
“You know Isabella.”
“I know the necklace is missing.”
Isabella felt every eye move toward her.
Then Carlo spoke softly.
“If everyone’s belongings are searched, exceptions will only create questions.”
Isabella looked at him.
Something in his expression was too calm.
Then she looked at Dante.
Marco stepped forward.
“I can check your bag privately.”
Her heart began beating faster.
Not because she had anything to hide.
Because Dante still had not spoken.
“Dante.”
He met her eyes.
“Do you want Marco to search my bag?”
His jaw tightened.
“I want this finished.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“Isabella—”
“Do you want him to search it?”
Dante glanced around at his family.
That glance told her everything before he spoke.
“If Marco checks everyone’s belongings, nobody can accuse me of favoritism.”
Something inside Isabella went cold.
Not broken yet.
Cold.
“Okay.”
She picked up her handbag and handed it to Marco herself.
“Check it.”
Marco hesitated.
“Isabella—”
“Please.”
He opened the bag.
Wallet.
Keys.
Lipstick.
Phone charger.
Small notebook.
Then Marco’s hand stopped.
His face changed.
Dante noticed immediately.
“What?”
Marco slowly reached deeper.
When his hand emerged, the sapphire necklace hung from his fingers.
Nobody moved.
Isabella stared at it.
Her brain refused to understand what her eyes were seeing.
Sophia gasped.
“Oh my God.”
Katarina stood.
Carlo whispered, “Isabella…”
She turned sharply.
“Don’t.”
Dante stepped toward Marco.
“Where was it?”
“Bottom compartment.”
Isabella shook her head.
“No.”
Dante looked at her.
“I didn’t put that there.”
“I know.”
Her eyes searched his face.
He was thinking.
Calculating.
Reconstructing timelines.
Considering evidence.
Being responsible.
Being careful.
Being fair.
Doing everything except the one thing she desperately needed.
“Dante.”
“Yes?”
“Do you believe I stole it?”
The room froze again.
He could have answered with one word.
No.
Instead, Dante looked around the room.
Then back at her.
“I believe we need to understand how it got into your bag.”
Isabella’s face changed.
He saw it happen.
She tried again.