THE THIEF

*PART 1: NEXT DAY. 7:00 AM. MANSION*

Ethan was still in the ICU. Stable, but unconscious.

Olivia hadn't slept in 3 days. Her eyes were swollen.

She was cleaning Ethan's room. Changing the flowers.

Then the door slammed open.

Victoria walked in. Her face red with anger.

Behind her, 4 servants. Holding a tray.

"YOU!!!" Victoria shouted.

Olivia got scared. "Auntie... what happened?"

*PART 2: 7:05 AM. ACCUSATION - THEFT*

Victoria threw the tray on the table. _CLACK_

Inside were things from Ethan's drawer.

A diamond ring. Diamond cufflinks. A small diary. And $50,000 in cash.

"WHAT IS THIS?!" Victoria yelled.

Olivia stepped back. "I... I don't know, Auntie..."

Victoria: "Liar! All of this went missing from Ethan's room last night.

I checked the CCTV. AT 3 AM YOU WENT INSIDE!"

Olivia's throat went dry. "I... I went to give him medicine..."

Victoria: "MEDICINE?! YOU WERE STEALING UNDER THE EXCUSE OF MEDICINE?!"

She grabbed Olivia's hair.

"10 Million wasn't enough? Now you're stealing diamonds?!"

Olivia: "Auntie I swear I didn't take it..."

*PART 3: 7:10 AM. THE FIRST SLAP*

_SLAP_

The sound echoed through the room.

Olivia fell down. Her cheek red. Tears in her eyes.

Victoria shouted: "SHAMELESS GIRL!"

"I treated you like a daughter. Gave you a place in this house.

And you? You're robbing my son?!"

The servants watched. No one said anything.

Victoria: "Get up!"

Olivia stood up trembling.

_SLAP_

Second slap. On the other cheek.

"Confess! Who did you steal for?! That Lucas?!

Or to sell to that reporter?!"

Olivia: "Auntie... I... I am poor... but I am not a thief..."

*PART 4: 7:20 AM. HUMILIATION*

Victoria dragged her by the hair to the drawing room.

All the relatives were called. Caroline was there too. Clapping.

Victoria: "LOOK EVERYONE! THIS IS YOUR _ANGEL_!"

She threw all the stuff on the floor.

"THIS RING IS WORTH 2 MILLION! THESE CUFFLINKS 500,000!

AND THIS CASH?! THE MONEY FOR MY SON'S MEDICINE!"

Caroline: "Wow sister-in-law. I told you before. She is a gold digger."

An aunt: "Have some shame. You didn't even spare a sick boy."

An uncle: "Call the police. Put her in jail."

Olivia sat on the floor. Head down.

Tears were falling. But no sound.

Victoria: "SPEAK! WHY DID YOU DO IT?!"

Olivia softly: "I... didn't... do it..."

_SLAP_

Third slap.

"LYING AGAIN?!"

*PART 5: 7:35 AM. OLIVIA'S HELPLESSNESS*

Olivia's heart was breaking.

In her mind: _Tell the truth. Tell them Lucas planted it._

But if she told? No one would believe her.

Worse, Lucas would trap her more. Police case. Dad's treatment would stop.

She closed her eyes. Wiped her tears.

"Auntie..." She said in a low voice. "Please forgive me."

Victoria: "FORGIVE?! YOU STOLE AND NOW YOU'RE ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS?!"

Olivia: "I... I won't do it again."

With that she ended everything.

She accepted the blame. Out of helplessness.

Victoria spat. "Get out of my house. NOW!"

*PART 6: 8:00 AM. LEAVING*

2 servants were packing her things. One bag.

Caroline: "Wait. Search her."

They checked Olivia's pockets. Nothing.

Caroline: "And make her remove her clothes. She might have hidden something."

Olivia's breath stopped. "No..."

Victoria: "DO IT!"

With trembling hands Olivia fixed her scarf. "I'll do it myself..."

She opened her bag in front of everyone.

2 old sets of clothes. Dad's picture. And $200.

Caroline laughed. "See? Acting so poor."

*PART 7: 8:15 AM. LAST TIME*

A taxi was waiting at the gate.

Olivia turned and looked at the mansion.

The upstairs window. Ethan's room. Curtains closed.

A voice in her heart: _Ethan... I'm sorry... I couldn't take care of you..._

Victoria came out. Pointed her finger.

"Listen carefully. If you ever show your face near this house again...

I'll throw you and your father onto the streets. Understood?"

Olivia lowered her head. "Yes..."

She sat in the taxi. Door closed.

As the taxi drove away, a message came on her phone.

Unknown number:

_"Good job. The work is done. 15 Million will be in your account. - L"_

Lucas.

Olivia turned off her phone and threw it. Started crying.

*PART 8: 9:00 AM. IN THE HOSPITAL WITH ETHAN*

Ethan woke up.

First word: "...Olivia..."

Victoria: "She left, son."

Ethan: "...where..."

Victoria: "She turned out to be a thief. Ran away with your stuff."

Ethan's machine started beeping faster.

Doctor: "Ma'am don't stress him!"

Ethan shook his head hard. "...no... lie..."

Victoria: "Son accept it. We have proof."

Ethan closed his eyes. A tear fell.

"...Olivia... bring her... back..."

*PART 9: 10:00 PM. OLIVIA'S APARTMENT*

Small room. Dark.

Olivia sat on the floor. Cheeks swollen.

Dad's picture in her hand.

"Dad... I became a thief..."

The phone rang. Hospital.

"Miss Brooks, your father's treatment will stop tomorrow. Bill is pending."

Olivia hung up.

She looked out the window. It was raining.

Only 1 thought in her mind:

_I will go back. I will prove the truth. Even if it costs me my life._

She clenched her fist.