CHAPTER 4

SCARLETT HAYES POV

The chime of Lucien’s phone confirming the successful transaction was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. Five hundred thousand pesos. Just like that, Toby’s surgery was locked in, and the suffocating weight that had been crushing my chest for weeks finally loosened, if only a fraction.

"Go back to your duties for now," Lucien said, pocketing his phone. His voice was instantly back to its default setting—businesslike, detached, and utterly cold. "My lawyer will draft the contract tonight. I expect you to sign it tomorrow morning without any complaints."

"I won't complain," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Mr. Reed."

"Lucien," he corrected, not looking back as he turned and walked down the hallway. "Get used to saying it."

I watched his retreating figure, still trying to process the absolute insanity of what had just happened. I was going to marry Lucien Reed. The city’s most eligible, ruthless billionaire. It felt like a fever dream, but the cold sweat on my palms and the sudden lack of panic in my gut reminded me it was very real.

I gathered my spilled things, stuffed them back into my canvas bag, and made my way downstairs. My body was still exhausted, but my mind was completely wired. I could do this. I could survive a year of pretending to be his wife if it meant Toby got to grow up, play basketball, and live a normal life.

But my quiet moment of relief didn’t even last until the bottom of the stairs.

As soon as my feet hit the marble floor of the main foyer, I was met by a wall of people. Selena stood in the center, her arms crossed, flanked by three other maids who were whispering and pointing at me. Beside them, Ethan stood with a smirk so wide it practically split his face.

"There she is," Selena barked, her voice echoing off the high ceilings. "The little thief."

My stomach dropped. I stopped in my tracks, my grip tightening on the strap of my bag. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, don't play dumb, Scarlett," Ethan chimed in, taking a step forward. He looked incredibly pleased with himself, his eyes gleaming with a malicious light. "We know what you did. You thought you could slide under the radar because you're new, but you aren't as clever as you think."

"I haven't done anything," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. I looked at the other maids, but they all averted their eyes, refusing to look at me. "I’ve been cleaning the west wing just like you told me to."

"Really?" Selena sneered, holding up a plush velvet jewelry box. It was open, empty. "Then how do you explain this? This is Mrs. Reed's antique pearl necklace. It was sitting on her vanity this morning. And now, it's gone. The only person who had access to that room today besides me was you."

"I wasn't even near Mrs. Reed's quarters!" I protested, my chest tightening all over again. *They're framing me. Of course they are. Selena wants me gone, and Ethan wants to see me crawl.* "You told me to clean the west wing corridor and Mr. Reed's study. I didn't go anywhere else."

"Save it for the police, Scarlett," Ethan said, pulling out his phone. "I already called them. They're on their way. It’s bad enough you're a beggar, but a thief? You really are pathetic."

"Search her bag," one of the other maids whispered, egged on by Selena’s nod.

"Yes, let's see what's inside that trashy canvas bag of yours," Selena said, stepping toward me.

Before I could pull away, Selena lunged forward and snatched my bag right out of my hands. The sudden force broke the cheap strap, and the bag hit the floor, spilling its contents across the pristine marble for the second time today.

My keys, my cracked phone, and my old wallet clattered onto the floor.

And then, with a heavy, deliberate thud, a gleaming strand of thick, perfectly matched pearls rolled out from beneath my spare uniform.

I stared at it, my heart stopping. No. This is impossible. I didn't touch that.

"Well, well, well," Ethan laughed, pointing at the necklace. "What do we have here? I guess your fingers are just as dirty as your background, Scarlett."

"I didn't steal that!" I yelled, my voice cracking with frustration and fear. The sheer injustice of it made my head spin. "You put that in there! Ethan, you knew where my bag was in the breakroom!"

"Are you accusing my boyfriend?" Selena shrieked, her face twisting in fury. "You disgusting, ungrateful rat! You come into this house, beg for a job, and then rob the people who fed you? Grab her, Ethan. Don't let her run."

Ethan stepped forward, a sick, triumphant grin on his face. He grabbed my arm, his grip unnecessarily tight, twisting it slightly behind my back. "Come on, princess. Let's wait for the cops outside. I'm sure they'll love your little story."

"Let go of me!" I struggled, trying to pull my arm free, but his grip was solid. The humiliation was hot and suffocating. The other maids were snickering, watching my downfall like it was some midday soap opera.

"Get your hands off her."

The voice cut through the noise of the foyer like a physical blade.

Everyone froze.

The heavy front doors of the mansion were open, and standing in the threshold was Lucien. He looked absolutely lethal. His coat was draped over one arm, his tie slightly loosened, but his posture was rigid, radiating a terrifying wave of pure, unadulterated fury.

Ethan’s grip on my arm loosened instantly. He stumbled back a step, his face pale as he quickly bowed his head. "Mr. Reed. I—I’m sorry for the disturbance, sir. We caught the new maid stealing. She took your mother’s pearls. We were just taking her outside to wait for the police."

Lucien didn't look at Ethan. He didn't look at Selena, who was suddenly trembling, her confident sneer completely vanishing.

Instead, Lucien’s silver eyes locked onto me. He took a slow, measured step into the foyer, his polished shoes clicking sharply against the marble. He stopped right in front of me, his gaze dropping to the broken strap of my bag, and then to the red mark Ethan’s grip had left on my wrist.

"Is this true?" Lucien asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"No," I said, looking him straight in the eye, refusing to back down. "I didn't touch those pearls. They set me up."

"Of course she'd say that, Mr. Reed!" Selena chimed in, her voice shaking as she tried to sound convincing. "We found them in her bag! The evidence is right there!"

Lucien slowly turned his head toward Selena. The sheer coldness in his gaze made her take a step back.

"Did I ask for your opinion, Selena?" Lucien asked softly.

Selena swallowed hard, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, but no sound came out.

Lucien looked back at me. He reached down, picked up the pearls from the floor, and held them up. For a second, I thought he was going to believe them. I thought the contract was off, Toby’s surgery would be cancelled, and I’d be thrown in jail.

But then, Lucien wrapped the pearls around his fist and tossed them carelessly onto the side table.

"She didn't steal them," Lucien said, his voice echoing clearly through the silent foyer.

"But, sir—" Ethan started.

"Because I gave them to her," Lucien interrupted, turning a dark, piercing glare toward my ex. "Why would my fiancée need to steal a necklace that I bought for her myself?"