Chapter 16

CH 16

POV: Victoria

The Plan

Victoria never panicked.

Panic was for amateurs.

She sat in her private lounge, legs crossed elegantly, a glass of untouched wine resting on the marble table beside her. The city lights beyond her window glittered like obedient stars.

Hair clip discovered.

Julian unsettled.

Alexander suspicious.

And now—

A billion-dollar necklace.

She smiled slowly.

Opportunity rarely knocked twice.

“Sophia,” she said calmly into the phone, “listen carefully.”

“I’m listening,” Sophia replied, though her voice carried tension.

“You will not touch that vault.”

Sophia exhaled in visible relief. “Good.”

“You will make someone else do it.”

Silence.

“Elena?” Sophia whispered.

Victoria’s smile deepened.

“The perfect scapegoat. New maid. Adopted. No verified background. Lives near the east wing.”

“But she doesn’t even know about the necklace.”

“She doesn’t need to.”

Victoria rose gracefully and walked toward her mirror, studying her reflection as if evaluating a chessboard.

“Here is what will happen,” she continued.

Her tone was measured. Strategic.

Not emotional.

“You will begin acting warmer toward her. Not overly affectionate. Just… trusting.”

Sophia said nothing.

“You will casually mention the gala. The necklace. Its value. You will allow curiosity to grow naturally.”

“And then?” Sophia asked.

“Then,” Victoria replied smoothly, “on the right night, the security will malfunction.”

Sophia hesitated.

“How?”

Victoria’s expression didn’t change.

“Money bends people. Even loyal staff.”

A beat passed.

“And the necklace?” Sophia asked cautiously.

Victoria paused deliberately.

“For a few hours, it disappears.”

Sophia’s breath caught.

“You’re not actually—”

“No,” Victoria cut in smoothly. “We are not thieves. We are strategists.”

The necklace would not be sold.

Not damaged.

Not lost.

It would be relocated.

Hidden.

Just long enough.

Long enough for chaos.

Long enough for blame.

Long enough to eliminate doubt.

“And when it’s ‘found’?” Sophia asked quietly.

Victoria’s voice softened into something almost maternal.

“It will be discovered somewhere it should never be.”

Somewhere like—

The maid’s quarters.

Sophia began pacing her bedroom.

“This is too big,” she murmured.

Victoria’s voice sharpened slightly.

“Do you want them questioning your DNA test?”

Sophia froze.

“No.”

“Then doubt must die immediately.”

Silence stretched between them.

Victoria pressed the advantage.

“The moment that necklace goes missing, Alexander will turn ruthless. He will not search emotionally. He will search logically.”

“And logically,” Sophia whispered, “the new maid becomes the suspect.”

“Exactly.”

Sophia closed her eyes briefly.

Elena’s face surfaced in her mind.

Soft.

Grateful.

Oblivious.

Guilt stirred.

Victoria sensed it immediately.

“Do not grow attached to collateral damage,” she said coldly. “You are fighting for survival.”

The line went quiet.

But the plan was already in motion.

Meanwhile—

In the mansion kitchen, Elena carefully arranged fresh fruit on a silver tray.

Precision mattered here.

Even strawberries were positioned like art.

Sophia entered unexpectedly.

“Elena.”

Elena turned quickly. “Yes, Miss Sophia?”

Sophia studied her.

So unaware.

So unguarded.

“I need help choosing something for the gala next week,” Sophia said gently.

Elena blinked in surprise.

“Me?”

Sophia smiled softly.

“Yes. You have good taste.”

Elena’s cheeks warmed faintly.

“Thank you, Miss.”

Sophia leaned casually against the counter, lowering her voice slightly.

“Have you ever seen the Hartwell anniversary necklace?”

Elena shook her head.

“No, Miss.”

“It’s worth a billion dollars.”

Elena nearly dropped the knife in her hand.

“A billion?”

Sophia laughed lightly.

“Yes. It will be shown at the gala. My father keeps it in the east wing vault.”

Elena’s eyes widened.

“I’ve never even seen the vault.”

“Most people haven’t,” Sophia replied smoothly.

And there it was.

Curiosity.

Proximity.

Value.

Motive.

Sophia straightened.

“You’ll be assisting closely during the gala,” she added. “You should know what’s important.”

Elena nodded earnestly.

“Yes, Miss.”

Sophia watched her for a long second before walking away.

The hook had been placed.

Later that night, Alexander received a brief message from his head of security.

Minor glitch in east wing surveillance.

Fixed within minutes.

Alexander frowned slightly.

“Monitor it,” he instructed.

“Yes, sir.”

He didn’t like glitches.

Not in systems.

Not in people.

Upstairs, Sophia lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

It had begun.

And once it began—

It could not be undone.

In the darkness of her small room, Elena removed the butterfly clip and placed it carefully beside her pillow.

She smiled faintly to herself.

Tomorrow would be busy.

Preparations.

Flowers.

Guest lists.

She had no idea that two separate threats now surrounded her:

Suspicion.

And a billion-dollar trap.