Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

"Why did you knock over the coffee cup that day?" Eloise asked, her patience wearing thin.

"Ms. Eloise, it was a complete accident," Freya pleaded, her voice quivering. "I was just drawn to the sapphire, and when I glanced at it, my hand slipped, and the cup went flying."

Sylvia caught a suspicious glare directed her way. It was Bridget.

Bridget stepped forward, her eyebrows raised. "Ms. Eloise, is there something wrong with the sapphire?"

Eloise didn't respond, which seemed to confirm Bridget's suspicion.

Bridget, ever the voice of reason, suggested, "If there's any doubt, Ms. Eloise, why not check the security footage? Freya's not the type to mess around with something worth millions."

Freya nodded vigorously, tears brimming in her eyes. "Yes, please, Ms. Eloise, I'm innocent! Let the footage prove it."

Just then, Bella chimed in, "Ms. Eloise, I already have the footage from the meeting room."

Eloise's expression darkened as she glanced at Bella. "You're well-prepared, I see."

"I just wanted to be ready in case something happened," Bella explained.

"Play the footage," Eloise instructed, pointing at the computer.

Bella pulled up the footage. In the meeting room, aside from Sylvia and Hilbert, the appraiser, no one else had even approached the sapphire.

Freya had indeed tripped, but she only brushed against the table. Without someone else's help, she couldn't possibly have swapped the sapphire.

Everyone else had been on the opposite side of the table; there was no way anyone could have done it in plain sight.

The footage ended up clearing Freya of any wrongdoing.

Freya let out a sob of relief and fell to her knees. "Ms. Eloise, you see? I didn't do anything wrong! I'm innocent!"

Her cries brought other colleagues to the office doorway, eager to see the drama unfold.

Bridget, ever the defender of justice, said, "Ms. Eloise, you can't just accuse Freya because she lacks influence. If anyone had a chance to tamper with the sapphire, it was Sylvia. Everyone can vouch for that." noveldrama

The colleagues nodded in agreement. Some were envious of Sylvia's big account

and now saw a chance to bring her down a peg.

"Ms. Eloise, we all saw it. Sylvia was the only one near the sapphire. If anyone's suspicious, it should be her."

"Yeah, Freya's too timid to cause trouble."

Voices clamored throughout the office, creating a chaotic symphony.

"Quiet!" Eloise commanded, waving her hands for silence. "Do you think you can

talk over me? Did I say Freya was guilty? Out, all of you."

The crowd fell silent and shuffled out of the office.

As Sylvia turned to leave, Eloise called her back. "Stay for a moment."

Bridget shot Sylvia a smug look before exiting.

Now alone with Sylvia, Eloise asked, "What do you think happened?"

"Ms. Eloise, do you trust me?" Sylvia replied.

Eloise looked at Sylvia, her gaze steady. "You've been silent since we started watching the footage. You haven't defended yourself, which make me think you have a theory. If I didn't trust you, why would bother asking?"

Ever since Bridget's birthday party, Eloise had realized Sylvia was not as she seemed.

Sylvia nodded, her mind racing with

a bold idea. "Given the

circumstances, even a master thief couldn't have swapped the jewel under such scrutiny. So, what if none of us did?"