Chapter 3 - THE MILLIONAIRE WHO CHOSE THE WRONG SIDE
Adam Hamilton had not slept properly in three weeks.
The disappearance of the Hamilton Sapphire had turned his household into a battlefield.
The necklace had belonged to his late wife, Evelyn.
It was a rare sapphire surrounded by diamonds, originally purchased by Adam's great-grandfather and passed through the family.
Its monetary value was enormous.
Its sentimental value was greater.
Evelyn had worn it on their wedding day.
And before she died, she had asked Adam to save it for Idan's future.
Now it was gone.
And his mother insisted Clara had stolen it.
Adam sat in his office, staring at the photograph of Evelyn on his desk.
He remembered Clara standing in the foyer the day he dismissed her.
Her hands had been shaking.
"Mr. Hamilton, please. I've never taken anything from this house."
His mother had stood beside him.
"Adam, don't let her manipulate you."
Clara had looked at him.
Not Margaret.
Him.
"After everything I've done for your family, you believe I would steal from your son?"
Adam had said nothing.
That silence haunted him more than any accusation.
A knock came at the door.
Margaret entered wearing a cream-colored suit.
"Adam."
He looked up.
"Mother."
"The attorneys called."
"And?"
"The hearing is scheduled for Monday."
Adam rubbed his forehead.
"I know."
Margaret sat down.
"Good. We need to make an example of her."
Adam looked up sharply.
"An example?"
"People must understand that stealing from this family has consequences."
He stared at her.
"Clara worked here for nine years."
"And?"
"She helped raise Idan."
Margaret's expression hardened.
"That's precisely why her betrayal is so disgusting."
Adam looked toward the photograph of Evelyn.
"Did we search the entire house?"
Margaret sighed.
"Adam, please."
"Did we?"
"Of course."
"Who searched your dressing room?"
Margaret went still.
Then she laughed.
"My dressing room?"
"Yes."
"Are you suggesting I stole my own family's jewelry?"
Adam shook his head.
"No. I'm asking whether it was searched."
Margaret stood.
"I will not be interrogated in my son's house."
She walked toward the door.
Then turned.
"Your father would have been ashamed of how weak you've become."
The door slammed.
May you like
Adam remained seated.
For the first time, he wondered whether his mother was afraid of the truth.
