Chapter 6 - The Interrogation
Victoria Thorne descended the sweeping marble staircase, wearing a luxurious crimson designer dress that clung perfectly to her figure. She stopped halfway down, her face twisting into a mask of pure, vicious outrage as she looked at the scene unfolding in the foyer.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Victoria shrieked, pointing a manicured finger at little Nora. "I told you to keep that filthy brat out of the main house, Claire! And why is she wearing your silk tie, Adrian?!"
Victoria marched down the rest of the stairs, her eyes suddenly locking onto the heavy silver object resting in Adrian’s heavily tattooed hand. She recognized the antique pocket watch immediately.
"Oh my god," Victoria gasped, feigning absolute, horrified shock. "Adrian... is that James's watch? The one that was stolen when he was murdered?"
Victoria turned her vicious gaze toward the trembling maid. "You disgusting, thieving little rat! You stole a dead man's heirloom while you were cleaning his old room! Adrian, have the guards arrest her right now! Throw her in the basement!"
Adrian did not look at Victoria. He did not issue a command to his security team. He didn't even blink.
With slow, terrifying, and utterly silent deliberation, Adrian stood up from the marble floor. He kept the silver pocket watch tightly gripped in his right hand. He walked past his niece, past his shouting fiancée, and stopped exactly one foot in front of Claire Bennett.
Claire was shaking so violently she thought her knees would completely give out. She looked up into the piercing blue eyes of the most dangerous man in Connecticut, fully preparing to be executed for hiding his brother's child.
"Where did you get this watch, Claire?" Adrian asked. His voice wasn't a shout. It was a cold, incredibly low whisper that completely silenced Victoria's screaming.
"I didn't steal it, Mr. Cole," Claire sobbed, the heavy tears finally spilling over her eyelashes as she desperately tried to protect her daughter. "I swear to you, I didn't steal it. James gave it to me."
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"James has been dead for three and a half years," Adrian stated, his intense gaze boring into her soul, searching for the slightest hint of deception. "He never mentioned you. Why would he give a maid his most prized possession?"
👉 Read Part 7 to hear Claire's desperate, devastating confession.
