CHAPTER |20
823 Words
Amarahh's POV
The moment Vanessa said the bracelet belonged to Aiden’s late wife, the air around all of us changed.
Until then, I had still hoped it would be found somewhere simple inside a bag, under a chair, or forgotten in another room.
But once she said that, I saw the way Aiden’s face changed, not fully emotional, not openly shaken but something tightened in him immediately.
The hotel manager arrived within minutes after Vanessa insisted on reporting the missing bracelet; formally he came with two security officers first, speaking carefully.
"We will check all common areas immediately."
Vanessa folded her arms. "It is not an ordinary bracelet."
"I understand, madam."
"No, I do not think you do," She replied sharply. "That bracelet is an emerald family piece."
The manager nodded quickly then the police came, two officers first, then another pair their arrival changed the entire hotel mood.
People in the lobby began whispering immediately as guests looked around, trying to understand what had happened.
A child nearby asked his mother why the police had entered the building.
I stood slightly behind Marcus, holding the shopping bag too tightly without realizing it.
One officer began asking questions as he looked at Vanessa. "When did you last see it?"
"In my room before dinner."
"Did anyone enter after that?"
Vanessa answered without hesitation. "Staff, children, and household members."
The officer wrote something down then looked around. "We will need to search rooms and public areas."
The hotel manager agreed immediately soon security began moving through the building. Guests were politely stopped in hallways and some bags were checked.
Even staff members looked nervous as the search spread quickly floor by floor. People whispered more now because everyone knew something expensive had gone missing.
Near the lobby entrance, one woman murmured, "It must be worth a lot."
Another replied, "Police do not search like this unless it is serious."
I stayed quiet because every sound now made my chest tighter.
Vanessa paced near the reception desk for the first time since I had known her, she looked truly unsettled.
Not just angry, unsettled her hands moved restlessly.
Aiden stood beside her his voice stayed low when he spoke. "They will find it."
She looked at him sharply."You do not understand."
"I understand enough."
"No, Aiden."
Her voice softened only slightly, but the pain inside it became clearer. "That bracelet belonged to my sister."
That made the silence around them deeper. I lowered my eyes.
She continued. "It was one of the last things she wore before..."
She stopped herself for one second even though her anger seemed weaker. Then she added quietly, "And her death anniversary is close."
Aiden did not answer immediately, his jaw tightened instead.
The officer returned after checking one section. "We need room access now."
The manager arranged key searches and began room by room. Marcus stood still near me.
The children had already been taken upstairs by hotel staff because Aiden did not want them near the tension.
That was one mercy Vanessa insisted on following every room inspection. First her own room, nothing then Marcus's room, nothing then staff rooms.
Nothing.
Every room opened, every drawer checked, every bag inspected, the officers stayed careful but thorough. As each room gave nothing, the atmosphere grew heavier.
By the time they reached my room, my heart had already begun beating too hard. Not because I had taken anything but because something about the entire night felt wrong in a way I could not explain.
The officer opened the door. I followed inside with everyone else behind the room and suddenly looked smaller than before.
Officer Brooks looked around carefully. "We will check everything."
"Go ahead," Aiden said.
I stood near the wall while the officers began the suitcase first, they opened it.
Clothes lifted one after another, nothing drawer next, the small bathroom shelf, the bedside table.
Still nothing.
For one second I thought perhaps this would pass.
Then the second officer moved toward the folded clothes I had arranged earlier after returning from the supermarket.
He lifted one stack then another his hand paused. Something green flashed between the fabric he frowned then pulled it out fully.
The emerald bracelet.
For one full second nobody moved, nobody spoke, the room became completely silent even though I stopped breathing.
The bracelet rested clearly in his hand, wrapped partly inside one of my dresses.
Vanessa gasped sharply. "I knew it."
My head turned toward the bracelet and then back again because my mind could not accept what I was seeing.
"No." The word came weak.
"That is impossible."
Officer Brooks looked directly at me now. "Is this yours?"
"No!" My voice came louder.
"It is not mine, I did not put it there."
Vanessa stepped forward immediately. "It was in her clothes."
"I did not touch it!" I cried.
The officer kept his voice firm. "It was found inside your belongings."
- Writer
