Chapter 4 - The Sabotage
The annual Vance Tech Innovations Gala was the most important event of the year. It was where Julian secured billions in funding from international investors. Traditionally, Eleanor acted as the hostess. This year, Julian declared Clara would stand by his side.
Eleanor was furious, but she saw an opportunity.
Three days before the gala, Clara was in the master bedroom, reviewing the seating chart. A knock sounded at the door, and Maria, one of the older maids who had always been loyal to Eleanor, entered with an armful of fresh linens.
"Just changing the sheets, Mrs. Vance," Maria said, keeping her eyes downcast.
"Thank you, Maria," Clara said warmly, turning back to the charts.
An hour later, chaos erupted.
Eleanor stormed into the estate, accompanied by two private security officers. Julian rushed out of his study, demanding to know what was happening.
"What is happening, Julian, is that my grandmother's diamond brooch is missing!" Eleanor shrieked. "I brought it here last week to be cleaned by the estate jeweler, and now it is gone from the safe!"
"And you brought security?" Julian demanded. "We will search the house quietly."
"Oh, we don't need to search the whole house," Eleanor sneered, turning her icy gaze on Clara. "I know exactly who has sticky fingers. Once a maid, always a maid."
"Mother!" Julian roared.
"Search her room!" Eleanor commanded the guards.
"No one is searching my wife's room!" Julian stepped in front of Clara, shielding her.
But Clara gently placed a hand on his arm. "Julian, it's fine. Let them look. I have nothing to hide."
The security guards went upstairs. Ten minutes later, they returned. In one of the guard's hands, resting inside a velvet pouch, was the glittering diamond brooch.
"We found it, sir," the guard said, looking uncomfortable. "Tucked underneath the mattress on Mrs. Vance's side of the bed."
Eleanor smiled triumphantly. "There you have it. A thief. Are you going to call the police, Julian, or shall I?"
Clara felt the blood drain from her face. "Julian, I swear to you, I didn't take that. I haven't even seen it! Maria... Maria was in the room earlier..."
Eleanor laughed harshly. "Blaming the help? How rich. She stole it to fund her little orphans, Julian! Open your eyes!"
Julian looked at the brooch, then at his mother, and finally at Clara. Clara's eyes were filled with unshed tears, her entire body trembling. She waited for him to doubt her. The whole world had always doubted her.
Julian calmly reached out, took the brooch from the guard, and threw it hard against the marble floor. The antique piece shattered, diamonds scattering like ice across the foyer.
Eleanor screamed.
"My wife is not a thief," Julian said, his voice deadly quiet. "You planted this, Mother. Or you paid Maria to do it. You think a parlor trick is going to make me leave the woman who literally walked through fire for her family?"
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He turned to the security guards. "Escort my mother off the property. If she ever sets foot on this estate again, I will have her arrested for trespassing."
Eleanor was dragged away, spitting curses, but Clara knew this wasn't a victory. It was a declaration of war.
