Two uniformed security guards stepped out of the elevator directly into the penthouse foyer. Mark motioned toward Evelyn, his face completely devoid of emotion.
Mark: Please escort Mrs. Sterling to the main lobby. She is not permitted back on the property without my written consent.
Guard 1: Ma'am, please come with us peacefully.
Evelyn: Get your hands off me! I know the owner of this building! I'll have all of you fired!
Guard 2: Ma'am, step toward the elevator, please.
Evelyn glared at Clara one last time, her eyes burning with pure malice as the elevator doors slid shut, cutting off her voice mid-scream. The sudden silence in the apartment felt lighter, as if a heavy fog had finally cleared out of the room.
Mark turned to Clara, leaning back against the marble island. He looked exhausted, his shoulders slouched under his tailored suit coat.
Mark: Clara... I cannot apologize enough for what you went through today. No one should ever be treated like that in their place of work.
Clara: I... I don't know what to say, Mr. Sterling. I was so scared. I thought the police were going to take me away.
Mark: I would have never let that happen. Even before I found the pawn receipt, I knew you didn't take it.
Clara: How did you know?
Mark walked over to the corner of the ceiling near the tall kitchen cabinets and pointed up at a small, dark glass dome embedded in the molding.
Mark: I installed home security cameras six months ago when the first set of silver spoons went missing. I never told Evelyn because I wanted to see if she was really the one taking things.
Clara: There's a camera in the kitchen?
Mark: In the kitchen, the living room, and the master hallway. I watched the live feed on my phone from my office twenty minutes ago. I saw Evelyn take the ring out of her purse, hide it in her pocket, and then start screaming at you the moment you walked into the kitchen.
Clara let out a long breath she felt like she had been holding for hours. She wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks with the corner of her apron.
Clara: She planned the whole thing... just to humiliate me and get money.
Mark: Yes. And for that, I am deeply sorry. I know money can't erase the stress of being falsely accused, but I want to make things right.
Clara: You don't have to do anything, Mr. Sterling. You saved me from going to jail. That's enough.
Mark: It's not enough. You've taken care of this house and my son for three years while taking abuse from my wife. That ends today.
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