Chapter 165

The officers exchanged glances after hearing Vivian's account. Their stern gazes locked onto Cassandra. "Is this true?"

Cassandra's face drained of color. She shook her head violently. "That's a lie! She attacked me first and threw out my belongings. She's the criminal here—arrest her, not me!"

"You know exactly what happened."

Vivian's voice was ice-cold, her expression unreadable. "As the legal owner of this property, I have every right to remove unauthorized items. Your words just confirmed your trespassing. And let's not forget—the stolen items in your possession are worth a fortune. Add theft to your charges, and you're facing at least three years in prison."

"Bullshit!"

Cassandra's voice cracked as she defended herself. "Those were just cheap clothes! They're not even designer! They can't be worth more than two grand!"

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake.

A satisfied smirk curled Vivian's lips as she turned to the officers. "You heard her confession. No need to waste time—take her away."

The officers nodded, pulling out handcuffs. "Miss Delacroix, you'll need to come with us for questioning."

Cassandra's face turned ghostly white. She stumbled back, hiding behind Nathaniel. "Stay away from me! I'm being framed! Nathaniel, help me!"

Just then, Beatrice—who had long despised Cassandra—stepped forward. "I can testify! Miss Delacroix stole Miss Lockhart's belongings. And she treated the staff like slaves—abusing them whenever she pleased!"

She listed every cruel act Cassandra had committed, each one a potential crime. The officers' expressions darkened with every word.

"No! Shut up! Shut your mouth!"

Cassandra lunged at Beatrice like a rabid animal, desperate to silence her.

She had never expected one of the servants—people she considered beneath her—to betray her like this.

"Enough."

Nathaniel's voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

The room fell silent instantly. Beatrice stopped speaking, and Cassandra froze mid-lunge. The officers hesitated, unsure how to proceed.

Despite the clear evidence, they didn't dare arrest someone under Nathaniel Blackwood's protection.

Vivian was done with this farce. She didn't care about Cassandra's theatrics—she just wanted what was hers.

"Cassandra," she said coldly, "this is your last chance. Return what you stole. If you don't, not even Nathaniel can save you."

Her words were a direct challenge to Nathaniel's authority.

Cassandra burst into dramatic sobs. "Nathaniel, she's threatening me! You have to protect me!"

Everyone expected Nathaniel, as the father of her child, to shield her.

But his expression remained unreadable. "Then cooperate with the police."